Review of Cinderella (2013) by Kenneth E — 30 Mar 2016

"Cinderella" is one of those rare films I enjoyed despite being mentally-prepared to hate it. I have not been fond of Disney's recent cinematic movement of de-Disney-fying their own animated films, turning the classics into darker, live action nightmares ("Sleeping Beauty," "Alice in Wonderland," "Jungle Book").

Yet, I was thoroughly delighted by "Cinderella," in part because the story was kept simple and true to the Disney tradition. I will credit Kenneth Branagh for his directing abilities, and for keeping things classic without relying completely on Nolan-darkness or CGI. For the first time in years, I walked out of a Disney blockbuster feeling good, the way Disney films use to consistently deliver goodness. Much of my positive reactions hinged on Branagh's humanistic approach to characterization; due to the director's experience in theater, the performances were the film's primary special effects. Ella was lovable without being sarcastic and strong without kicking butt every 10 minutes. Her heart-of-gold-smile came off as authentic, as did the stepsister's obnoxious giggles and arm-and-feet flailing. The biggest surprise was the fact that I actually enjoyed both Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter, (which is saying a lot because I have grown tired of seeing these two actresses star in everything new under the sun since their previous entanglements with "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter.").

The second strong factor is the music, (even though something felt "off" without the inclusion of songs, particularly "Bippity Boppity Boo" and "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes.") The score is stirring and feels like the music was meant to be here, unlike the majority of films that treat score as background white noise. "Cinderella's" score is purposeful and adds spice to the plot, reminding me of how music was incorporated in live action family films of the early 1990's and earlier. And the end credits "Strong" performed by Sona Rele tops things off nicely.

The elegance of the costumes and sets is another reason to be proud; the ballroom dance sequence featuring dozens of billowing, intricately-designed gowns is eye-popping and classic Kenneth Branagh in every way. The iconic glass slipper has been reinterpreted to look sleeker with dozens of reflecting crystalline angles and accented by a crystalline butterfly; the swirling fairy-dust-like magic transforming Cinderella from pauper to princess is done so well it gives the original 1950 iconic dress-transformation scene a run for its money. Add to this the over-the-top golden pumpkin carriage, fireworks display, and aristocratic flavor of the ball, you have one of the most pleasing sequences in recent Disney memory. I wish this sequence went on longer.

And here lies the main problem with the film: the good parts should have lasted longer. Filmmakers spend a great deal of time explaining how Ella became known as Cinderella, how her parents died, and why she stays humble and happy despite the hardships that followed. Oh, I wished the script could have been amended, taking more time to delve into the Prince's kingdom and his side of the story. I especially longed for a more fleshed-out sequence of dialogue between Cinderella and the Prince before the clock struck 12 midnight.

There needed to be more Fairy Godmother. Like the animated film, the fairy godmother only appeared in one brief scene; Helen Bonham Carter had the potential to be the high point of the film with her silly antics and humorous dialogue; her lack of screen time was a wasted potential, and the fact that she narrated the film only made me more frustrated in what could have been.

In the end, "Cinderella" is well-played because it is a focused, elegant film with a specific "style" in mind that greatly complemented the theme and tone of the original Walt Disney animated masterpiece. It did not stray too far from what is expected (yes, I'm looking at you "Maleficent,") and was charming for the sake of being charming, lovable without being polluted by overly-dark tones which seem to plague all fantasy films in recent memory. While I miss the songs of the original 1950 animated version, this new version is good, if not the "definitive" version of the story. Expect to see another "Cinderella" remake from Disney within the next thirty years.