https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Z0Fgmqrjk
We all grew up with the animated version of Cinderella, and now the legendary fairy tale comes to life. The Disney live action version of the classic story is just as beautiful as if it was drawn and you can own the DVD/Blu-ray combo pack now.
When I heard about this movie, I was upset with Disney for doing it. Then I watched it and I am thrilled that they did it. To see the Princess that many of us girls wanted to be when we were kids, look like you and me, it makes the fairy tale seem achievable. Plus, I don’t know how they did it, but they made it look like it was a living dream. And I am not only talking about Richard Madden who plays the Prince.
The movie starts off with a young happy Cinderella (Lily James) and her parents adoring their pride and joy. Then, her beautiful mother passes away and after her father marries her Wicked Stepmother (Cate Blanchett), he dies. Now, her evil stepmother is left nearly broke raising her two horrible daughters, Drisella (Sophie McShera) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Cinderella. While the sisters live the life they always led, Cinderella lives like a maid to her stepfamily. Her only friends are the animals that live in their house.
One day, she goes into the forest, she meets a man and they have an instant connection. Neither one tells the other one who they really are. Shortly afterwards, an invite goes out to all the women of the land to attend a ball to meet the Prince and maybe marry him. Cinderella’s stepmother tells her she can’t go, but doesn’t stop her. She makes her own dress and is destined to attend. Then when her horrendous stepfamily destroys her gown, she thinks her dream of going is over. After they leave, her Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) comes to help her go to ball by magically giving her the most beautiful dress and transportation. Once she is there, she meets her Prince who is they Prince, but she needs to leave before midnight. When the clock strikes 12, she must return home because everything her Fairy Godmother gave her will disappear.
She leaves before telling her Prince Charming who she is and now he must find his mysterious love. Only problem is that her stepmother is doing everything to keep Cinderella hidden. Will he find the woman whose foot fits the glass slipper or is their love story shattered?
Cinderella is not exactly like the story we grew up with, and it is those little difference that makes this special movie even more special.
Lily James captures Cinderella’s essence. Blanchett is so reprehensible as the Wicked Stepmother, you can’t help but to despise the lovable actress. Together they make a wonderful movie even majestic.
What makes this DVD/Blu-ray combo even more majestic is the special features. The featurettes tell us they made the animated classic into a live action version that works, what it was like working with animals and how they made the ballroom scene seem like a dream come true. While most movies have an alternate ending, this one has an alternate beginning. For you Frozen fans, Frozen Fever is included for you to have yet another song from that movie stuck in your head.
So just like the glass slipper, Cinderella is the perfect fit for anyone’s home video collection.
