Genres
Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Country
USA
Cast
Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Nonso Anozie, Stellan Skarsgard, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Ben Chaplin, Hayley Atwell, Eloise Webb, Rob Brydon, Jana Perez, Alex Macqueen
Storyline
When her father (Ben Chaplin) passes away, Ella (Lily James) finds at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her stepsisters (Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger) and is forced to be a servant in her own house. But things are about to change after she meets a fascinating stranger.
Opinion
There aren't many sure things in life, but one thing I know for sure is that Disney will never, and I repeat never be able to make a charming live-action remake of their fairy tales classics as Cinderella ended up being another visually stunning film that unfortunately feels incomplete.
The story is basically the same as the original, pretty simple and predictable. Only this time around it is tremendously boring and it made me realise that the story isn't that interesting to begin with and that it should have never been made into a film in the first place.
However, there's a little improvement over the original. Although it's not a plot twist - I would have loved one -, there's a nice addition that allows to develop the relationship between Ella and the Prince and makes it more believable if compared to the original where they immediately fall in love. Not even a spell would work that fast. A, so the characters have a bit more of development and backstory that allow us to know them a bit better, especially the Prince.
Still, the film is pretty boring. And most of the characters aren't memorable at all. Especially all the animal sidekicks. And the uninspired performances don't help either. Cate Blanchett (basically the reason I watched this) is quite remarkable as the stepmother but she's enough to make this film great.
Nor enough are the visuals. The costumes are stunning, so are the sets. And the special effects are equally good - the transformations both of the dress and pumpkin are very impressive - and yet I would have preferred more real sets to all those green screens. It takes away from the film.
Sono una delle poche persone che ha apprezzato molto questo primo live action, credo! Visivamente affascinante, al cinema mi rapì, lo ammetto. Non l'ho più rivisto: Potrei cambiare idea, forse.
ReplyDeleteChe fortuna! Io volevo proprio farmelo piacere ma purtroppo non ci sono riuscita.
DeleteThis one bored me, too. I won't say they can't make a charming live action version of an animated classic, though. I was quite charmed by The Jungle Book, if we're counting that as "live action" since only Mowgli wasn't made in a computer.
ReplyDeleteMy bad, The Jungle Book was amazing. I was talking about princess Disney movies and apparently I forgot to write that. I'll blame the heat for that!
DeleteI want to see this film despite the critique. I love Drew Barrymore's version very much. Maybe they need to go back to the original Grimm Fairy Tale. Her step mom and her nasty daughters actually call her Cinderslut. Cinderslut goes to her mom's grave and talks to her. The tree she planted at her grave sprouts the dresses that she wears along with the shoes..no glass slipper. At the end, as befitting mideviel times, the stepdaughters after cutting off their heel and toes to fit into the shoes have their eyes plucked out by the birds. I can't remember what happens to the alter mom but I think it involves some torture:)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen that one. It sounds interesting though, I'll have to check it out.
Delete