Review of Cinderella (2013) by Dann M — 19 Jan 2016

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Cinderella is an enchanting live-action adaptation of Disney's animated classic. After the death of her father a young maiden named Ella finds herself at the hands of an abusive stepmother, but she soon finds hope after meeting a mysterious gentleman while out riding one day.

Newcomer Lily James is especially charming as Cinderella, and Helena Bonham Carter gives an incredibly whimsical and inspired performance as the Fairy Godmother. Additionally, the costumes and set designs are extraordinarily well-done, giving the film a real fairy tale-like quality.

However, the writers don't really do anything new with the story, and most of the characters are one-dimensional. Yet overall, Disney's Cinderella is a magical family film that maintains the charm and beauty of the animated original.