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MOVIE REVIEW 'Cinderella' revisited is stunning, magical Comment By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Cinderella, 105 min, Rated PG If you see the title of the recently released “Cinderella” and shrug, feeling the story is all too familiar, wondering what could possibly be new in this narrative, know that you have not seen the story presented in this surprising and beautiful way. And once again done by Disney. This is a contemporary version of what is an iconic fairytale, fresh and engaging (with a tweak here and a change there by the writers), but not surprising given that it’s directed by the talented Kenneth Branagh. The story, in essence, is simple and direct, and unlike those that have come before (the most memorable being the animated version by Disney some 65 years ago), relies very little on special effects or CGI. Of course, there is, out of necessity, the scene when Ella’s Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) appears and turns a simple pumpkin into a startlingly beautiful, ornate coach, and the house mice slowly morph into six white steeds and two lizards become the coachmen. In the main, and to its credit, this film is character-driven, and the wonder of “Cinderella” can be found in watching each individual revealed — from the very kind and enchanting Ella (Lilly James), to the cruel and sadistic Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett). The set-up for the movie takes almost all of act one to construct. Ella is living an idyllic life with her mother (Hayley Atwell) and father (Ben Chaplin) in a gorgeous, English countryside mansion. She is embraced by her loving family and secure in her place as a much-cared-for daughter. Unexpectedly, sadly, Ella’s mother falls suddenly ill and dies, leaving Ella with just her father. Time passes, years slip by, and he decides to remarry, choosing a benign widow (or so he believes), Lady Tremaine, who has two daughters Ella’s age, Drisella and Anastasia (Sophia McShera and Holliday Granger). With their arrival, Ella’s life changes as act two unfolds. At first she is tolerated by her stepmother, and mocked by the sisters. But when her father dies on a business trip, Ella, now orphaned, finds her position in the household one in which she is ostracized and turned into a servant, relegated to the attic, always at the beck and call of the three women. And it is they who name her Cinderella, for she sleeps by the den fireplace because the attic is too cold in winter. And so the story blossoms in a most compelling and captivating manner. The king (Derek Jacobi) announces that he will give a magnificent royal ball. His young son (Richard Madden), the heir and prince, insists that all of the single maidens of the kingdom must be invited. As it turns out, the prince is about to choose a bride at the ball, be she commoner or titled. Naturally, Tremaine forbids Cinderella from going. That is until there is a magical moment when the fable soars. It is both glorious to watch and touching in its emotions, none of which are disguised behind computer trickery. The visuals — and they are stunning — create a magnetism that transcends and surprises, even though the outcome is solidly based on the Disneyesque idea of “happily ever after.” It is in getting to that moment that separates this “Cinderella” from all its precursors (and there have been many, to include a TV special starring Julie Andrews). As an aside, just before Ella’s mother dies, she takes her daughter’s hand and asks her to always have courage and above all else, be kind, a moral principle that Ella tries to live by, and one that is woven with sensitivity, never pedantically, into the story. Ella is, indeed, courageous and reflexively kind no matter the abuse heaped upon her by the mean-spirited Tremaine. She is also by nature innocent; but also tenacious and someone who, in every frame, is believable as she demonstrates how deeply her decency frames her life. It’s a wonderfully resonant message, brought to you once again by Disney, which has always chosen to see the world not as it is but as it should be (the last line of the film). By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Apr. 16, 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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