Cinderella / Rated PG for running in glass slippers which is rated highly dangerous by the OSHA.

One of my favorite all time films is Glory (1989) . Directed by Edward Zwick and beautifully and heroically scored by James Horner best known for his Oscar winning score and song for Titanic (1997). It featured an Oscar winning performance by Denzel Washington and an Oscar deserving performance by Morgan Freeman. It was about the 1st Black American unit in the Civil War fighting for the North. I was not familiar with the battle of Ft. Wagner and the storyline in the film. By the end of the movie I was completely involved with characters who I had developed a deep admiration for and had become emotionally involved with. I did not know what their ultimate fates were to be.

Many stories, like Cinderella are so famous that it would be hard to find anyone from the age of 3 up to interment who does not know all about the Glass Slipper. The most famous version is the Walt Disney animated feature. There have been many live action versions made both for TV and the theater. A number of months back I saw the preview for the newest version of the story. And Disney Studios was doing it again. I had no interest in seeing it. I am sure many others felt the same way. Disney Studios may themselves have had qualms about it’s success which could have lead to a decision to open the film with a 6 minute short featuring the characters in the most successful animated film of all time, Frozen (2013). They also poured money into Cinderella and hired Shakespearean director Kenneth Branagh. KB brought along a few of his “regulars” including composer Patrick Doyle. As it turns out the result is nothing less than perfection.

While the story is as familiar as Who Shot J.R.? on Dallas in America from March 21st to November 21st in 1980, the retelling of Cinderella by Branagh and crew is a total treat from beginning to end. From set decoration to costuming to CGI, there are no mistakes. It is almost like Branagh had a magic wand and just began waving it every time he yelled “action”. The CGI effects are used to bring the mice, lizards and other small animal pals to life. In the Fairy Godmother sequence, the visuals look 3-D even though the film is not in 3-D. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett plays the Evil Step-Mother in a way that is understated but very effective. Lily James, best known to many (myself excluded) for Downton Abbey makes a sweet Cinderella full of innocence and natural beauty. Richard Madden, known best for Game of Thrones (to everyone but me) plays the Prince. Vet actor Derek Jacobi is his dad the dying King. Helena Bonham Carter is the Fairy Godmother.

Thanks to the guiding hand of Branagh, this movie is a treat to behold and not just for kids. Patrick Doyle’s score is regal, beautiful and full of emotion. My favorite film of the 90’s, Much Ado About Nothing, was written by the late Bill Shakespeare and directed by KB. Patrick D. also scored this movie. If you have not seen it, and enjoy this version of Cinderella, be sure to check it out.

And although Glory was released 26 years ago it is incomparable. Even though the ending, for anyone unfamiliar with it, is a true kick in the gut.

For Disney fans, watch for the “hidden Mickey“. It is somewhere in the Cinderella family residence. Not hard to find if you are on the lookout. As Disney is apparently on track to re-film all of it’s classic animated Princess stories using live action, next up is Beauty and the Beast in 2016. Emma Watson is Belle and it is rumored that Branagh’s ex-wife Emma Thompson is set to play Mrs. Potts. Emma T. also recently appeared in the film Saving Mr. Banks and was a co-star with Branagh in Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

Rated 4.0 out of 4.0. Perfection is perfection.

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