Review: ‘Cinderella’ recreates magic of animated classic (Includes first-hand account)

Disney has a long history of adapting classic fairy tales and popular legends for the screen, though their versions usually exclude the bloody elements previously woven into these narratives. Still, these animated renderings are the fundamental editions of these stories for many children. Now the studio is branching out, reimagining these tales for a live-action format that retains the original magic that endeared people for a lifetime. The latest retelling of Cinderella captures all the enchantment of the animated film while making the fantasy more real for audiences.

Ella (Lily James) grew up in the happiest of homes with two loving parents (Hayley Atwell and Ben Chaplin) who encouraged her whimsy. But sorrow befell the cottage at the edge of the forest when Ella’s mother died. Years later her father hoped to once again find happiness with a new wife (Cate Blanchett) who brought with her two daughters (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera). But they filled the house with darkness that only grew more wicked when Ella’s father passed away on a business trip. From that day forward, Ella was a mistreated servant in her own home. However a chance meeting with a young man in the forest offers her hope, which would have been even greater if she knew he was the Prince (Richard Madden). Forbidden from attending the palace ball by her stepmother, Ella’s Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) appears to wipe away her tears and send her to the party in style. But her problems are not nearly over as her stepmother conspires to ensure it’s the last time Ella ever sees the Prince in spite of his exhaustive search for his true love.

One element it’s reassuring to see maintained is Ella’s relationship with animals, particularly the insatiable mouse called Gus-Gus. She begins speaking to them as a child based on a suggestion that one only has to listen to hear their response. When she’s older, they are her only allies in the house and reciprocate her kindness. Fortunately none of the creatures actually can speak until they are transformed into Ella’s servants the night of the ball, avoiding any hints of madness in the character. In addition no one spontaneously breaks into song, though “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” and “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” do play over the credits.

Everything about the picture hearkens back to the old school Disney princess that saved the studio 65 years ago, which is actually the best thing they could have done with this picture. Putting a real girl in Cinderella’s stunning blue gown (that shimmers shades of dusk as she twirls) and Swarovski-styled glass heels while maintaining the essential elements of the animated film is an accomplishment at which fans will not scoff because being swept away in her hopefulness, compassion and joy is part of the experience. However the one minor but valued alteration is a slightly more autonomous Ella who seems like she eventually would have found a way out from under her stepmother’s thumb even if the Prince and Fairy Godmother hadn’t shown up.

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Lily James, Cate Blanchett and Richard Madden

Similar Posts

  • This week’s releases take a stand for what’s right

    This week’s releases include a satirical new series; a more dangerous second chapter; a strange and loving family; a boy doing his best to fit in; and an action movie with a familiar theme.

  • Review: ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ is a love story for the ages (Includes first-hand account)

    The Kinsey scale suggests most people are not entirely on either end of the spectrum in regards to their sexuality. Therefore, it’s not surprising when men or women spend most of their time with the same sex, relationships can develop in spite of previous/current predilections… or more typically, in spite of people’s assumptions about their predilections. Unfortunately, various situations prevent people from pursuing these interests or from making them a long-term arrangement, so they’re enjoyed in secret for as long as possible. In Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a young woman is promised to a man she’s never met in spite of her protests.

  • Review: ‘Death Wish’ leaves the difficult questions to the professionals (Includes first-hand account)

    Vigilantism is a divisive topic — even one person can have multiple opinions that place them on both sides of the argument. Is it ever acceptable for someone to act as judge, jury and executioner? Is it okay in some instances, but not others? What responsibility does the justice system have to hold vigilantes accountable? What about their part in creating vigilantes? Are superheroes, who are essentially taking the law into their own hands, also vigilantes? There’s a lot of room for discussion and film is the ideal playground to explore these grey areas. Currently, the issue is being tackled in the remake of the 1974 film of the same name, Death Wish.

  • Review: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ must find a way to rise again (Includes first-hand account)

    Many people are fascinated by dinosaurs as they’ve fostered their interest from childhood into adulthood with the help of TV shows, science exhibits and movies. They are mesmerized by their enormous size, likeness to contemporary beasts and thorough extinction of their pre-evolutionary form, which leads to an unquenchable curiosity of what it would be like to see them in person — or even live amongst them — beyond the obvious blood-curdling fear. Thus, Steven Spielberg‘s dinosaur theme park was destined to be an immediate hit and is now in its fifth iteration, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

  • Review: ‘Inside Out’ has all the feels (Includes first-hand account)

    It’s human nature to wonder what other people are thinking or how they’ve come to feel the way they do, but it’s often impossible to determine the correct answer without some assistance from the person in question. Moreover it’s generally believed every person is the sum of their experiences, but what does that mean? Leave it to the people at Pixar to come up with an entertaining, animated response that may not be true but is definitely more fun than the reality. Inside Out goes inside the head of a little girl to show just how our personalities work and why we sometimes feel the way we do.