Vicky Smith
Student Life Editor
@pinkwritinglady
Produced by Walt Disney as an animation in 1950, the classic “Cinderella” remains popular around the world half a century later. On March 13, 2015, Disney released a new “Cinderella” for a new generation to experience for the first time. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the fairytale remains true to its original positivity, presenting the message, “Have courage, and be kind.”
Narrated by the Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter), who tells the tale as if she were turning the pages of a storybook, the movie begins with Ella’s (Lily James) golden childhood, during which both her parents breathe life, love and wisdom into her.
Years after Ella’s mother (Hayley Atwell) passes away, Ella’s father (Ben Chaplin) later weds Ella’s “evil step-mother” Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett), who has two annoying daughters, Drisella (Sophie McShera) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger).
After Ella’s father passes away, the step family renames her “Cinderella” and designates her as the household maid.
One day, Cinderella meets the prince, who calls himself “Kit,” in the forest. After they depart, the prince cannot wait to see who he calls the “honest, country girl” again.
As the fairytale goes, every maiden in the land attends the ball at the kingdom, and with a bippity-boppity-boo, the Fairy Godmother helps Cinderella go too, but Cinderella leaves behind a glass slipper after her dreamy evening with the prince.
After grieving the death of his father, the prince sends a search party to find the mysterious maiden, and after much difficulty, the prince and Cinderella are finally reunited and granted their much-deserved happy ending.
Though the tale has been re-told countless times, this newest version of “Cinderella” presents modern imagery, fresh creativity and quote-worthy life advice, stunning audiences with its ability to make magic more real to the earthly realm than ever before.
From the glorious architecture of the castle to the bright sparkle of Cinderella’s butterfly-adorned glass slippers, the images in “Cinderella” are remarkably dreamlike.
When Cinderella arrives at the entrance of the ball, the landscape-shot castle is filled with numerous guests, each one wearing his or her own attire of rich color, making viewers feel as if they are going to the ball as well.
Furthermore, the physical appearances of Cinderella and the prince are classically accurate. Cinderella wears a head of long blonde hair, which frames a face that looks youthful, fresh and naturally beautiful. The prince wears a head of thick brown hair, and his face is characterized by ocean-blue eyes and a smile that creases perfectly in the corners of his mouth, revealing straight white teeth.
The physical appearances of the people within the kingdom are diverse, representing racial equality, allowing each viewer to identify with a character on screen.
Perhaps one of the most creative aspects of the film is the magical transformations by the Fairy Godmother. Viewers can see the step-by-step, humorous changes that take place when a pumpkin turns into a golden carriage and animals turn into humans to help operate the carriage.
As the mice slowly grow into horses, the horses momentarily wear mice ears. As a lizard grows into a footman, he wears a tail and pointy teeth even after full transformation.
Though some phrases in the film are cliché so that children can understand the timeless story of “Cinderella,” other phrases are unique.
At the beginning of the movie, the Fairy Godmother says, “Once upon time, there was a girl named Ella who saw the world not always as it was but as it should be,” and Ella’s mother tells Ella to always “have courage, and be kind.”
At the end, as Cinderella walks down the stairs as a servant to face the prince, the Fairy Godmother says there is no magic to help Cinderella this time. She says Cinderella must face the greatest risk that perhaps anyone must: to be seen as she truly is.
Though viewers cannot leave theatres with their own magic wands to solve their problems, they can leave with a better understanding of the power of choosing courage, kindness and honesty in the midst of overwhelming circumstances.
According to the Huffington Post, “[‘Cinderella’] took in $70 million over its first weekend domestically, attained an admirable 83 percent Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and grabbed an impressive ‘A’ CinemaScore from moviegoers.”
Although some critics have plenty to say about its remaking, I greatly enjoyed “Cinderella.” The scenes of grief are heavy, such as the one in which Ella loses her mother, but they allow viewers to see the fairytale characters as people who choose positive futures despite their heartbreaking pasts – an encouraging testimony to audiences of all ages.f