[yasr_overall_rating]
When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella’s fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger in the woods.
At the onset of this film, I found it really difficult to be sympathetic towards a seemingly flawless little girl named Ella (Eloise Webb) who is treated like a princess before she ever comes into the running to be Queen. She has beautiful skin, teeth, hair and a nice little figure that all gets better with age. Her parents make her the focus of their lives and she doesn’t seem to have a care in the world, and then life happens. After the loss of her mother (Hayley Atwell) at a young age, her father dedicates years of his life to ensure that she never feels alone and that she is well taken care of. She has a positive attitude about everything, living by her mother’s motto to have courage and be kind.
When Ella gives her father permission to marry Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) and accepts her two new stepsisters, Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drizella (Sophie McShera), as her own, she immediately became my new best friend. To remain cheerful and respectful after this trio of clowns do everything possible to tear her down emotionally and physically, she immediately becomes admirable. In the midst of weathering this familial storm, Ella also loses her father and literally becomes a slave in her own home. When the sisters notice smudges on her face that come from the cinder blocks she uses to keep the stove hot, she is affectionately renamed Cinderella.
Cinderella’s horse-riding frenzy into the forest to get away from it all, changes her life forever. It is there that she meets Kit (Richard Madden) or Prince Charming, who presents himself as an apprentice learning how to do his father’s work. Unbeknownst to Cinderella, Kit is being groomed to become King. When Kit’s father, (Derek Jacobi), coordinates a Town Ball in order to find a wife for his son, every woman in the town is invited so that she might have the opportunity to become Kit’s wife. Cinderella, who unfortunately is banned from the ball by her stepmother, devises her own plan to have one last chance to see Kit.
When Cinderella’s plan fails miserably, her Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) steps in to take over the reins and give Cinderella the ultimate opportunity to steal the show. In the end and against all odds, Cinderella defeats the competition and ends up living happily ever after with the love of her life. Her wit, will and determination teach valuable lessons about coping and endurance. Unapologetically, it is chock full of the stuff every girl’s dreams are made of. Kenneth Branagh’s talent in directing and Haris Zambarloukos’ extraordinary cinematography, make this updated version of the 1950’s Disney classic unforgettable!
In theaters March 13th
