Lily James portrays the central character in this vibrant reimagining of the familiar story about rising from poverty. Following her father’s passing, she's reduced to a servant for her sharp-tongued stepmother, portrayed by Cate Blanchett, and her unpleasant daughters, "Drisella" (Sophie McShera) and "Anastasia" (Holiday Grainger). Simultaneously, the attractive prince (Richard Madden), who seems to have had his tro…

Someone young might appreciate *Cinderella* (2015) the most, because its story of goodness and bravery, familiar from the Disney original, shines through thanks to performances like Lily James’ as Ella, Richard Madden as "Mr. Kit," Haley Atwell portraying Ella's mother, among others. They highlight the charm of a straightforward perspective. I believe Lily James does an especially good job showing this central idea—t…

This film is better than Disney’s earlier version from 1950. While I appreciate the animated movie that the studio made, this 2015 adaptation of *'Cinderella'* provides a more pleasant time for me. Lily James and Richard Madden were good selections to portray Cinderella and the Prince, and Cate Blanchett is remarkable as the Stepmother. Helena Bonham Carter (as the Fairy Godmother), Stellan Skarsgård (the Grand Du…

It’s an enjoyable film worth watching again, and I can certainly recommend it. I do worry though that this isn't one people will revisit repeatedly; however, it is a decent movie and a noticeable step up from the 1950 animated version. It doesn't quite reach the heights of "Ever After" for me, though. The original story had some shortcomings but featured impressive animation for its time, along with voice actin…

This is likely the finest live-action Cinderella adaptation I’ve come across. Disney has once more demonstrated its capabilities. The story of Cinderella is familiar to most people, and this film presented it straightforwardly, enhanced by contemporary CGI techniques. When news broke about Disney's plan for a live-action version, I was quite skeptical, but those concerns have vanished. Filmmakers now possess the e…