Cinderella (2015)

Rating 4.5/5

Cinderella is probably the most retold fairy tale of all time. With the countless adaptations that have made their mark on the Cinderella history, Cinderella(2015) takes the story and makes it new again.

The movie starts out as many Cinderella stories do, with Ella living a wonderful life with her parents. Tragically, illness strikes and Ella loses her mother and many years later, her father. The rest of the story is as famous as the title character's name. After her father passes, she is left in the care of her stepmother and stepsisters. She is horribly mistreated by her new family, and is forced into a life of servitude, until one day she meets her Prince Charming. With the help of mice, magic, and breakable footwear, Cinderella is able to find her happily ever after.

Now, what makes this version any different or better than the other numerous Cinderellas of day's past? Cinderella(2015) was the first in the new series of live-action Disney remakes, and being the first, it made itself a tough act to follow. It does a wonderful job at blending both the 1950 animated story and the original fairytale to create a unique and faithful take on a classic. Many of the post 1950 Cinderella movies are a fairytale spin off that take the story and adapt it so it is about Cinderella, but has its' own path, take Ever After starring Drew Barrymore as an example. Cinderella(2015) isn't a direct shot for shot remake of its' animated namesake, but it pays enough homage to the original to make any die-hard Disney fan happy.

With many past versions of this story, and I have seen a lot of them, I have almost always found the role of the Stepmother to be over the top, and frankly quite obnoxious. My only exception to this opinion had been Angelica Huston in Ever After. Now, I have two exceptions, Ms. Huston, and Cate Blanchett. Cate Blanchett's performance of Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother is probably my favorite fairytale villain portrayal. Blanchett creates a character that the audience despises but also feels pity for, and that is not an easy combination to pull off. Blanchett knows exactly how to balance the many sides of Lady Tremaine, and how to keep her staying believable and not crossing the line into ridiculous.

When I saw Cinderella(2015) for the first time, it quickly made a spot in my list of top movie theater experiences. There is nothing like being surrounded by children in princess dresses, having their first ever Cinderella movie experience. It proves what a timeless tale it is, and how it will always make children excited when the slipper fits. Cinderella does have a few silly moments, but it is a movie meant for kids, so that is to be expected. Perhaps my theater memories have clouded my view of the movie, but regardless, the 2015 Cinderella is a wonderful film for both the truly young and the young at heart.