Cinderella

In bringing the 1950 animated film of Cinderella to live action, what director Kenneth Branagh has essentially done is given us an unapologetic Disney fairy tale with modern day visuals.  It doesn't have a cynical or ironic bone in its cinematic body.  It's not a satire like Enchanted, and it's not a reinvention like Maleficent. It's a total fairy dust, "talking" mice (well, they communicate through squeaks, anyway) movie.

That's not to say there haven't been any improvements to the story.  Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother (played with the right amount of cold menace by Cate Blanchett) has a little more motivation for acting the way she does toward Cinderella, without coming across as sympathetic.  We still feel happy when she gets her comeuppance at the end.  As for Cinderella herself (played by Lily James from TV's Downton Abbey), she is still incredibly sweet and kind, without being cloying.  We sense a lot of strength in James' performance.  She's not a pushover.  She has moments of weakness, and there are also some moments where she takes matters into her own hands, while still remaining the character that young girls for generations have fallen in love with.  The biggest improvement here is the Prince (Richard Madden from Game of Thrones), who was a total non-entity in the original film, but is fleshed out here, given a personality, and even a sweet secondary relationship with his ailing King father (Derek Jacobi), leading to some genuinely emotional moments.

Branagh and screenwriter Chris Weitz (About a Boy) have found the perfect balance between staying true to traditional Disney storytelling, and updating it just enough to give a reason for this remake's existence.  We get a lot more backstory this time focused on young Ella's time with her mother (Hayley Atwell), who teaches her young daughter to "have courage and be kind", until an illness takes her away from her family.  Along with her father (Ben Chaplin), Ella lives a comfortable life, until father remarries with Lady Termaine, who brings along her two vain and idiotic daughters, Drizella (Sophie McShera, also from Downton Abbey) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger).  Another new addition to the story is that we get to see more of the relationship between the father and his new wife, and also get a sense that father comes to realize that he has made a mistake with time.  However, before anything can be done, her father leaves on a business-related trip, falls ill during his travels and succumbs.

From here, the movie follows the path we expect, with Lady Termaine reducing young Ella to being a servant girl in her own home, and the girl earning the nickname Cinderella from her cruel stepsisters.  There are still some new elements to be found even here, however.  Ella and the Prince get a scene together before they meet at the ball, and there's also a bit of royal intrigue, with a scheming Grand Duke (Stellan Skarsgard) trying to force the Prince to marry out of convenience for the kingdom, instead of love.  However, all the expected story beats are here, including the arrival of the Fairy Godmother (played by a surprisingly subdued Helena Bonham Carter, who wisely does not overplay the role), and Ella's grand arrival at the ball.  The movie has a strong understanding of what has made the animated film resonate with young girls over the years, respects it, and does absolutely nothing to tarnish its memory.  All the changes or additions here have been made to better the story.

What makes this version of Cinderella stand out the most, however, is the visual style that has been brought to it.  This is the first film of 2015 that can be described as "beautiful", as the costumes and sets are truly first rate in every regard.  Kenneth Branagh has long been known for his lavish looking films, and this is no exception.  The design of the carriage that takes Ella to the ball is a beautiful marvel, as are the costumes worn during the dance itself.  The movie has a wonderful sense of lighting, grand sets, and a lot of scenes that grab your attention just from the way they have been shot.  My only hope is that this movie isn't coming out so early in the year that it will not be remembered for some technical recognition when it is Award time again early next year.

More than the actual movie itself, most children are probably excited about the 7-minute cartoon short reuniting the characters form 2013's animated mega-blockbuster, Frozen, that plays before the movie.  Titled Frozen Fever, the short film is a sweet and funny addition, but in no way overshadows the main attraction.  Those who come for the film mainly to see the cartoon before it may be surprised that they find themselves liking the main feature just as much, if not more.  That being said, it's a welcome add-on to the movie, and should be just enough to keep kids excited about the Frozen sequel that was announced officially just a couple days ago.  The new cartoon is pretty slight overall, but it has plenty of charm, and it's great to see the memorable characters back together again.

With more live action remakes of Disney animated films already announced (including The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast and Dumbo), I can only hope that the filmmakers will use Cinderella as a guidance tool as to how to stick with traditions, while also creating a new experience.  This is certainly a perfect template to follow, and hopefully is the start of of what will be a strong series.

See the movie times in your area or buy the DVD at Amazon.com!

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