‘Cinderella’ (2015): Of Mice, Magic and Midnight, a Magical Adaptation of a Classic
After days of gushing on Twitter chatting it up with friends, the release of Disney’s Cinderella finally arrived. For weeks, Disney has been promoting this movie with its beautiful graphics (seriously, aren’t they gorgeous!?) and trailers (I was sold on just the teaser). Though many were nervous about the remake for more reasons than one, whereas I saw it as a film that could only be improved. I saw it this past Saturday and had the pleasure of writing a review for it on Silver Petticoat. Though I could write a second gushing review for it, I instead will only share this: It might just induce some serious fan-girling – I know it did for me. cinderella (2015)
Cinderella (2015): Of Mice, Magic and Midnight, a Magical Adaptation of a Classic #Moviearchives Share on X
Without question, this is one of THE best Disney films of recent years. It has more depth than we usually see from a Disney-fied version of this fairy tale, and its massage is one of goodness and kindness and forgiveness. The cast is brilliant. Costumes are a sight to behold. Plus, while still short on time, the romance is magnetic (that meet cute though!).
Basically, if you’re anything like me, this will be one of those films that personifies everything a good fairy tale should be.
Here’s a snippet of my review. Should you like to read the rest, it’s on Silver Petticoat.
Cinderella (2015) Film Review
Enchanting as it is, what’s so special about this film might not be the world it shares, but rather that it has a message to impart. Without giving away too much, it strengthens Ella as a heroine who is more than a victim of her circumstances. She takes to heart her mother’s lessons to always be kind and have courage, taking nothing for granted. It offers a romance that is accepted no matter social status… Continue Reading →
Photos: Disney
I didn't adore this film but I did enjoy it and I suspect subsequent viewings will make me even fonder of it. I think Disney did a lovely job of fleshing out the original animated film while avoiding changing it too much. And, it was full of little nuggets of wisdom that are wonderful to ponder.
Hi, Charity! Thanks for coming by to share your thoughts. I avoided your review while writing up mine, but will have to come by and read it sometime. :) I'm glad you liked the film. It really was enchanting – my mom and I were still gushing about it yesterday. I love what you say in this comment ("…little nuggets of wisdom") and agree, it was a wonderful tribute to the original. :)
Ahh!! This just makes me want to watch it again, :-) :-)
I can't wait to buy it on DVD too! I'm feeling like I simply MUST add it to my movie collection! ;-)
Right there with you, Shantelle! It was THAT lovely and of course, like you, adding this to the DVD collection is a must! It'll be lovely with Maleficent, Mirror Mirror and plenty of other fairytales I own. :D
I thought it was so well done. I didn't have any expectation of loving it but I think that made me appreciate the unexpected details that were so touching.
I'm glad, Heidi! Sometimes the films we have no expectations for are the ones that are most touching. :)
And you make me more excited to see it! (Naturally.) :D
Woohoo! That's always the goal. :D
This is such a good movie. I do have some reservations about it, but overall I think it's a milestone in filmmaking . . . it's not like Maleficent that didn't stay close to Sleeping Beauty, and it doesn't have any weird Gothic vibes . . . it's just, well, Cinderella! and I think that's wonderful.
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I agree, Hannah! This one was SO good. It was classic, romantic (kudos to the writer's for giving the characters more depth) and of course, the "look" of the film matched the moods beautifully. Glad you enjoyed. :)
Lovely post, friend! So crazy that this is already in theaters, isn't it?? It was fun to anticipate this one with you!
I agree with Charity in that I wasn't overly wowed by the story on the first viewing… I guess I was hoping for a tad more twists and a little more depth. But as Charity noted, I too might like it more the more I see it. :) (It was that way for Austenland – didn't love it the first viewing, but now I think it's so awesome and charming!) And yes, the graphics were so very beautiful! And the friend I went to see the movie with mentioned today the song Cinderella and her mother sang…and it reminded me that I did really enjoy Cinderella singing. So pretty. :)
~Amber
Thanks, Amber! It is crazy; we've anticipated it for way long. :)
I thought maybe there'd be a few more scenes between Cinderella and Kit, too, but I was so enchanted, I didn't care! Plus, I probably give fairytales a bit more leeway where character development is, since they aren't "realistic" most of the time. In comparison, this one is WAY better (than the 1950 version) and I appreciated that. There are some films like that for me as well (don't care for them as well, then wind up loving them later on), I hope you do enjoy it better with future viewings, but then, if not, that's okay too! We don't all love the same things and that's awesome. Keeps the world far more interesting. :)
Austenland = awesome! But then, you already know all about my gushes for that film. ;)
I'm so excited to see this! All of the glowing reviews I've been reading have just made me more excited. :) I hope me and my mom will be hitting the theater within the next week or two to see it.
