"Cinderella" (movie critique)

CINDERELLA
Movie Poster

The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe decided after 2 weeks of back-to-back action flicks that a slower pace would be nice.  So "Cinderella" was the choice of the week.  After all, anyone at any age can use a little Disney magic.

This version of the fairy tale starts with Ella (Lily James), as the narrator, describing her idyllic childhood being raised by two loving and doting parents.   Her father (Ben Chaplin), a wealthy merchant, often travels for his business and always brings back treasures for his daughter.   Even at a young age Ella had the gift of communicating with and making friends with the animals in and around her home.   This idyllic life comes to an end when her mother becomes ill and dies.   Ella and her father are grief stricken.   He eventually re-marries and brings home his new wife and her 2 daughters.  There is am immediate dislike of Ella by the 3 women and they ignore her and make her life uncomfortable.   When Ella's father becomes ill on a business journey and never returns home, the family finances begin to unravel.  The step mother (Cate Blanchett), dismisses the servants and starts treating Ella as a servant to wait and fetch for her and her daughters - Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Dizella (Sophie McShera).  One night Ella is so tired she falls asleep in front of the kitchen fire and when she wakes up she has cinder dust all over her face.  Anastasia and Dizella make fun of her and start calling her Cinderella because of her smudged face.  

Lily James
Cinderella

Ben Chaplin
Father

Cate Blanchett
Stepmother

Holliday Grainger
Anastasia

Sophie McShera
Dizella

Trying to escape the wrath and unkindness of the  3 evil women, Ella goes out riding and meets a handsome young man named Kit (Richard Madden).   When Ella asks him what he does, he replies that he is an apprentice to his father's trade.  Kit becomes enchanted by her beauty as well as her kind and generous nature.   When the rest of the hunting party begins to catche up with Kit, Ella rides off equally smitten with him.

Richard Madden
Prince

Kit's father, the King (Derek Jacobi), wants him to choose a princess for a wife from the ones who are attending the king's party.  The King tells his son that the wedding match must be made for the sake of the country and to be able to form alliances with other countries.  But Kit has only one woman on his mind to make his bride.  Kit requests of his father that all the single ladies of the country be invited to the ball as well - hoping that Ella will attend.

Derek Jacobi
King

When the evil trio receive their invitation, new frocks are made for them to attend the ball.  Ella must make her own dress so she can go as well.  As the carriage arrives to take them to the ball, the sisters tear Ella's dress and take off laughing leaving her standing there forlorn.  She fears that she will never see Kit again.   Just at that time, an old woman appears requesting some food.  When Ella takes pity on her and gives her food, the old woman turns into Ella's fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter)  

OK, The Travelling Toe must admit when the fairy godmother recites that famous line, Bibbidi- Bobbidi- Boo, it was so much fun to hear her say it.

Helena Bonham Carter
Fairy Godmother

Ella does eventually make it to the ball with glass slippers upon her feet and dances with Kit. The Travelling Toe will leave the story line there for you to add your own ending.

Kenneth Branagh directed this sweet, fun movie and told the full story of Ella very well. The costumes were breathtaking and Cate was stunning in all her fashion finery.  And at the ball, Cinderella was in a beautiful blue sparkly ball gown and Kit had on his prince attire which had blue on the tunic collar and cuffs and made them look beautifully matched  dancing together.  The stage settings were amazing too, just like a fairy tale.

Even at this stage of our lives, The Friday Movie Mavens and the Travelling Toe still enjoy a happily ever after ending.

The Travelling Toe awards this movie 1 big toe and 1 middle toe up...oh, wait they can't be up, not in a glass slipper!!

PS:  If you are a Downton Abbey fan, then you will recognize Lily James (Rose) and Sophie McShera (Daisy).


Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional movie critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.