Disney's Cinderella (2015)

Before there was Elsa and Anna, there was Cinderella. The story is known to all, but still intrigues and delights the masses, especially little girls (and their mothers, too). Disney’s newest Cinderella movie is a live action film that stays true to the story we love, but also updates and expands on it. There is some singing, although it is much less than the animated movie, and there is even an action scene.

My favorite story-line expansion in Cinderella is the development of the story and characters of the parents. In most variations of this story, Cinderella’s mother usually only gets a brief mention and her father a slightly longer share of the screen time. You see Cinderella’s mother mothering and loving her. You see her fall ill, and you are there when she passes on. As a mother I really appreciated this addition, although the mother’s final scene is a scene requiring tissues. Then we get to see the father for a few scenes before he dies. The viewer knows that these deaths are coming, but they are still very hard to take. You will care for these characters and mourn them along with Cinderella.

Grief quickly turns to indignation when Lady Tremaine, the infamous evil stepmother, begins to mistreat Cinderella. Lady Tremaine is expertly portrayed by Cate Blanchett, in a role she was born to play. She is a very convincing evil stepmother and you will hate her. Lily James plays an endearing Cinderella and Richard Madden is the perfect Prince Charming.

As for that action scene I mentioned – it is a lot of fun and very creative. I will not give all the details away, but the scene where the spell is breaking is quite entertaining.

Anna and Elsa also make an appearance in the short film Frozen Fever, which premieres just before Cinderella. It is a fun and cute short that kept the audience laughing and smiling. It is also a timely treat, since Disney just announced that they are beginning production on Frozen 2.