Photos Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (Cinderella)
Yes, Disney may have acquired hot property like Marvel and Star Wars in the last decade, but that doesn’t mean they have lost their touch when it comes to making a good, old-fashioned fairy tale come to life in a brand new way. After their smash hit Frozen (2013), Disney explores the story of another formidable princess with the live-action retelling of Cinderella (2015).
Kenneth Branagh and Chris Weitz give us an untainted version of the Cinderella story and in the process keep its appeal and magic. Sure, they changed a few details to keep things fresh, but they did not go too far as to make things darker like recent renditions of popular fairy tales such as Maleficent (2014), Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) and Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), to name a few. As the old adage goes, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. While watching the film, we see castles and vibrant colors everywhere. Add the magical music to the fray and suddenly, we get transported to Disneyland, where all is well and dreams do come true. I love theme parks because they excite me and give me fond memories of my childhood, so watching Cinderella put me at ease and in a good mood.
Courage and kindness are at the core of the movie, and we get reminded of this at every possible turn with quotable quotes. However, well-placed humor is what keeps the ball rolling even more. It was fun witnessing the witty yet sweet conversations between the Prince and Ella, the bumbling Fairy Godmother and her chaotic magic, the jab at Ella’s very comfortable glass slippers and all those animals being their merry selves. If you think Clark Kent is the master of disguise by just changing his hairstyle and removing his glasses when he becomes Superman, think again. However, Cinderella was not all fun and games. There are certain parts which involved danger and scheming which kept the audience at the edge of their seats.
As far as casting is concerned, Cinderella (2015) has done marvellously. I have only seen Lily James once in a Hollywood movie before (in the forgettable Wrath of the Titans) but I must say that it was spot on for her to play the part of Ella. Through her, we see Ella’s resilient nature when faced with adversity. A blonde Hayley Atwell plays Ella’s dear mother splendidly and Helena Bonham Carter takes on the role of the eccentric Fairy Godmother with much gusto. Cate Blanchett was perfect as the wicked stepmother. Blanchett exudes a scary vibe in this film that can even rival Lady Galadriel’s steely presence and is able to make us understand the complexity of her character. Oh, and yes, before we forget, let’s talk about the prince. Richard Madden and his bright blue eyes were absolutely stunning and probably made girls gasp for air the entire time. I therefore conclude that he should play all the prince roles moving forward. For Game of Thrones fans, the King of the North clearly has nothing on this guy.
When we are spoiled about movies, we tend to hate it. A part of the fun in watching is taken away by knowing what is going to happen next. However, for Cinderella (2015), we generally know what is going to happen from start to finish and yet it is still so easy for us to be captivated and immersed in her wonderful world. The film tugs at our emotions and leaves us in a happy state of mind even after we leave the cinema. That, my friends, is the power of a fairy tale done right.