Cinderella Movie Review

Like I mentioned in my last post, I went to see the new Disney Cinderella movie last Sunday. Besides feeling excited to finally see the movie I was also quite anxious about whether or not it would meet my expectations. Guess what? I had no reason to worry because the movie surpassed anything I had in my head. Cinderella was a beautiful, heart-warming, and fresh movie. A classic for all ages that I can't wait to see it again.

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Growing up my family never owned the Disney animated version of Cinderella. We had a copy of the Rodgers and Hammerstein 1965 musical that I loved very much (even though I was always bothered by Lesley Ann Warren's voice). I knew all the words to every song and would sing and dance along pretending that I was Cinderella. I also have good memories of watching the premier of the 1997 edition with Brandy and Whitney Houston. Besides those beloved classics, Ever After is one of my favorite movies of all time. So like I said, the new film had a lot to live up to.

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Cinderella is a very well known fairy tale. The story has been retold so many different times it's hard to believe people can still come up with something new. Disney did a great job of keeping all the little things we love about the animated version while adding in certain details that made it feel more real. Unlike the animated version where all the characters were very much one dimensional, we finally got to see more of the character's humanity. There's a depth to each character that wasn't there before. I particularly loved the prince's interactions with his father, as well as the stepmother's confession to Ella that illuminated her past and certain feelings about the situation. The audience is finally able to see that the stepmother is not an "evil" person; she has her reasons for being the way she is, even if that doesn't justify her actions.

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The film was really well cast and the actors did a phenomenal job. Not only did each person physically fit their role, they personified the little elements of each character that I love. Cate Blanchett killed it as usual. Helena Bonham Carter's quirky self was perfect for the role of fairy godmother. Richard Madden's smile actually made me blush and Lily James lit up as Ella. Even Jaq and Gus Gus were adorable as ever.

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Seriously that man is ridiculously handsome with or without facial hair.

The movie itself was absolutely gorgeous from start to finish. From the costuming to the set designs every little detail was accounted for. That is one thing I love about Disney, they are incredibly meticulous about everything they create. The film was infused with a great deal of color without ever feeling overwhelming. Bursts of emerald greens, vibrant pinks, vivid reds and shimmering blues were all tied together with delicate gold details. Ella's dresses were stunning (even the rags). There's nothing more magical than the part when her dress changes from the torn pink one to the big beautiful blue one. Though that skirt definitely looked like it would have been difficult to dance in.

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This is now the dress I want for my wedding. I mean seriously it's perfect. I'm so in love.

At it's core Cinderella is a story about love and kindness. The movie was able to highlight love in the familial sense as well as a romantic one. Ella had a beautiful relationship with her parents who taught her that having courage and being kind were the most important things to remember. "Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic." Being kind to other people, even when they're not so kind to you, is a great message. We should all be a little kinder to one another.

Besides being a more serious and at times sad movie, there was still a lot of fun and joy throughout the film. My heart felt a little lighter after leaving the theater. Watching Cinderella always reminds me to have hope in the future because you never know who you'll meet or when things might turn around.

It's hard to explain what the story of Cinderella means to me. Whether it was watching different movie versions of the story as a child or getting the chance to dance the part, the story holds a lot of my most cherished memories. Cinderella was the first ballet I ever attended with my grandma and I can still remember being in total awe of the dancers. Even though I was already taking ballet classes, after that performance I knew I wanted to be one of those girls some day. I was never the best dancer in the company but I really worked hard for that part. That ballet included some of my happiest moments and my greatest friendships. I don't think I will ever watch Cinderella without thinking about that time in my life. It's good to look back on those experiences with a smile, but I'm ready to make new memories to be reminded of every time I watch this movie. Just like the old fairy tale got a fresh update, my life also continues to change and improve.

The stories we hold close when we're young have a way of staying with us forever. Disney has introduced a whole new generation to the magic of Cinderella. Hopefully one that will grow up remembering to have courage and be kind. The new film was everything I could have hoped for and more. A joy-filled celebration of love and magic. Now I can't wait for the upcoming remake of Beauty And The Beast!

-S

Yes I colored this three years ago. Coloring is the bomb and you're never too old for Disney Princess coloring books. 

Slaughterhouse Five Review

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut has been considered a classic for some time now. The title has long been a staple on my "to reads" list and I was glad to finally sit down and read it. I had heard only good things from my friends who had read the book, but didn't know much about the plot.

I started reading this book while I was finishing up my spring classes and had so many other books to read around exam time that I had to set this aside for a while. Since my dad was looking for a book to read at the time I offered the book to him, surprised he had not previously read it. I was even more shocked to hear that my mom had never read it either. I idolize my Mother's ability to fly through books and the volume of her library so much that I typically assume she's read more classics than she actually has.

By the time I handed the book over to my dad, I had read 80 out of the 215 pages of the novel. It took me a while to get into the story, but by the time I gave it up I probably could have finished pretty quickly. Unfortunately, even after my dad was done with the book and I was done with the semester I had been distracted by other books. Eventually I made it back to Slaughterhouse Five and finally finished the book last week.

