Every little girl grows up watching and cheering for good to overcome evil in the movie, Cinderalla. Every so often the movie gets remade. So, the question is, how did this version stack up?
Well, this one brings some well-known stars Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Cater, and Lily James (the infamous, Cousin Rose from Downton Abbey. One of the evil stepsisters is the actress that plays Daisy Mason on Downton Abbey (Sophia McShera). The ever versatile Helena Bonham Carter plays Ella's Fairy Godmother.
It starts with a beautiful, sweet family of three who live in a lovely house. Alas, the mother gets sick and passes away. Before she dies, she tells her daughter, Ella to have courage and be kind.
Ella and her dad live just the two of them for years, but over time he gets lonely and decides to get married. Ella supports him and wants him to be happy. That is, before she meets her awful, new stepmother (played by Cate Blancett) and wretched stepsisters. Ella keeps a positive attitude despite their snarky comments. Her dad has to go away of business and next thing you know Ella lets herself get talked out of her own room in favor of the far away, scary attic. News soon comes that Ella's father has gotten sick and died.
With money no longer coming into the house, soon the servants and cooks are all let go. Who is to do the work for the demanding stepmother and stepsisters? Ella is; she works tirelessly, often she falls asleep reading by the fire. Her stepmother and stepsisters cruelly call her, Cinderella.
One day while riding her horse, Ella sees a wild stag running from the royal hunting party. She helps the stag get away and meets the royal party. She has a good conversation with one young, handsome member of the party, who unbeknownst to Ella is the prince. She persuades him to quit hunting the poor animal.
The prince is under pressure to get married, specifically to have an arranged marriage. He doesn't want that. He decides to host a ball for everyone. Ella is so excited to go and prepares her nicest outfit, her mom's dress. She goes down to leave with her "family." They think it's preposterous that she even thought she could go. Her cruel stepmother tears Ella's beloved dress and leaves for the party. Ella is comforted by her only friends, mice. Soon while outside, an old lady approaches and asks for a drink. Ella obliges and the old lady turns out to be Ella's fairy godmother. Her fairy godmother gets her ready for the ball, including fixing and upgrading Ella's dress. A pumpkin is turned into a carriage. She's given comfy glass slippers. A goose becomes a driver and a lizard becomes part of the team as well. Ella's mice friends become beautiful, white horses. Away Ella goes to the ball, looking radiant. Her fairy godmother gives her the ability to not be recognized by her "family" and warns her that everything will change back by midnight.
Though arriving late, Ella makes a grand entrance and the prince is awed. They dance and talk; true love. The clock strikes 12 and Ella must leave. She runs and leaves behind a glass slipper. The prince sends people after her, but alas she gets away.
The prince continues to face pressure to marry and to do so strategically with a princess from another country. He instead decides to seek far and wide for Cinderella. The news travels that he wants to marry the girl from the ball. They line up every maiden far and wide to try on the glass slipper the mystery girl left behind, but alas, no Cinderella. So, there's one house left, Cinderella's. Cinderella's awful family leave her oblivious to the prince's arrival and declaration that every maiden try on the slipper. The stepsisters aren't matches, thankfully. While getting ready to leave, one of the prince's attendants hears the voice of a maiden singing. They find Cinderella and that she is the owner of the slipper. The prince is overjoyed, they wed, and happily ever after. Ella's positive attitude kept her getting bitter, as many would in her position.
Although different from the other Cinderella movies, this was unique and sweet. I liked it. See what you think. :)
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