I really like Disney’s classic animated films; they’re
important to me in a big sort of way.
That is why I do not appreciate Disney’s recent streak of live-action
remakes of said animated features. First
there was Tim Burton’s Alice
in Wonderland, which was awful; then there was Maleficent, which was
worse. The original films feel timeless,
and I resent that these remakes are turning them into something undeniably modern.
Cinderella, which is the first in a new huge group of
live-action remakes of Disney’s doing, does something those previous examples
do not; It respects the source material.
Not just the animated film that most people think of when they think of
Cinderella, but the original story as well.
The movie doesn’t feel like it’s trying to go back and defile a beloved
classic, it instead feels like its simply paying homage to it.
Cinderella does not save the princes’ life in this new
flick, nor does she learn that being a strong independent woman is more
important than any man. The movie stays
true to what the original Cinderella was, a simple fantasy; a love story. The movie is able to dance around some of the
questionable elements from the 1950’s animated pic, while changing the story
very little.
Is the live action Cinderella as charming as the other? No; nor does it have the same narrative
energy or lovable cast of animal cartoon characters. I doubt I will ever say to myself, “I think I’d
rather watch the 2015 remake Cinderella today, and not the animated one.” That said the Cinderella remake did a lot to
remind me of why I liked its source material in the first place. It may not be as charming and fun as I’d
like, but my expectations are hard to meet in that category, and I enjoyed the
heck out of this movie regardless.
Its faults are large in number but small in stature. The dialogue is a little forced, the
beginning is a little slow and the step-sisters are a little too annoying. The movie might have seriously benefited from
another script draft or two, and the acting is occasionally stale.
The movies faults, however, are widely over encompassed by
its strengths. Cinderella, the remake,
is able to get to the heart of the Cinderella story in a very intelligent way;
and Kenneth Branagh’s direction
is exquisite. The acting is, with a few
exceptions, wonderful; especially from Cate Blanchett whose evil stepmother
carries large sections of the film. The
plot, at the same time, does just enough to differentiate itself from the
original, while still tapping into the child-like wonder that we associate with
Disney animation.
Cinderella is a corny one-dimensional love story; but leave
it to Kenneth Branagh to make the best gosh-darn one-dimensional love story he
could muster. Is the film simplistic and
unrealistic? Of course it is! That’s why it’s called a fantasy. What we have here is a fantasy with some
beautiful visuals, likable characters and an entertaining plot. What more could you want from a movie called
Cinderella? Despite all of my
belly-aching about this remake not being as good as the original, I will
probably check this one out again. It’s
full of fun and wonder, and that is exactly what you want a movie like this to
be. If you’re taking you’re daughter to
the movies, I can’t think of a better flick to see than Cinderella.
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