Cinderella Movie Review

I already loved the story of Cinderella, I mean really who doesn’t love Cinderella, but this story was absolutely beautiful.  You get to meet and fall in love with Cinderella’s parents..after all that’s how she grew up to be kind and loving.  The step sisters were cruel, but the stepmother was just plain ol’ evil.  Cinderella is a timeless tale and the director kept the spirit of the animated classic we all know and love but brought it to life with a few spins.  The actors were amazing and Prince Charming…was perfectly charming.

 OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:

The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new Stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family.

Soon, she is forced to become their servant, disrespected, covered in ashes and spitefully renamed Cinderella. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her, and she continues to remain positive, determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.”

When Ella meets a dashing stranger in the woods, unaware that he is really the Prince (Richard Madden) and not merely Kit, an apprentice at the palace, she believes she has finally found a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the King (Derek Jacobi) summons all maidens in the kingdom to attend a royal ball at the palace, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit. Alas, her Stepmother forbids her to attend and callously destroys her dress.

Meanwhile, the calculating Grand Duke (Stellan Skarsgård) devises a plan to thwart the Prince’s hopes of reuniting with Ella and enlists the support of the devious Stepmother. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand. Soon, a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham Carter) steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin, a few mice and a magic wand, changes Cinderella’s life forever.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

ELLA (Lily James) 

A beautiful young woman with a gentle spirit, Ella finds joy in the simplest of things. She was raised in a caring and stable home and has a pure heart, a loving nature and is kind and generous to those around her. Despite the cruelty and abuse she is subjected to from her stepmother and her daughters, Ella continues to remain positive and steadfast, finding strength in the words of her late mother to “have courage and always be kind.”

THE STEPMOTHER (Cate Blanchett) 

The stepmother has had her share of broken dreams, which have left her bitter and full of regret. She longs to have a life that is taken care of from a financial point of view and a happy future for her daughters, but is jealous of any affection her husband bestows on Ella, resenting her for her youth, beauty and charm. Following the death of her husband, the financial pressures and panic cause the stepmother’s jealousy to grow, which manifests itself through cruelty and contempt directed at her stepdaughter.

THE PRINCE (Richard Madden)

The Prince is dashing, intelligent and thoughtful, a kindred spirit to Ella. He loves his father and hopes to one day rule as effectively, and is young and passionate and full of suggestions. Having just returned from war, the Prince now sees there is strength in pacification. The King’s views are more traditional however, and he is hesitant to listen to his son’s ideas.

THE FAIRY GODMOTHER/BEGGAR WOMAN (Helena Bonham Carter)

The Fairy Godmother is a delightfully-eccentric old woman who cares for Ella and longs to see her happy. But she is forgetful and is easily frazzled. She first presents herself to Ella as a disheveled beggar woman searching for food, and is immediately treated with kindness.

THE STEPSISTERS, ANASTASIA & DRISELLA (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera)

Ella’s stepsisters, Anastasia and Drisella, have lived lives of comfort and privilege but are ill-mannered, boorish and unappreciative of all they’ve been given. Both are physically attractive and try to put forth a pleasant and well-groomed exterior, but in truth they are sometimes ugly on the inside.  Lacking self-confidence and desperate for their mother’s approval, both girls are envious of Ella’s beauty and grace, neither of which they possess, which causes them to treat her unkindly.

THE KING (Derek Jacobi) 

A much-loved and successful ruler, the King is proud of his son and wants to see him happy and leading a fulfilling life. But his health is failing, and while needing to ensure the Kingdom will be in good hands once he is gone, is firmly set in his ways and cautious about making any changes.

THE GRAND DUKE (Stellan Skarsgård) 

The Grand Duke is a pragmatic and calculating ally of the royal family. To him, marriage is nothing more than a business arrangement, and he believes the Prince should marry someone politically valuable to the royal family. He feels it is his duty to prevent the Prince from finding – and marrying – Ella, and teams up with her stepmother to make sure it does not happen.

THE CAPTAIN (Nonso Anozie) 

The Captain is advisor and best friend to the Prince. Intelligent, loyal and dignified, he is responsible for the Prince’s safety and well-being, and does so with quiet nobility.

I was so excited for this movie to come out that I hosted a Cinderella Theme Party last month to get in the spirit .