From Kay Cannon (Pitch Perfect), Cinderella is a musically driven bold new take on the classic fairytale. Our ambitious heroine (Camila Cabello) has big dreams and with the help of her Fab Godmother, she perseveres to make them come true. Cinderella has an all-star cast including Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, James Corden, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter and Pierce Brosnan.
For thoughts on Cinderella (2021), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/BxgZJ–nfPI?t=1872]
Video Quality
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings Cinderella (2021) to Blu-Ray with a dazzling 1080p video presentation. The presentation provides a strong amount of depth on display, especially in the interior shots at the palace. The opulent production design along with the fabrics of clothing provide crystal clear textural details. The image is clean with the vibrant, natural color palette popping off the screen. The film employs impressive splashes of colors within the setting and costumes which makes for a very striking image. The black levels remain stable with not too much in the way of digital noise or crush. The flesh tones are natural with a good amount of detail present in close-ups, especially when it comes to the texture of makeup. This Blu-Ray is in line with most modern movies on the format.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a great DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures this whimsical tale beautifully. This update on the classic tale is music-driven, so it is important to report that every tune radiates from the speakers in a wonderful, well-balanced way. The low end of the track is especially robust during these bass-heavy moments. This is not a particularly action-driven movie, but the environmental sounds of the world engage the surround speakers in a really pleasing way. When the characters are walking through the court, there are some really nice ambient details that flesh out the setting. Dialogue always comes through crisp and clear without being clipped by any competing sounds. The audio track is an excellent sounding presentation for this feature in all respects.
Special Features
- Gag Reel: A three-minute collection of flubbed lines, goofing around, giggle fits and more are provided here.
- Previews: There are trailers provided for The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Final Thoughts
Cinderella (2021) is an extravagant adaptation of an often-told tale which has moments of delirious joy, but more often than not the film struggles to hold on to its stronger aspects. The jukebox musical tunes tap into the warm nostalgia you have of them even if it amounts to just hearing great performers singing mashups of pop songs in fancy clothing. The performances, uneven humor and pacing really drag the film down quite a bit during the expository moments. There are elements of the narrative which are refreshingly progressive, but admiration for something does not equal enjoyment. The movie appears to be trying too hard in general, which can make the tone feel exhausting rather than revelatory. There are moments worth seeking out, but it is difficult to recommend this as a full cinematic experience. Sony Pictures has provided a Blu-Ray disc that sports a great A/V presentation and a few brief supplements for those who do decide to check it out.
Cinderella (2021) is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