I really liked the book, but I wouldn't say it blew me away like I was expecting it to. I loved Vonnegut's writing style for the novel. My dad said he got annoyed with the continual "so it goes," but I quite enjoyed it. I also liked the time travel concept and the idea that time is not linear in the way most people think it is, which also reminds me of Doctor Who.

The one real trouble I had with the novel, was the way that it made me feel while reading it. I usually love novels that have some sort of element of sadness, (which I promise to go into more on at a later time) but this book just made me completely uncomfortable and was utterly depressing. This was sort of a brilliant and I'm assuming completely intentional move on Vonnegut part, by really making the reader feel all that is wrong with war. (Actually as I'm writing this and thinking about the book more I am gaining a greater love for the novel.) By controlling how you feel while reading, the novel becomes a new level of anti-war. Vonnegut gives a real glimpse into what it means to be a soldier and even, in a way, what it means to be an innocent bystander to acts of war. As Americans we live in a country that has not experienced war in the same way as other countries and therefore most civilian citizens feel a certain separation from war. The book sort of broke down that wall of separation and offered a new perspective, or a deeper perspective into acts of war. Like I previously mentioned, I felt uncomfortable and really sad for most of the book.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It's a relatively short book that will keep you thinking long after you've finished reading. I can't wait to read more works by Kurt Vonnegut.

-S

Adulting Review

I recently finished the book Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown. I heard about this book, which is actually based off a blog with the same name, through my friend Sam.

I should start off by saying I was a little self conscious about reading this book in public. The title definitely makes it come across as a "self help" type of thing that people could easily judge you for. I envisioned lots of, "Look at that girl, who needs to read about how to be an adult? Is she really failing at life that much?" Then I realized it didn't matter, in fact there's a part in the book that talks about how no one actually pays that much attention to you or as Kelly so greatly put it, "You are not a special snowflake."

The book has a lot to say, but is a quick and easy way to help you with the struggles that everyone faces when you're on your own and have to do things for yourself. Some of the stuff is basic and maybe a little unnecessary for most people, but there's also lots of great points you may find useful. The book is broken up into sections such as Cooking, Money, Family, Friends and Neighbors, Love, Jobs, Housing, Maintenance, and a Fake It Till You Make It part (I hope I'm not forgetting anything). I think this book is a must read for anyone who is graduated college, has graduated, living on their own, in their mid twenties, or just wants to get advice on how to better organize or view their life. Even though I've already read the book, I plan on buying a copy for myself. I really felt the urge to highlight or bookmark different steps throughout the book that could be useful to remember as well as steps I could use at a future date, like when I move out.

Having adult responsibilities and making adult decisions can be difficult and no one is going to get it right all the time. It's nice to have a book remind you that you should clean your house once a week, check the oil in your car, and to always send Thank You notes.

Books, Books, and More Books

I know I've mentioned books before on here and given some reviews but I have really gotten back into reading and buying books lately with all my free time. I recently finished Looking for Alaska by John Green...

 and listening to the audiobook of Divergent by Veronica Roth.

I knew from how many good things I've heard about both of these books that they wouldn't let me down and they really didn't. First of all, if you haven't heard of either of these books (where have you been?) look them up. (PS. There might be some spoilers in the next review section)

Looking for Alaska is about a boy named Miles Halter who decides to go to boarding school in seek of "a great perhaps" and ends up having his life turned upside down after becoming best friends with his roommate and a girl named Alaska. The book really took me by surprise because the whole time I was reading the first "Before" part I kept thinking the event that it was before would be something else. And then the thing that happens, (so vague lol) happened and I just couldn't stop crying. I just sat there clearly emotionally compromised by this story and characters I had started loving so much. I know there are adult books that conquer life's big questions and delve into the depth of our purpose as humans, but I swear nothing answers or addresses these questions in quite the same way as Young Adult books do. John Green does an excellent job at making you think about your life and your perspectives, and it made me want to keep reading and learning in a way I haven't been motivated to for a long time. Much like The Fault in Our Stars, this book is definitely worth all the praise it has gotten and I would recommend it to anyone at any age.

Divergent follows the life of Beatrice "Tris" Prior who is forced to choose between the life she has known and the life she is better suited for. Set in a dystopian society where people are separated by the values they hold but can no longer function as a way of keeping the peace, Tris has a dangerous secret that could be the key to her survival and that of those she loves. I think what really stood out to me about Divergent was that it didn't center around a love triangle. Having a love story that exists only between two people was a nice breathe of fresh air. Now I can't wait to read Insurgent, the not yet released Allegiant, and to see the movie when it eventual comes out. Hopefully the story continues to be good. The only thing I would say was an advantage to listening to this on audiobook was that I think it would have taken me longer to get into the story. The beginning seemed like it was kind of slow, but it definitely made up for it at the end.

Much more book geekyness to come in the future. I've put myself on a book buying ban recently because I currently own way too many books that I have not yet read. If you want to know more about the books I want to read or the books I'm reading you can check out my Goodreads account and friend me on there.