Easily one of the most famous of Walt Disney’s animated classics, 1950’s Cinderella remains eminently watchable today. The story itself is almost as old as time, so in a way it is hard to both mess it up as well as retell it in a way that makes it stand out. Disney (sans Walt) attempts to do just such a feat with a live action version of the classic tale. While it may not have been necessary, and it certainly does not replace the animated offering from the studio, this is a fantastic version that holds its own and definitely deserves to be checked out.
Director Kenneth Branagh has crafted a film that embraces the animated benchmark of a story, but also one that holds its own and takes its own path. It doesn’t alter the story but instead of being a short animated musical we get (for the most part) a live action drama. If there is anything wrong with the film it is Helena Bonham-Carter’s fairy godmother. I don’t know if it was the direction, the acting, or simply that there is no good way to not make this sequence cartoonish, but in large part her major scene feels out of step with the rest of the movie.
Both animated film and this live action retelling are different ways to look at the same story. And yes, I keep bringing up the animated version because it is the 500 pound gorilla in the room. Let’s not avoid it because even by not mentioning it there is a comparison being made. One of the strengths with this version is how it brings to life the whole world around Cinderella, you get a sense of just how grand a scale life can be. Then there is the take on the titular character. Rather than waiting idly for a prince to save her, she winds up saving herself in a way and there just happens to be a handsome prince waiting for her.
I didn’t expect to enjoy Cinderella, but I did. This is a solid adaptation of the story, and with less time spent on the mice and more time actually telling the story, what we get is something most of the family will enjoy – and will hold up on repeat viewings.
Bonus features are pretty light, surprisingly. We get four featurettes, each combining to total less than 30 minutes. Why weren’t they strung together into one? Why not have a more comprehensive look at the film? Where is the audio commentary? Storyboard picture in picture? Oh sure, we get the short “Frozen Fever” which accompanied Cinderella in theaters, but that’s it? Oh, an alternate opening. Where are the rest of the deleted scenes? Nothing about the legacy of the animated film? Nothing about the timelessness of the story itself? The film was a hit but you wouldn’t know it the way this Blu-ray is packaged.
Cinderella is a great film but a lousy Blu-ray.