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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland footgolf event gives players a new way to get around the links Theater review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' in Ashland Coffee with the editor Record attendance for Latino student gathering Robotics teams showcase their creations at ScienceWorks in Ashland on Saturday Education Record attendance for Latino student gathering Robotics teams showcase their creations at ScienceWorks in Ashland on Saturday Rogue Valley musicians shine in OLLI’s spring class schedule Work your body to save your braaaaains Ashland robotics team fares well at Oregon City Environment Mt. 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Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy ... Ticket availability ... Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules ... Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy ... Ticket availability ... Movie review: 'Cinderella' is an instant classic Comment By Ed Symkus More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Three questions: Can beloved animated films successfully be adapted into live-action features? Can television actors make the jump to the big screen? Is there such thing as a perfect movie? Yes, yes and yes. “Cinderella,” based on the 17th-century story by French writer Charles Perrault, had been filmed many times before Walt Disney made a classic of it in 1950. Over the past couple of decades, the Disney company had box office, if not critical, hits by taking its own animated films “Alice in Wonderland” and “101 Dalmatians” (as well as a Dalmatians sequel and “Maleficent,” a spinoff of “Sleeping Beauty” – also written by Perrault) and going the live-action route. Now it’s “Cinderella’s” turn. The actors portraying the iconic lead characters here – Cinderella and Prince Charming (who’s called Kit) – are played by Lily James (“Downton Abbey’s” Lady Rose MacClare) and Richard Madden (“Games of Thrones’ ” Robb Stark). James plays Cinderella with oodles of spirit, and you don’t often see widescreen smiles better than hers. Madden’s character might as well have been named Prince Dashing, and there’s nothing to sneeze at about his smile, either. That third question and answer: This movie is perfect. For kids, for adults, for anyone who wants to get lost in a great story greatly told. The triumph of it goes to everyone involved. Sure, you could stick with the acting prowess of and the chemistry between the two leads, but the casting of each character is just right, from Cate Blanchett as the mean and conniving stepmother Lady Tremaine to Derek Jacobi as the king (and father of the prince); from Helena Bonham Carter as the ditzily comical Fairy Godmother to Nonso Anozie (the merchant Daxos on “Game of Thrones”) as the noble Captain of the Guard. There’s a sad and funny and romantic and magical script from Chris Weitz (“About a Boy”) who takes perfectly acceptable liberties with the original story, from which the Disney cartoon also took plenty of liberties. And there’s perfect – there’s that word again – direction from Kenneth Branagh who, over the course of his acting career, has shown some fine directing chops (“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” “Hamlet,” “Sleuth,” “Thor”). Also, and write this down, there will be nominations next year for both production and costume design. For those few hermits who don’t know the story, this “Cinderella” begins, as it should, with the words “Once upon a time,” uttered by an off-screen narrator telling us of a girl called Ella who lives, with her loving mother and father, in a beautiful home by the edge of the forest where, “all was just as it should be.” Well, no, this is a Disney film, so there’s sorrow to spare. Mom almost immediately dies of some unnamed disease, but not before getting grieving little Ella to promise to “have courage and be kind.” Ella grows up with Dad, who longs to be happy again and thinks he will by marrying a widow. “She’ll be your stepmother,” he tells Ella. “You’ll have two lovely (step)sisters.” The marriage happens; Ella has courage and is kind; Dad, who is a merchant, has to go on the road; Stepmom proves to be mean and silently jealous of the love between Ella and her Dad; the stepsisters prove to be nasty, obnoxious, and stupid; Dad – remember, this is a Disney film – dies on the road; and things, if they weren’t already, get pretty rough for courageous, kind Ella, whose name is changed by a stepsister to Cinderella after her face is covered with fireplace ashes. Unable to take it anymore, our heroine jumps on her horse and gallops away into the forest, where she chances upon a prince and his hunting party. The attraction is immediate, though neither one of them reveals their true identity to each other. All of that will change, though, at the upcoming royal ball and the introduction of glass slippers. But that’s enough of the story. If you know it, you’ll know where it’s going, and you can be sure that the journey is a totally enjoyable one. If you don’t know it, be prepared to laugh and cry. This is a big, lush, colorful film in which mean people get meaner (Cate Blanchett knows exactly how to chew scenery) and nice people get nicer and yes, that twain does meet. Visual effects, involving pumpkins, mice, and wardrobes are excellent, and proof is offered, once again, that there’s always a time and place for a bit of slapstick. This movie is so good that, perhaps to the dismay of Disney, people will forget about the cartoon. Ed Symkus covers movies for More Content Now. CINDERELLA Written by Chris Weitz; directed by Kenneth Branagh With Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi Rated PG By Ed Symkus More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Mar. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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