Cinderella at the El Cap - My review

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 09-21-2005, 01:59 AM

A Guy’s POV - Cinderella at the El Cap.

Princess power is everywhere. We can’t escape it. So, I decided to hit it head on with the 7pm showing of CINDERELLA at the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood.

After a stunning morning at Universal Studios, I took a jaunt over to Hollywood and to get my ticket for the show. Can I say how much I love the front of this theatre? There is so much to look at and so much detail. And, luck me, there were still tickets left. Cool.

I have about 30 minutes to kill, so I meandered through the new Disney Ice Cream Shop/ Store, which was deserted. (Get it “Desert.” I kill myself) Then a walk down Hollywood Blvd. for a bite to eat. Can I also add that Hollywood Blvd. continues to smell like a herd of monstrous six-story-tall mutant Cows roam the alleyways leaving their road apples to fragrant 3 city blocks. I had to keep checking the bottom of my shoes.

After some time, I return to the El Cap to get in line. General Admission, lines up to the right. VIP, to the left. I was the first in line. Wonderful. So, I waited about 15 minutes with a dozen or so families with their little “princess’” all dolled up, swirling around the pre-lobby area. Dozens of cute laughing people lined up around the corner. In the back, a Jasmine, then Snow White, and Ariel with flowing red hair, and a Cinderella with clear plastic shoes with the adoring parents looking on, then a 6 ft 4 inch tall GUY dressed in blue jeans and a Chicago shirt standing at the very, very front; arms folded, sunglass’ on. I felt like the minority.

Within a short time, we were let into the theatre and I got my Ice Tea and M&M’s and found a seat in the basically vacant theatre. The organist was playing “Feed the Birds” and it echoed throughout this amazing venue. Just the most magical movie theatre I’ve ever been in and to have the organ music reverberating those memorable Disney tunes was icing on an already enchanting cake. It was a shame to see such a small turnout.

After the brief couple of songs, the Organist descended into the pit and the show began. Cinderella appeared in person on the stage from behind the giant curtain that also revealed a screen. She thanked us for coming to her show and introduced a clip (aka music video) of her new hit song, “Every Girl Can Be a Princess.” Yes, the cynic in me had a moment of “yeah, I too can be a Princess” whereas I was jolted from that nightmare with the poignant “now available wherever CD’s are sold.”

http://disney.go.com/disneyrecords/S...rty/index.html

So, Cinderella shuffled off to “Tea” and the program started with previews for Chicken Little, Chronicles of Narnia and Greatest Game Ever Played. The joy of seeing the film being presented in it’s proper aspect ratio was particularly awesome, as was the sound and presentation. Clean, clear, dynamic sound from a feature that was recorded long before digital and dolby surround.

The opening credits were quite a rush of sentiment. Names all too familiar with our favorite park, Mary Blair, Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas; just to name a few. Every credit seemed to be a person of pure Disney Legend.

It has to be at least 20 years since I’ve seen the film, and I wasn’t recalling much of it, except for the “Classic” scenes replayed over the years. The story was simple and, to my mind, not all that important. (Heck, the Prince has, what, maybe 5 lines?) The songs were great. The animation knocks the pants off anything offered for the past 10 years hands down. With the restored print the colors were just a fantasy of stunning imagery that was just phenomenal. I am convinced that a smaller TV screen could never replicate what was seen on this large movie screen. For the experience, nothing touches this film/ theatrical experience.

Oh, yes, I’ll get the DVD, but I doubt you’ll be seeing me prancing about in glass slippers, but you will see me looking for more of this one-of-a-kind soiree.

09-21-2005, 01:59 AM	#1
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	Cinderella at the El Cap - My review A Guy’s POV - Cinderella at the El Cap. Princess power is everywhere. We can’t escape it. So, I decided to hit it head on with the 7pm showing of CINDERELLA at the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood. After a stunning morning at Universal Studios, I took a jaunt over to Hollywood and to get my ticket for the show. Can I say how much I love the front of this theatre? There is so much to look at and so much detail. And, luck me, there were still tickets left. Cool. I have about 30 minutes to kill, so I meandered through the new Disney Ice Cream Shop/ Store, which was deserted. (Get it “Desert.” I kill myself) Then a walk down Hollywood Blvd. for a bite to eat. Can I also add that Hollywood Blvd. continues to smell like a herd of monstrous six-story-tall mutant Cows roam the alleyways leaving their road apples to fragrant 3 city blocks. I had to keep checking the bottom of my shoes. After some time, I return to the El Cap to get in line. General Admission, lines up to the right. VIP, to the left. I was the first in line. Wonderful. So, I waited about 15 minutes with a dozen or so families with their little “princess’” all dolled up, swirling around the pre-lobby area. Dozens of cute laughing people lined up around the corner. In the back, a Jasmine, then Snow White, and Ariel with flowing red hair, and a Cinderella with clear plastic shoes with the adoring parents looking on, then a 6 ft 4 inch tall GUY dressed in blue jeans and a Chicago shirt standing at the very, very front; arms folded, sunglass’ on. I felt like the minority. Within a short time, we were let into the theatre and I got my Ice Tea and M&M’s and found a seat in the basically vacant theatre. The organist was playing “Feed the Birds” and it echoed throughout this amazing venue. Just the most magical movie theatre I’ve ever been in and to have the organ music reverberating those memorable Disney tunes was icing on an already enchanting cake. It was a shame to see such a small turnout. After the brief couple of songs, the Organist descended into the pit and the show began. Cinderella appeared in person on the stage from behind the giant curtain that also revealed a screen. She thanked us for coming to her show and introduced a clip (aka music video) of her new hit song, “Every Girl Can Be a Princess.” Yes, the cynic in me had a moment of “yeah, I too can be a Princess” whereas I was jolted from that nightmare with the poignant “now available wherever CD’s are sold.” http://disney.go.com/disneyrecords/S...rty/index.html So, Cinderella shuffled off to “Tea” and the program started with previews for Chicken Little, Chronicles of Narnia and Greatest Game Ever Played. The joy of seeing the film being presented in it’s proper aspect ratio was particularly awesome, as was the sound and presentation. Clean, clear, dynamic sound from a feature that was recorded long before digital and dolby surround. The opening credits were quite a rush of sentiment. Names all too familiar with our favorite park, Mary Blair, Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas; just to name a few. Every credit seemed to be a person of pure Disney Legend. It has to be at least 20 years since I’ve seen the film, and I wasn’t recalling much of it, except for the “Classic” scenes replayed over the years. The story was simple and, to my mind, not all that important. (Heck, the Prince has, what, maybe 5 lines?) The songs were great. The animation knocks the pants off anything offered for the past 10 years hands down. With the restored print the colors were just a fantasy of stunning imagery that was just phenomenal. I am convinced that a smaller TV screen could never replicate what was seen on this large movie screen. For the experience, nothing touches this film/ theatrical experience. Oh, yes, I’ll get the DVD, but I doubt you’ll be seeing me prancing about in glass slippers, but you will see me looking for more of this one-of-a-kind soiree.
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