Cinderella (2015)
(2015)Disney retells the fairy tale in live-action and under the direction of the great Kenneth Branagh (Thor). Wrath of the Titans' Lily James fills the crystal slippers, aided by her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) and thwarted by her step-mother (Cate Blanchett) as she's pursued by Prince Charming (Game of Thrones' Richard Madden).
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Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Starring Lily James, Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett, Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgård, Ben Chaplin, Hayley Atwell, Derek Jacobi
Written by Aline Brosh McKenna, Chris Weitz (based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale)
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 5 providers
Flicks Review
BY Giles Hardie Flicks Writer
If a film review’s purpose is to inform you whether a movie delivers on its promise, then covering Disney’s live action Cinderella remake is the simplest and happiest of tasks for a critic. Quite simply this Cinderella delivers EXACTLY what it promises. Perfectly. Beautifully. Magically.... More
The only question you need ask is this: ‘Do I want to see a new Cinderella?' If the answer is yes, you will love this.
Where Maleficent struggled to find anyone to match Angelina Jolie’s dominating performance and Snow White and the Huntsman strayed too far from the path, Cinderella takes the seemingly obvious, but seldom-seen approach of taking a classic, carefully pulling it apart, lovingly polishing or even upgrading each component then putting it back together bigger, better and yet still recognisably familiar.
A strong dash of modern sensibility gives Lily James’ Ella (the prefix comes later) a much firmer hand in her own destiny. She’s not clumsily bestowed with a sword and sent off to slay beasties, instead this is a tale of kindness, yet our heroine demonstrates that self-sacrifice and inner strength are genuine qualities of power if sincerely motivated and clearly chosen.
Cinderella’s 21st century currency is woven elegantly into the gorgeous fabric of fairy tale magic that director Kenneth Branagh lets sing throughout every scene, and James’ pitch-perfect performance is neatly supported by the amazing addition of the likes of Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter and Rob Brydon (in a scene-stealingly hysterical 45 seconds) who prove you can leap off the screen without dominating the story.
This is the perfect retelling of a classic tale that will delight any who believed in magical kingdoms, once upon a time.Hide
The Peoples' Reviews
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Cinderella (2015)
BY enthusiastic nobody
We loved this movie so much we went back to the cinemas five times, each time taking more friends & family who enjoyed it as much as we did!! Even the men went more than once. What a beautiful film!! Thank you Disney!! Please make more films like this one!
BY Brendan3 superstar
Solid acting, great costumes as expected and funnier than expected :-)
BY flapper123 superstar
Her parents were the most dearest to her and she took great comfort in their memory and cherished their words. Their legacy kept her... More spirits up and her hopes alive through her trying times.
The costumes and period settings are beautiful, I did feel there was too much time spent on the mice, but oh well it is a fairytale after all.
The scenes with the fairy godmother were so enchanting I felt like a little child again, pointing her wand at the pumpkin, the mice, lizards and the goose and, last but not least Cinderella's change of attire to her grand entrance into the ballroom. Oh to have an attic like her's for a bedroom minus the mice of course and those glass slippers made for only one pair of feet.
This film does have its moments for humour "hairy dogfather". Cate Blanchett did wonderfully as the stepmother(but no one else will play Galadriel as well as she)and kudos to the actresses who did the stepsister roles.
Lily James and Richard Madden were right for the main roles and the other members of the cast made this famous fairytale a film to remember.
I gave this a five because of the absence of violence.Hide
BY Cassangee nobody
I was wholly taken by surprise, when I realised that even though I am in my early 20s and have seen many iterations of the Cinderella story, that this film somehow come to define the fairytale for me.
It was enchanting, and refreshing, after the trend of modernisation, re-invention, and parodies of fairy tales to have this one told straight - without 'adult humour' but not without depth and sophistication.
The Press Reviews
85%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Underlines the virtues of kindness and courage in a heroine right out of the pages of a traditional storybook... Full Review
Though this Cinderella could never replace Disney's animated classic, it's no ugly stepsister either, but a deserving companion. Full Review
Very sweet and harmless... Full Review
Branagh and Weitz stick lovingly to the legend throughout... Full Review
A heady sugar-rush in the moment, but empty and a little nauseating over the long haul. Full Review
Kenneth Branagh's lavish live-action telling of the folktale made familiar to many by Disney's 1950 animated feature film is a faithful take that derives pleasure in updating expectations and absolutely never dashing them. Full Review
A retrograde fantasy with the depth of a dressing-up box, but it’s spirited, genuinely funny and played to the hilt by an excellent cast. Full Review
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