Most of us in this generation grew up watching the enchanting fairy tales of Disney. We saw Ariel give up her voice (a terrible idea, if you ask me) for a prince and Jasmine fall for the peasant thief. We saw Rapunzel go on adventures with Flinn and eventually fall for him and Snow White eat an apple out the hand of a very creepy witch. And we saw Cinderella escape from under the cruel thumb of her awful stepmother.
In recent years, Hollywood has taken up a new hobby, one I thoroughly enjoy: remaking these childhood classics. The most recent one is Cinderella.
The 2015 version was directed by Kenneth Branagh, written by Chris Weitz (screenplay) and stars Lily James, Cate Blanchett and Richard Madden.
Most of you know the story of Cinderella: She’s the only daughter of two loving parents who loses her mother to an illness and whose father takes a new bride (a widow) but then tragically dies whilst abroad. Cinderella then becomes nothing more than a lowly servant to her stepmother and two imbecilic stepsisters.
I will be honest with you: I have either never seen the original Cinderella or do not remember seeing it, but I know the basic story.
What I can tell you is that I loved the new rendition. Cinderella still is portrayed as a sweet, tender-hearted girl who is just living to honor the memory of her parents. Before his death, her father is portrayed as a loving and very doting father to his only daughter. Cinderella’s stepmother first comes off as commanding and very confident. She then obviously makes the transition into the fire-breathing, metaphorically speaking, and cruel stepmother. The two stepsisters join in on the cruelty but are just as dimwitted as in the old Disney film.
In the beginning, Prince Kit introduces himself as just “Mr. Kit,” not hinting toward his nobility, which surprisingly shows his humility.
The quality of filming obviously is an upgrade from the animation, especially after the chime of the midnight bell comes and the pumpkin carriage turns back into a real pumpkin along with all the horses turning back into mice and the coachmen turning back into lizards.
That scene is genius and hilarious all at once. Not to mention that the quality of the graphics is awesome, considering the transitions.
From start to finish, I thought it was an awesome movie with wonderfully executed characters and storyline. It’s a story that can and will make girls cry and will have boys and men alike walking away wishing for their Cinderella. And last, having courage and being kind.
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