Yay! Hope you enjoy, Kristin! I'll not say much since you haven't seen it, but I look forward to your thoughts if/when you see it. :)
The graphics are spectacular, and I'm looking forward to seeing it! Though honestly, I doubt it can triumph my favorite Cinderella retelling, 1970s' "The Slipper and the Rose". (It has a comic, 18th Century flavor. ;)
I remember seeing the 70's version. Don't remember much about it, but it was sweet. Hope you like this one, too, Gwendolyn! :)
Thanks for reviewing this Rissi!!!
I'm so glad to hear this is great ( even though I could tell from the trailer it would be:).
I'm not sure if I will watch it in theaters or when it comes out on DVD. Either way I can't wait to watch it:)
Ooo, I'll be anxious to know what you think, Ella! I'll not say much more in this comment, but… I hope you like it. :)
Thanks!!!
You're welcome. Hope it's a good experience for you. :)
Would the movie be okay for a 6 and 8 year old to watch? My kids aren't really excited to see it BUT they are dying to watch the Frozen Fever short before the movie (haven't heard any reviews about that though, was it cute?). They said they'll watch Cinderella just to watch Frozen Fever :)
I think so. I don't know if it will hold their attention (because it's live-action), but there isn't anything scary or suggestive. Some of the costuming is low-cut (if that bothers you) and there is one (very sweet) kiss, but beyond that… the stepmother isn't (overly) sinister and I cannot recall anything that might be inappropriate.
Aw, that's cute! Frozen Fever is REALLY sweet. It only lasts about 3-5 minutes, but yes, the theater was pretty enchanted with that… it made me smile and all the more excited for Frozen 2 because of the short! :)
Yay! So glad you loved this! I've been dying to see it and my 8-yr-old daughter has been begging me to take her. I thought Maleficent turned out so well and so I have high expectations for one of my favorite fairy tale stories. Do you think it's clean enough for my daughter? We could totally do a girls' date. :)
I did indeed, Tressa and I hope you like it! It was one of the sweetest movies I've seen in a long time. Hope you enjoy it too – and if you see it, I'll love to know what you think. Maleficent is lovely! I liked that it was a different perspective on the legend.
I think your 8-year-old could definitely see it. There is nothing "scary" nor is the stepmother especially cruel; I mean she treats Cinderella as a maid, but they don't abuse her in the sense that Ever After does. It's really quite wholesome and clean, which is very refreshing. :)
Thanks, Rissi! I'm really looking forward to this one!! :D
I'd love to know what you ladies think when you see it, Tressa! Hope it doesn't disappoint. :)
YAY! This movie was seriously good and I adored it. I can't wait to read your review…heading over now! ;)
It was SO good, Bekah… and thank you (as always) for reading! Loved chatting with you a bit on Silver Petticoat. :)
I loved it. I adored it. I even cried a few times! I thought it was pretty timeless! ❤️
Timeless… what a great way to describe it, Paige! Ditto on all your thoughts: I'm the same. :)
Lovely review, Rissi! I knew I would enjoy this one from the moment I knew about it, but what really surprised me, and what made me not just enjoy, but love it, was that they made it so similar to the classic animation, but never even came close to just "going through the motions" with the remake. They really put effort and heart into it, and it shows through magnificently. :)
I picked out so many "iconic" scenes, Sarah – it was fun, really! I don't mind twists on fairytales, but seeing this beauty really made me appreciate a classic, timeless kind of fairytale. This is the best version of Cinderella for a new generation. I love what you say in wrapping up your comment; this was more than "going through the motions"! :)
Thanks for dropping by and reading. Appreciate it. :)
I'm going with some friends to watch it this weekend. Really looking forward to it!!!
How lovely! I hope you enjoy it, Maria. :)
Those colors….
Right!? They are too beautiful… and brilliant… and lovely…!
Hope you enjoyed if you saw this one, Sarah. :)
I (finally:) watched this yesterday.
It's such a lovely film. I can't wait to buy it when it comes out on dvd:)
Yay! I'm glad you liked it, Ella! I am in 100% agreement. It's nice that Disney is re-making these. Same for me; I'll be "first in line" to get that DVD. Or close to it. ;)
:)
I've loved this since seeing the trailer..can't wait to see the movie!
Oooh, I hope you enjoy, Connie! It's an amazing film. :)