Cinderella 2015

     Ella is very happy in her childhood with her parents.  She see everything more clearly and better than in reality.  Unfortunately, her mother dies but her father is very good to her and she misses him during his travels for work.  Things change when her father marries a widow with two daughters.  It’s OK while her father is alive but he becomes sick on one of his trips and he dies too.  Her stepmother begins to change and Ella starts living in the attic so the stepsisters can have her bigger room to share.  All the household help is let go to save on money and the tasks are left to Ella.  There is an announcement that a fabulous ball will be held at the castle for the Prince to choose a bride.  Everyone is excited and getting ready but Ella is forbidden to go by her stepmother.

     I liked the characters with animation, the mice, lizards and a goose changed into people for the pumpkin coach.  The mice are cute and they live in the attic with Cinderella.  She tries to follow the advice her mother told her before she died, “Have courage and be kind.”  I also liked the over-the-top dresses and hairstyles.  The glass slippers are beautiful too.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

105 min, Drama directed by Kenneth Branagh with Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Nonso Anozie, Stellan Skarsgard, Sophie McShera, Holiday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Ben Chaplin.

Note:  Imdb 7.1 out of 10, 84% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*.

Special Note:  This is Disney’s first live-action version of its 1950 animated classic.  This movie was filmed in London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, England, UK.  Lily James was in Downton Abbey as Lady Rose MacClare and she lived at Downton after her parents divorced until she married.