On Mar. 13, Disney released a modernized version of “Cinderella,” with notable actors and actresses, such as Lily James (Cinderella) and Helena Bonham Carter (Fairy Godmother). In this version, Disney updated the film with beautiful cinema-graphics, costumes, and a phenomenal set design to make it genuinely come to life — instead of a 1950’s animated movie.
Most people know the Disney classic, “Cinderella:” the “bibbiti-bobbiti-boo;” the clock strikes midnight; the forgotten glass slipper; then the hunt for its owner. It is a tale known and loved, and its plot has been the same for decades. However, before I saw the 2015 reboot, I was hesitant.
Recently, Disney has taken a dark twist on most their updated remakes. For example, in “Maleficent” starring actress Angelina Jolie, moviegoers learned Maleficent’s backstory, consisting of haunting memories and unfortunate events in her youth. I was worried that the filmmakers would ruin such a classic story like Cinderella, by adding a dark twist or surprise backstory to it as well.
As I was viewing the film, I waited for a plot twist or shocker that never came. I was pleasantly surprised, and a little relived, that Disney kept one of the best princess stories in its original form. Nothing changed in the plot, and, against a recent trend, there was no dark twist to the story.
James and Bonham-Carter portrayed their parts with humor and sophistication, which kept the characters true to their form. Their earnest facial expressions and witty one-liners modernized the film to make it more enjoyable, but did not affect the story.
The cinematography was exceptional, especially in the scene where Cinderella prepares for the ball, enchantingly transforming into blue a gown. It was exiting, from a moviegoer’s perspective, to see the magical realism in such a popular scene.
One minor disappointment, however, was the evil stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters (Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger). Their acting was decent, but I did not get the feeling of hostility when it was their moment on screen. It was as if the characters had become soft. It did not ruin the movie by any means, but it was a noticeable difference as opposed to the traditional tale.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Disney is known for their traditional, magic-enriched films, and this movie did not fall short. The graphics were not cheesy, the plot remained consistent, and most of the actors were true to their parts. “Cinderella” was a perfect, updated adaptation of a known and loved Disney classic.