Saturday, March 28, 2015

Cinderella



Rating : 5/10
Release Date : 20th March, 2015
Time : 105 minutes
Director : Kenneth Branagh; Writer : Chris Weitz, based on the fairy story; Music : Patrick Doyle
Starring : Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Derek Jacobi, Stellan Skarsgard, Nonso Anozie, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Chaplin, Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger, Hayley Atwell




This one failed as a live action film for me – for being too straight-forward a retelling of the fairy tale, without any of the whacky characters, the double-meaning jokes, or the fantastic layers that usually accompany Disney / Pixar films



This is simply the vanilla version of a classic. With quite a few girlie touches. A heroine, Lily James, who believes in the world not as it is but it should be. Who believes in magic. Who’s motto, given by her dying mother, Hayley, is “To have courage and to be kind”. Who strives to do the same even when Cate Blanchett, the step-mother, with her two dumb daughters, Sophie and Holliday, move in and treat her like a servant girl after her father, Ben Chaplin’s death, after they fire the staff, to economize.



There is something interesting at least about the Prince, Richard Madden, and the sub-plot about his struggle with his father, Derek Jacobi, the King around whom he should marry. Stellan Skarsgard, the Royal Duke, has some vested interests, while Nonso Anozie, a Captain, has the Prince’s best interests at heart. And then, one thing leads to another, there is the Royal Ball, Helena Bonham Carter makes a brief appearance as a fairy Godmother and all is as we know it…



The music is nothing to write home about either, though the sets are sumptuous and nice. This one is more for mothers and daughters, with an age limit of around twelve-thirteen for the latter. They make the fairy story come alive with great visuals but fail to add any other perspective or interpretation to the classic. Perhaps we’ve been spoilt with the earlier animated and live versions of the tales, but surely isn’t that what we expect from such films ?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

What would I do if I became popular for a day ?

Anonymous said...

Have you been to Santorini Island, Greece ? Must be enchanting, no ? These summer holidays too take your family to some exotic destination... explore the undiscovered...

Anonymous said...

Your family would be so proud of you...

Anonymous said...

An exotic getaway awaits you....

Anonymous said...

The lagoon cruise to Venice must be breathtakingly beautiful... Simply stunning, no?

Anonymous said...

Family must be spoiled for choie...beaches, hills, nature....ahoy !

Anonymous said...

Mera joota bhi choori ho gaya :( :( :(

Anonymous said...

Yaad kiya dil ne kaha ho tum...pyaar se pukaar lo jaha ho tum...just an old song I'm listening to..

Anonymous said...

Certain nights I become an insomniac... I lean against the wall, slid down to the ground. I just sit in the dark for a while, knees drawn to my chest, looking up at the stars... waiting for the night to be over...

Anonymous said...

The morning sun to my yelda...

Anonymous said...

A single term changes the meaning of a sentence, it's self administered 'therapy'...

Anonymous said...

It makes you choose to be happy and remain in the same state of mind for a long long time...

Anonymous said...

Why can't I sleep ?

Anonymous said...

Like a little girl from a village, am too, fascinated with the hand dryers in the washrooms, within nano seconds my hands are absolutely dry..

Anonymous said...

Your city would be very colourful, lively, bright n noisy today..feel like eating moodak..

Anonymous said...

Your city would be very colourful, lively, bright n noisy today..

Anonymous said...

I should not be disturbing you...must be watching first day first show...

Anonymous said...

I have never seen any first show..