I have to admit that I wasn’t very excited about seeing Disney’s live-action feature Cinderella. I thought “been there-done that” with other versions of the classic story. I have seen Disney’s animated classic Cinderella a hundred times (both of my daughters watched it over and over when they were little), and I have seen numerous adaptations. My daughter was even in the play in 7th grade-she portrayed an amazing GusGus the Mouse. I decided, however, I would give it a go because I do love all things Disney. Wow! Am I glad that I gave it a chance. Cinderella truly transports the audience into Ella’s world. We learn so much about her childhood and the tragedy that occurs in her life. There is an emotional connection between young Ella and those of us peeking into her world. I have to admit there were a few tears in my eyes within the first 20 minutes of the film. I caught myself smiling when Ella (Lily James) meets the handsome Kit (Robert Madden), unaware that he is the prince. When her stepmother (Cate Blanchett) enters the scene, we in the audience know there is nothing but dismal times ahead for Ella. When her nasty stepsisters tease her and call her “Cinderella”, I was so angry and frustrated that Ella was trapped in that life. The iconic parts of the classic Disney animation is present-the adorable animal friends, the Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter), the pumpkin coach, the ball, and of course the glass slipper. You will surely find yourself cheering for Cinderella and the handsome prince to meet once again. The bonus features are a must watch as well. I loved the interviews with the cast and creative team. Be sure to watch Staging the Ball and A Fairy Tale Comes to Life. You will have so watch the feature film again once you see all that went into the set, costumes, and story. To be an extra at the ball would have been magical for sure! Disney’s Cinderella on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital HD is a must have for your Disney film collection. You don’t need to wait for a bippity boppity boo from your fairy godmother. Go out to get a copy of this magical story for yourself.
