Instead, he takes that wheel, polishes it up, bathes in golden sunlight, and invites us all to marvel at what a grand old tire it is. And, certainly, Cinderella is someone who should stay in a young girl's heart and mind longer than Dakota Johnson's pathetic character in "Fifty Shades of Grey" playing in the next theater down at your local cineplex this weekend.īranagh doesn't try and reinvent the wheel here. I would much rather have my daughter - I have a 10-year-old - look up to Lily James' title character here than most all of the snarky, entitled teen characters on the various Disney Channel or Nickelodeon shows. But his Cinderella is also a role model, a person to look up to, a heroine. Little girls are certainly going to want her wardrobe, her shoes, her accessories, her hair, and her man. Yes, Branagh's Cinderella IS a Disney princess.
But it also shows the virtue of getting through such difficult times and not letting them change who you fundamentally are. It concedes that one might have to go through long periods of toil and hardship. It acknowledges the ugliness of the world, the threat of loss, the pessimism. It's about protecting your sense of wonder, your belief that things will get better. It's about being rewarded for one's kindness, decency, and bravery even when life has dealt them some terrible blows. But Branagh and screenwriter Chris Weitz contend that that is not what the "Cinderella" fantasy is about. Sure, little Mary may not grow up to live in a palace or sit on a throne or marry some handsome guy on a horse with the perfect teeth. OUR TAKE: 8 out of 10 I know some people have issues with showing little girls "princess fantasies." Why set your daughters or your granddaughters or your nieces up to believe that there is a Prince Charming in their future, that true love is possible, that they can live happily ever after? The new live-action version of "Cinderella," directed by Kenneth Branagh, rather brazenly and open-heartedly asks. But Cinderella is visited by her Fairy Godmother (HELENA BONHAM CARTER), who magically provides her with a gown, glass slippers, a carriage, horses, and footmen to ensure that she will be on equal footing with everyone else at the big event. The King's Grand Duke (STELLAN SKARSGARD), meanwhile, tries to strong-arm Kit into falling for one of the real princesses attending the gala. Lady Tremaine instantly angles to have the Prince fall for either Anastasia or Drizella so she and they can return to a life of privilege and comfort. Kit puts a call out to the land that all fair maidens are welcome at the next palace ball. Only she has disappeared back into the forest without telling him her name. Kit, though, is instantly smitten with Cinderella and wants to marry her. Kit is indeed the son of a dying king (DEREK JACOBI), who wants his boy to marry a princess from a nearby land to ensure the security of his small kingdom after he is gone. Life is grim for Cinderella until one day she goes horseback riding in the forest and meets Kit (RICHARD MADDEN), literally her Prince Charming. She even banishes the young woman to the cold attic where her only friends are some mischievous mice. Left destitute, Lady Tremaine dismisses the home's hired hands and instead makes Cinderella wait on her and her two daughters hand and foot.
A few years later, her dad remarries and his new wife is a cold-hearted schemer named Lady Tremaine (CATE BLANCHETT), who comes to the manor with two snide, bickering teenage daughters, Anastasia (HOLLIDAY GRANGER) and Drizella (SOPHIE McSHERA).ĭuring one of her father's frequent business trips, he also becomes ill and dies. But this idyllic existence comes to an end when Cinderella's mom takes sick and dies. Their days are spent laughing and playing and caring for animals. PLOT: In a land far away, Cinderella (LILY JAMES) lives with her good-hearted mother (HAYLEY ATWELL) and adoring father (BEN CHAPLIN), occupying a lovely country estate in the forest. QUICK TAKE: Fantasy/Romance: A kind and brave common girl falls for a handsome prince, but runs afoul of her evil stepmother and wicked stepsisters who are repulsed by her goodness.
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