Between Presses: Cinderella Movie Review 2015

The new Cinderella movie had high expectations to meet. The story by Charles Perrault was well-loved, and the 1950 animated Disney film was a classic.

For me, the bar was raised by the grounded 90s Drew Barrymore movie, Ever After, that had no magic but they had Leonardo DaVinci instead — and Angelica Houston as the wicked stepmother. It is non-Disney, so we were able to detach the cartoon from this one.

Disney's new Cinderella movie, directed by Kenneth Branagh, was spellbinding. It drew the right balance of taking enough elements from the animated film and make it more relatable with new back stories.

We all know the story and anything else I say, or changes in the story, would be a spoiler. So let us just comment on some observations.

Cinderella (Lily James), for example, was self-consciously kind, simply because she was raised that way, unlike how fairy tale princesses tend to be naturally and nauseatingly perfect.

The Prince (actor James Madden) has a name here. He's called Kit, and he's no longer an accessory. He does more here than just be charming.

Would it be weird, if I want to own that green jacket?

Love at first sight in the ball was not favored and writers opted for love in the woods (like Sleeping Beauty minus the singing) and falling again more in love a second time in the ball. It's fast but is an improvement, is it not?

And probably, the most anticipated character is Cate Blanchett's take on the evil stepmother. She's got a name but we like calling her evil stepmother. She made the character so bad, we hate her, and a lot more complex that you wonder how she came to be. Wisely enough, they did not dwell on that too much.

I find shades of her character from the movie Blue Jasmine, only more evil.

Helena Bonham Carter appeared very briefly as the Fairy Godmother. She's still eccentric and pasty white, but it's refreshing to see her in that light apart from her Tim Burton stuff.

I loved the movie. I thought it may get too dark for children (after watching other modern renditions going that route), but it is child-friendly. Many parents everywhere may find their daughters twirling in front of the mirror in their dresses. My girlfriend might be among them. She was emotional and giddy through most part of the film.

That is a good thing, isn't it?

NOTES:

We love it when Kenneth Branagh directs period and/or fantasy films. There is fancy and whimsy in it. His Thor movie had less action but had more magic in it in his helm. That element was gone in the sequel when he was no longer involved.
Haley Atwell (Agent Carter) is Cinderella's mother, and she was enchanting. While daughter was humanly kind, this mother was more perfect.
The costumes were amazing, There were criticisms about the blue gown. James wore a corset, they say. Her waist looked too narrow, and it must have been difficult to dance with that much layer of cloth. It's very beautiful, though.
The shoes were made of Swarovski crystals. They altered the shoes digitally when worn. The shoes would make a beautiful centerpiece on a table somewhere.
The posters and trailers did not give justice to Lily James. She's very gorgeous.
Richard Madden has got swagger to pull off such tight white pants I wish I could, too. But really now. I liked the the jackets a lot. Maybe I'll cut off the tail, and I'd wear it to work.