Honesty & Warmth [rev] Poem by Margaret Alice Second

I did not enjoy the latest Cinderella with Lily
James - the opening scenes with her doting
parents were so saccharine I turned off the
sound - earnest upturned-face scenes with
her father so irritating I couldn't allow sound;
the horrible stepmother's whole bearing and
expression plus extravagant dress didn't tally
with my ideas of role-playing appearances

The body language of the simpering Prince
gave me the creeps, the English way doing
things lacked the conviction of Oz-cynics;
finally I watched the victorious ball scene -
the heroine's demeanour made it difficult to
tune in, interaction & disposition spoiled by
ethereal English poses making it impossible
to watch - just like the Tolkien-Hobbit films

Everything is pretentious in the extreme -
I prefer content - all honesty & warmth