As several little girls shuffled out of the AMC theater in their blue dresses and toy tiaras, it brought back memories of when I dressed the same; the famous Disney tale being my favorite.
On March 13, the remake of the 1950 classic Disney film, “Cinderella”, was released. Just like “Maleficent”, Walt Disney Pictures put a realistic twist in the movie, along with dazzling special effects.
The movie starts with young Ella, played by Eloise Webb, and her loving family in their bright and simple country home. For anyone who knows the classic story, things fall downhill when her mother dies. However, she leaves Ella with the heartwarming motto: “Have courage and be kind.”
I will admit, this part got a few tears running down my face.
What makes this remake better than the original, is that it goes more in depth with the relationships between everyone. Everyone knows her mom dies, but in the 2015 “Cinderella”, we see how much of an impact her mother makes on her, and the kind of person she raises Ella to become.
By the time she is grown up, Ella is played by Lily James. She is a spitting image of her late mom; in appearance and a kind heart, which she will need when a few unlikely people take over her home.
Her horrid stepmother was played by the famous Cate Blanchett, who brought a sour and envious mood to the film. Alongside her were her daughters Anastasia and Drizella.
Together, the trio’s obnoxious clothing, hair, and personalities contrasted perfectly with Ella and her father; and showed what kind of vibe they would bring to, what used to be, a cheerful home.
Although I felt pure hatred for the three, director Kenneth Branagh picked the perfect actresses for the rolls, because that is exactly what the audience should feel.
Another aspect that made this remake unique, was that Ella and Prince Charming (Richard Madden) meet before the Ball is even mentioned in the film. It surprised me, but the familiarity the two had a pleasant and romantic touch that the movie would fail without.
Even though this movie is different from the original, the magic never left.
Maybe it was when Fairy Godmother waved her wand with the famous phrase: “Bippity Boppity Boo!”, or when the glass slipper finally met its original owner, but “Cinderella” definitely lived up to its hype.
It’s hard to talk about the movie without giving away all the positive factors, but when I walked out of AMC, I felt like that little girl again in her blue dress, going home at midnight.
