At first when I heard they would be making a live action version of “Cinderella” I didn’t know what to think. How would they be able to capture all of the magic, drama and whimsy of the fairy tale story that every girl adores? I have to say they did a magnificent job! All of the details were brought to life and they “plus it” as Walt Disney used to say.

This “Cinderella” story starts off a little bit earlier than the original. We get an inside view of Cinderella when she was really young growing up with her loving parents. I really enjoyed seeing Cinderella’s mother since we don’t know anything about her in the animated version of the film. Her father is a merchant and is gone for long periods of time. When he returns home his family is happily there greeting him. Their little family is very kind and allows her to be fun, imaginative and love magical things. When her mother grows ill she makes Cinderella promise her to be kind and to have courage. She will carry this with her throughout the entire movie. After the death of her father she is forced to withstand unjust cruelty from her stepmother and stepsisters.

Cinderella is forced to be the sole caretaker of the estate and withstand being treated so badly from Lady Tremaine and her stepsisters. It is uncomfortable to watch as they berate her and treat her like dirt. Seeing this in real human form makes it worse and ring true to the meanness in people. It really is sad to see this behavior. Cate Blanchett plays the role of Lady Tremaine so boldly and with real villain quality. As a subplot we get to see why she acts the way she does and what drives her to be so mean. That wicked laugh!!! Ugh. The stepsisters Drisella and Anastasia are in loud outfits and wildly annoying.  They are always about themselves and being ridiculous in their usual ways.

Some other differences of this version of the film is the way Cinderella meets the Prince. She is her own self without the glitz and glamour. He presents himself to her in the same way. It’s like they are remaining true to themselves while flirting with one another. This shows that women can be independent and have courage to get their point across in any situation by being yourself.

Usually my favorite scene in Cinderella is her transformation into the beautiful ball gown and how she spins around in it looking at herself in the fountain’s reflection. In this version I love the ballroom scene when she is dancing with the Prince. She looks gorgeous! You can see how they are falling in love with each other during their dance. I love how he lifts her up and they dance so elegantly. All of the other characters are dressed in brilliant colored ball gowns from all different periods and international cultures. The stage that they built for this set was extraordinary.  You just want her to get her happy ending and be able to live happily ever after!

Cinderella is a timeless fairy-tale and they did a marvelous job remaking the story in a grand way with real emotion, true life issues and teachings. Being kind and having courage goes a long way and this movie shows that you can get through life’s tough times with that advice.  Remain true to yourself and be real. I love this message and hope you will enjoy this movie as much as I did!

Cinderella is out for release on Disney Blu-ray in stores and is available on Disney Movies Anywhere, iTunes and Google Play.

CAST:  Cate Blanchett as Stepmother (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”), Lily James as Cinderella (TV’s “Downton Abbey”), Richard Madden (TV’s “Game of Thrones”) as Prince, Stellan Skarsgård (Marvel’s: “The Avengers,” “Thor”) as Grand Duke, Holliday Grainger (“Jane Eyre”) as Anastasia, Derek Jacobi (“The King’s Speech,” “Underworld: Evolution”) as King, and Helena Bonham Carter as Fairy Godmother (“Alice in Wonderland,” “The King’s Speech”), DIRECTOR:                      Kenneth Branagh (“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” “Thor”) BONUS:                                   Digital HD/SD*, Blu-ray Combo Pack & Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA)

• A Fairy Tale Comes to LifeFilmmakers and cast reflect on Cinderella’s enduring power, and the joys and challenges of bringing this iconic tale to life.
• Costume Test FunSee the work of Academy Award-winning® Costume Designer Sandy Powell (The Aviator, 2004) and share some lighthearted moments with the cast.
• Staging The Ball
• You’re invited behind the scenes for the making of the Palace Ball sequence, including its spectacular set, stunning costumes and more. It’s a lavish and massive undertaking…and a magical day on set.
• Ella’s Furry Friends
• Discover how the movie’s animal stars honed their memorable performances.
• Alternate Opening: Ella’s Childhood
• View moments from Ella’s idyllic childhood that do not appear in the movie. With an introduction by Director Kenneth Branagh.
• Frozen Fever It’s Anna’s birthday, and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever – but when Elsa catches a cold, her powers may put more than just the party at risk. 

*Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer         DMA Exclusive:

• Deleted Scenes

With introduction by Kenneth Branagh o   Serving (0:56) o   The Mourning (4:24) o   Getting to Know You (2:00) o   The Search for Cinderella (1:14) o   Dear Kit (2:57)   DVD:

• Ella’s Furry Friends
• Frozen Fever

*Disclaimer: I was provided this film for the purposes of this review, as always all opinions are my own.