Review of Cinderella (2015) by Meydianarizki21 — 10 Nov 2022

VIOLENCE The stepsisters, not the leading lady, compete/bicker with each other, sometimes in a joking way (not directed to the lead Cinderella, although they do think she’s “mad” and a “half-wit”) to the point where they are threatening to “scratch your eyes out”, push each other into dangerous places, dash brains out.

This is as bad as it gets. Cinderella also gets trapped inside a pumpkin that dashes onto a rock (she’s fine), and her carriage almost goes over the edge of a cliff. Her step-family ripping her dress was mean too.

A cat chases mice—but it does not dominate or steal from the storyline. All of this peril is in the cartoon version as well, so if they can handle that they can handle this. The stepmother also suddenly breaks an object in a moment of anger.

But it’s questionable if any of this justifies a PG rating. SEX/NUDITY Cleavage but only during the ballroom scene which was pretty typical for the time, and the stepsisters at home as they are in their underclothes getting ready for the ball.

The prince takes Cinderella into secluded places to be alone with her, not even palace guards can supervise—but you are there the whole time and nothing happens unless you count him putting her shoe back on as sexy; it’s more of would this be safe with how little she knows of him? The stepmother calls a mysterious princess a “vulgar young hussy”, and a stepsister calls Cinderella “Cinderwench”.

A little shocking compared to the cartoon but not enough to be PG. LANGUAGE Other than what I just mentioned, I don’t recall any outside the stepsister’s rudeness to each other. CONSUMERISM—Not really other than the typical desire from the step-family (not the lead) to have more things than others, a sort of thing you’d expect if you watched other versions.

Cinderella stands out from others in this. EXAMPLE IN THIS REGARD: Cinderella herself is satisfied with the simple things in life and is a great example, but her fairy godmother insists on making her fashionable and will not allow her to “ruin the whole look”.

Cinderella says “nobody will be looking at my feet” and even she and the prince exchange looks over the glass slippers like they are kind of over-the-top, but oh well. DRINKING, DRUGS: There is a party and you might assume people are drinking, but it’s brief, you’ll probably notice the gambling more—but it's doubtful your child will take much notice.

There’s far more substance use in older G movies. SO WHY IS IT RATED PG? Probably for the use of French and old language—you see this in Jane Austen movies and it works hard to have a historical feel.

It’s not for the content, the stepmother isn’t physically abusive or as mentally tormenting as the stepmother in Ever After. Cinderella’s escape probably shocks adults more than kids. I didn’t like the burp by the godmother though.