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[tab title="Movie Review"]

Cinderella -Blu-ray Review 2015

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5 stars

Remember when actor/director Kenneth Branagh used to draw fiery criticisms for his lengthy and highly-charged adaptations?  The monumental mounting of Shakespeare’s unabridged version of Hamlet, visualized for the 19th Century, had a mix of people running toward and away from it.  While critically praised, most audiences stayed away.  Well, It seems audiences have finally caught up with him and his passion for forward-thinking adaptations of beloved tales because, while his skills behind the camera remain strong, his turn at the helm of Cinderella is a comercially and critically well-received movie that everyone enjoys. 

This reimaging of Charles Perrault’s classic fairy tale is downright inspirational and is reason enough for the fever of Hollywood’s reimagining of long-sleeping properties to continue.  Full of wisdom, expert nuances, and one hell of a giant heart, Cinderella is not the fractured fairy tale that I was expecting when the project was originally announced.   And, to be clear, Downton Abbey star Lily James is a heavenly vision of beauty and grace as Ella, the victim of her stepmother and stepsister’s continual abuse and jealousies.

You know the story of Cinderella and I seriously doubt there is a person out there who has never – at some point in their life – sat through Walt Disney’s 1950 animated version of the fairy tale.  As you know, there’s mice, a fairy godmother., a spell of enchantment, and, of course, a prince with a found glass slipper in search of the love of his life.  Branagh’s movie keeps the kindness and charming aspects of the animated tale and, through the live-action aspects, allows the film to breath a bit more with moments of great depth and development that the actors embrace. 

Co-starring Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine (otherwise known as the Wicked Stepmother), Richard Madden as Prince Charming, Sophie McShera as Drisella, Holliday Grainger as Anastasia, and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella is cinematic treat that took audiences (myself included) by surprise this summer.  Chris Weitz’s screenplay is as magical as expected and, with plenty of insightful moments of real forgiveness, employs an earnestness long gone unseen in today’s narratives which, given Weitz’s ties to the Twilight adaptations, comes as a bit of a shock.  But, as the movie and our heroine suggests, we must have the courage to be kind – even as critics.

This is one enchanting evening you will not want to miss.  Cinderella, available from Disney, is a retelling that surpasses the original in almost every way.

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Cinderella - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements
Runtime:
105 mins
Director
: Kenneth Branagh
Writer:
Chris Weitz
Cast:
Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden
Genre
: Fantasy | Family
Tagline:
Midnight is just the beginning.
Memorable Movie Quote: "When there is kindness, there is goodness. When there is goodness, there is magic."
Distributor:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Official Site: http://movies.disney.com/cinderella
Release Date:
March 13, 2015
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
September 15, 2015
Synopsis: The story of "Cinderella" follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella's father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother's dying words and to "have courage and be kind." She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella's hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) steps forward and -- armed with a pumpkin and a few mice -- changes Cinderella's life forever.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Cinderella -Blu-ray Review 2015

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - September 15, 2015
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles
: English SDH, French, Spanish
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1; French: Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD); iTunes digital copy; Google Play digital copy; DVD copy
Region Encoding: A

Disney does not disappoint with its 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation of Branagh’s film.  This is a glorious utopian burst of color and detail that will, during its running time, enliven your screen.  Crisp to the last frame, the transfer is ridiculous in its pulp of textures and vivid colors.  Even the black levels are reason to pause.  Shadows are strong and edges never blur.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track is equally impressive.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

Branagh is present throughout the supplemental items and even introduces the alternate opening to his movie.  He looks and acts very proud of this $500 million surprise hit.  The supplemental material; however, is fairly standard.  There are behind the scenes looks with cast and crew, a montage of costumes, a look at the set design, and a short animated cartoon featuring Elsa and Anna and the rest of the cast of Frozen

  • A Fairy Tale Comes to Life (9 min)
  • Costume Test Fun (3 min)
  • Staging the Ball (12 min)
  • Frozen Fever (8 min)
  • Ella's Furry Friends (4 min)
  • Alternate Opening (3 min)

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