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Live-action 'Cinderella' enlivens classic tale with twists
Cate Blanchett in Disneyâs live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, Cinderella
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Cate Blanchett in Disney's live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. AP Photo/Disney, Jonathan Olley
When Walt Disney Pictures releases the live-action Cinderella inspired by its 1950 animated feature, some might think: Do we need another adaptation of the fairy tale?
Cinemas have been barraged with more than 30 movies inspired by Charles Perrault's Cendrillon story, to the point that the bedtime story becomes too familiar, if not dull. As much as we fear that it will be tedious and saccharine, Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella manages to revive the fairy tale's classic charm and revamp it with interesting twists.
The heroine is a winsome and kind girl named Ella (Lily James), whose father (Ben Chaplin) remarries with Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) following the demise of his wife.
When her father unexpectedly dies on a business trip, Lady Tremaine dismisses all of the house's staff and forces Ella to do all the chores at their meadow-grit house, as well as cater to the needs of her two querulous daughters, Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drizella (Sophie McShera).
Ella endures her step family's ill treatments by repeatedly reminding herself of her late mother's words: 'Have courage and be kind.'
Scriptwriter Chris Weitz puts a twist into the classic tale in a scene in which Ella encounters a dashing palace employee named Kit (Richard Madden) in the woods.
Ella's beauty and personality make a lasting impression on Kit, who turns out to be the Prince, prompting him to invite nobles and commoners to the palace in the hope of meeting with Ella again.
Weitz (who has also helmed The Twilight Saga: New Moon and is writing an upcoming Stars Wars spin-off) also stirs behind-the-throne intrigues in the fairy tale, with the ailing King (Derek Jacobi), under the influence of the Grand Duke (Stellan Skarsgård), urging the Prince to marry a princess for the benefit of their little kingdom.
James embodies the title character with a graceful yet bright demeanor, while Madden fulfills the expectations to be a charming, azure-eyed prince. James is known for her role in British series Downton Abbey, while Madden acts in HBO's Game of Thrones.
Oscar winner Blanchett delivers the complexity of Lady Termaine, who is deeply sorrowed by the death of her two husbands and her failure to live the perfect life that she dreamed of. On the other side, Termaine is a cruel, devious lady.
Helena Bonham Carter enlivens the Fairy Godmother's playful character with the right amount of her signature kooky demeanor.
It is a relief to know that Branagh employs special effects wisely. The major use of CGI takes place when the Fairy Godmother uses her magic wand to create a dazzling golden carriage from a pumpkin, aside from the transformation of the mice, a goose and two lizards.
The cinematography enhances the film's romance and fantastical elements. The camera follows the whirling dance movements of Cinderella and the Prince at the ball. It closely captures the joy of the love-struck couple while at the same time lets the audience admire the palace's spectacular ballroom.
Like any other princess-themed movie, some moviegoers may turn their eyes to the dresses. Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell brings the iconic Cinderella blue dress with excessive fluffiness ' similar to one of the animated versions and worn flawlessly by James.
The stepsisters' outfits, as they should be, are a riot of candy colors and tacky patterns. Lady Termaine is a fashionable villain with her ravishing dresses, in particular the jewel-green satin dress.
While showing more complexity through the palace's political intrigues and Lady Termaine's character, the film is still a sweet version of Cinderella. (It does not depict Cinderella's stepsisters cutting off their toes and heels to fit their feet into the glass slipper, as told in the Grimm Brothers' book).
Its dreamy and sweet romance may displease some moviegoers, but in general Cinderella is a captivating tale about kindness, resilience and forgiveness. It arguably is a new achievement for Disney following its previous live-action movies, Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland, that failed to garner positive reviews.
In Indonesia, actress Sandra Dewi has been chosen to become the ambassador of the film, earning her the privilege of wearing the signature blue dress and sharing her own, ehem, Cinderella moments. Meanwhile, Indonesian sweetheart Raisa sings 'Mimpi Adalah Harapan Hati', the Indonesian version of Cinderella's soundtrack 'Dream is the Wish Your Heart Makes'.
While noting its efforts to capture the attention of a wider audience, Cinderella, in fact, does not need such gimmicks. The movie has plentiful spells to be cast on Frozen-fever children, as well as their parents.
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Cinderella
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Script: Chris Weitz
Cast: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, Stellan Skarsgård, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Helena Bonham Carter
Music: Patrick Doyle
Cinematography: Haris Zambarloukos
Production company: Walt Disney Pictures
Run time: 105 minutes
