Cinderella

I wonder when this girl is going to get some laces so she doesn't keep losing her shoes? That's right another Cinderella movie has come out, this one closely following the original Disney version of the story.

This story begins with Ella (Lily James) and her mother and father in Ella's "kingdom," a beautiful cottage set in a forest meadow. While Ella is growing up her imagination soars and she has fun day dreaming and ruling over her loyal "subjects." Until one day her mother becomes gravely ill and passes away leaving Ella and her father heartbroken. Before passing away Ella's mother tells her to always remain gentle and kind. Years pass and Ella's father decides to remarry this time to the Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) who has two daughters of her own: Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera), who while fair are rather...stupid. While her father is within the house the women treat Ella reasonably well but when he leaves for business they treat her no better than a servant. Then one day Ella's father doesn't come back and Ella is left all alone with her evil step-mother and step-sisters. Due to lack of income the house staff is let go and Ella is made to do all of the house work, but true to the promise she made to her mother she remains gentle and kind no matter what she is put through. Ella's only ray of hope is the chance to see her new friend Mr. Kit (Richard Madden), an apprentice she met while riding through the woods, at a royal ball being thrown at the palace. However, her step-mother is determined to keep her at home and not let her dance one step at the ball. Once Lady Tremaine and the girls depart Ella runs into her garden where she is met by her Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter). With a whisk of her wand Ella's Godmother gets Ella all set to go to the ball, with an outfit complete with beautiful glass slippers, but she warns her that once the last chime of midnight fades the spell will be broken and everything will go back to normal. Ella agrees to be back before then and jumps into her carriage, but once she reaches the palace she is in for a huge surprise. Mr. Kit is actually the prince, and once she arrives he only has eyes for her and the two of them dance the night away. That is, until the clock starts to chime, then quicker than you can say bibidee bobidee boo Ella is back in her carriage and riding off into the night, except she seems to be missing one of her glass slippers...... The prince now stuck with a shoe and no idea who it belongs to, makes a promise  marry none but the mystery princess. Now if only he can find her.......

I went and saw this movie with my sister, and I have to say that going into this movie I had my doubts about if it was going to be any good. But now that I have seen it I have to say that it was not half bad. Some small tie-ins to the original Cinderella that made me really happy, like that Anastasia and Drisella's dresses were the same color. My favorite part was when the Fairy Godmother is working on transforming Cinderella for the ball because she was making it really funny by saying stuff like she only works with "veg." I also love that this movie had a deeper meaning than the original story (not that the original was bad); that sometimes you can be kind to others but they are not kind in return, but that you should never stop being kind and should always be willing to forgive. I recommend this movie to anybody who likes a good princess movie (and this could mean anybody). This is a family friendly movie so it is safe for all of the tiny humans that might be going with you. 

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars