Review of Cinderella (2013) by Aaron M — 10 Jul 2015

I was pleasantly surprised at how true to the original while still expanding on the story this movie was. The cast was good and believable. The CG was a bit meh, but I can easily overlook that if there's not a lot of it. When I realized Helena Bonham Carter was the Fairy Godmother, I was worried this would turn into a bad Tim Burton knock-off, but she toned down her weirdness to an appropriately quirky level for the role and was pretty enjoyable. Cate Blanchett brought a whole new aspect to the role of the Wicked Stepmother, making her a much more empathetic character. She wasn't always evil, and Cate showcases her acting chops by actually making me feel a bit sorry for her by the end. Richard Madden was such a charming Prince Kit that even my grandmother commented on how great and handsome he was (and she doesn't say things like that usually). I figured out that I recognized him as the King in the North, Robb Stark, from "Game of Thrones," which did throw me off for a bit. He didn't murder/wasn't murdered by anyone! But I like him as a sweet, handsome, good-hearted prince. Lily James was truly sickeningly sweet and just perfect as Cinderella. It's hard for me to believe such naivety on screen, but she pulled it off well. And Nonso Anozie is a favorite actor of mine. His joviality is infectious, and I smiled every time he was on screen. Sophie McShera (Drisella) and Holliday Grainger (Anastasia) were delightfully one-dimensional and easy to hate and pity at the same time.

This version of Cinderella really sticks to the old story's plot, but it expands on the characters in a way that matures the film quite nicely. There's still magic and love and glass slippers, but it's complemented by good character depth and growth that develops the backstory much more than the cartoon ever could. I would watch this version again, even if there's no singing to speak of.