Cinderella (2015)

Title: Cinderella

Year: 2015

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Rating by the MPAA: PG for mild thematic elements

Official Synopsis: The story of Cinderella follows young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, she finds herself at the mercy of her jealous and cruel new family. (movies.disney.com)

Official Page

Official Trailer

STEPH SAID

Rating: 

Review:

This movie is a beautiful enhancement of a classical story. I can’t find any fault in it. Both the rather new talent and the veteran actors excelled. Although, Cate Blanchett is my favorite. Her beautiful looks, mixed with her cold and stern attitude make for an intimidating woman. 

The movie made some tweaks here and there to help the audiences understand the story better. Yet, the story is exactly as it was before. The small changes explain the reasons’ behind the stepmother’s actions. I love that those reasons don’t justify her or present her as misunderstood. What she’s doing is wrong, but now you know why she’s doing it. Also, the relationship between Cinderella and the prince is seen from a different perspective. Though, most important to me is the explanation of Ella’s decision to stay in her house, enduring the mistreatment. She was keeping some promises she made to her parents years earlier. She could have escape, but decided not to. Marrying the prince was not an escape route either, she didn’t see it as a chance to improve her life or her monetary situation; it was a decision based on mutual attraction. 

Disney has taken a lot of heat in recent years for creating unreasonable expectations for little girls, as well as for creating weak, female characters whose sole purpose is to marry a man. Yet, this movie is all about girl power and freedom of choice.