Cinderella: Diamond Edition (2-Disc Combo Pack)

"A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you're fast asleep."

A beautiful woman and a dashing prince waltz together under a moonlit sky. As the pair extol their storybook love through wistful melody, their movements flow gracefully across the screen, bathed in a dreamy swirl of lavender hues. Her gown sparkles like the stars overhead, infinitely shimmering in the waters below. Their romance is sealed with a gentle kiss, but the hour is getting late… It's a magical scene, beautifully realized through gorgeous animation, stirring emotion, and charming simplicity. Basically, it's quintessential Disney. Even after sixty two years, 'Cinderella' remains an indelible classic of family storytelling, providing entertainment for the young and young at heart. A tale about pumpkin carriages, fairy godmothers, seamstress mice, and glass slippers, it's images are iconic and its simple story is ageless.

Based on the classic fairy tale, the film follows Cinderella (Ilene Woods), a sweet young woman who is subjected to the cruel abuse of her evil stepmother and stepsisters. Reduced to nothing more than a maid, the poor girl is forced to clean up after the heartless trio. When all the women are invited to meet the Prince at a lavish ball, Cinderella is forced to stay behind -- but a visit from her Fairy Godmother might change everything. With her dreams now closer than ever before, the fate of her happiness will rest within the sole of a glass slipper -- but will the shoe fit?

Arguably one of Disney's simplest films, the movie presents a rather straightforward but endearing tale about dreamers and love. In this storybook world, good and evil are clearly defined, inner compassion begets outward beauty, and cruelty engenders ugliness. Birds literally wake the gentle Cinderella from her slumber while her mean-spirited stepsisters could make livestock screech from the mere sound of their shrill voices. It's uncomplicated allegory at its purest. Simplistic but engaging, the plot skims by with a breezy pace, and while the filmmakers pad out the runtime with some cat and mouse antics, the main narrative is actually remarkably thin.

Still, this minimalism is actually part of the movie's appeal and is perfectly suited for its intended young audience without ever talking down to them. The filmmakers' heartfelt approach is full of the studio's trademark personality, and while uncomplicated, it isn't dumbed down. There's a reason this version of the story remains so popular, and somehow Disney cuts right to the essence of the fairy tale, translating all the necessary parts while adding just the right amount of originality. As two dimensional and black and white as the movie's characters and morality can be, the filmmakers manage to layer the narrative with rich visuals, charm, and lovely music, breathing spectacular color and dimension into the proceedings.

The animation is wonderfully realized, and the straightforward character designs all evoke a strong sense of individuality. From the sweet and innocent Cinderella sparkling in radiant light, to the chilling evil stepmother cast in gloomy shadow, each member of the cartoon cast feels distinct and alive. The animators also do a great job of blending extended bits of physical humor with more graceful portrayals of romance and love. Classic visual gags give the runtime a fun sense of humor, and more stylized sequences (like the aforementioned dance under the stars) carry an almost ethereal beauty.

The supporting cast of mice are also particularly amusing, and while their antics can feel a tad superfluous, the amount of personality the filmmakers are able to evoke through their silly and heartwarming facial expressions is quite mesmerizing. It's not all purely fun and games, however, and one scene involving Jaques and Gus frantically trying to drag a key up a massive staircase is genuinely thrilling, revealing the animators' expert sense of pace and suspense. Likewise, despite the animation's classic romanticism, Cinderella's plight is actually genuinely distressing to watch. In fact, though very brief, the scene where her stepsisters tear her dress apart is quite disturbing for a children's film.

As gorgeous as the animation can be, the film does feature a rather heavy use of rotoscoping (the human characters were filmed as live action first and then traced over). While this is a perfectly acceptable technique, and 'Cinderella' is far from the only Disney film to feature it, the practice can lead to a slightly hollow quality in certain movements and facial expressions. Still, the artistry on display here extends far beyond mere "tracing," and the animators use the live action frames merely as a reference point to elaborate and expand upon.

Memorable and incessantly hummable, the movie's famous songs are filled with whimsy and delight. Playful lyrics about dreams, love, and magic incantations all evoke the innocence of youth while stirring the imagination. Lilting melodies bolster the words, carrying them over soaring notes that are sure to put a smile on even the most cynical of faces. Ilene Woods' elegant vocals radiate with delicate compassion and regal majesty, bringing the songs to life with sincerity and soul. Not just a pleasant diversion, the music is organically blended into the narrative, becoming a natural part of the film's storytelling, and if nothing else, the movie is famous for introducing some of the most memorable lines of musical gibberish this side of "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo." To a jaded adult like me, it's just silly nonsense -- but when the lights come down and the film starts, those words take on new meaning. Well, old meaning actually. A meaning long since dulled and diluted by the passage of time and the rigors of age. A meaning eternally tied to youth and innocence and midnight waltzes beneath the stars. A meaning steeped in magic and dreams. Like most Disney classics, 'Cinderella' is one of those rare films that works for all ages, sparking the imagination of the very young, while allowing the old to once again believe. It doesn't quite reach the same heights as the studio's very best efforts, but it gets remarkably close. Exceedingly simple but full of sincerity, heart, and love, the movie has and will continue to remain a timeless treasure.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

Disney brings 'Cinderella' to Blu-ray as a part of their Diamond Edition series. The release being reviewed here is a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, but there is a separate three-disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy release as well. A BD-50 disc and additional DVD copy of the film are housed in a keepcase with a shiny cardboard slipcover (they don't call it a "diamond" edition for nothing). Upon startup, there are some requisite trailers, but Disney mercifully provides the option to skip straight to the main menu. The packaging indicates that the release is Region A, B, and C compatible.