Disney’s latest film is their live-action portrayal of the beloved classic fairytale, Cinderella. Having grown up in the generation where this cartoon was especially popular, I had very high hopes. As many of you can imagine, making a classic fairytale cartoon into a live-action film is a tough feat that is difficult to execute without ruining the essence of the story. But to no surprise, Disney did what they do best and gave us all a truly romantic and heartfelt movie with a great cast. One of the things I did really love about the film is how perfectly everyone looked for their part. Ella (AKA Cinderella- wait until you see where the full name comes from) is played by the quite adorable Lily James. With her natural beauty and easy grace, Lily James truly did look and act like our time-honored princess Cinderella. Ella’s prince charming, played by Game of Thrones actor Richard Madden, may have had a different hair style than the prince in the cartoon version but his acting was spot on. Funny, sweet, and a bit broody, Richard Madden is just as handsome as he is talented. The film’s other cast members were just as fantastic for their roles including Cate Blanchett as Stepmother, Helena Bonham Carter as Fairy Godmother and Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger as the Stepsisters.
Let me tell you the absolute best part of the film- the costumes. Crowns off (haha, get it?) to Sandy Powell, the costume designer for the movie because she completely outdid herself. Every single costume was so ornate and beyond mesmerizing to look at. And following suit with the incredible costumes were the wonderful set design and props (credit to Casey Banwell and Francesca Lo Schiavo). Overall, the aesthetics of the movie made the two hour running time much easier to sit through.
Another aspect of the film that was somewhat shocking but happily accepted was the fact that it wasn’t a musical. That’s right, folks, there wasn’t a single breakout of song and dance in the whole movie. For those of you that were expecting a live-action rendition of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” you may be a bit disappointed but I promise there are other aspects of the film to make up for it.
In conclusion, I think that every teenage girl and anyone with children should definitely go see Cinderella. It is a very happy film much like the classic cartoon and you will have that “feel good” smile on your face when you leave. Even though it may not be the most rich or unpredictable plot, it is entertaining and fun.
FINAL SCORE: A-
