Cinderella (2015)

I predict a nomination, at least, if not a fourth Oscar, for costume designer Sandy Powell (she won her third for The Young Victoria) for the magnificent gowns in this opulent live-action version of the Disney classic. Lily James (willful Lady Rose in Downton Abbey) stars in the title role, written to be a bit of a doormat and definitely not a role model for little girls. Incorrectly top billed (it must have been demanded by her agent) Cate Blanchett (last blogged in How to Train Your Dragon 2) isn't fiery enough as the evil Stepmother, although her costumes are also off the page. The movie doesn't really pick up until Helena Bonham Carter (most recently in The Lone Ranger) appears as the Fairy Godmother. A cute casting twist is that Sophie McShera (Daisy in Downton Abbey) plays a stepsister bossing around Cinderella, when on Downton their stations are reversed.

Director Kenneth Branagh (last blogged in directing for Thor) definitely has the chops for the medieval look of the thing, but didn't do it for me.

My favorite imdb trivia point is that in the ballroom dance, many of the dresses are based on those of various Disney princesses, including Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991), Tiana (The Princess and the Frog (2009)), Aurora (Sleeping Beauty (1959)), Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)), Mulan (1998), and Ariel (The Little Mermaid (1989)). Also, apparently all the women wore corsets and are very thin to begin with, so their tiny Barbie waists are not digitally altered.

The Patrick Doyle soundtrack is lovely and can be streamed from this link. There are bonus songs at the end, sung by James and Carter. You can hear them at 1:15 and 1:17 on the youtube page above.

It makes a change that the Rotten Tomatoes critics and audiences liked it better than I, averaging 84% and 83% respectively.

I saw it by myself two and a half weeks ago, Jack having refused it as an option about three weeks before that. Your best bet is to wait for the DVD, estimated in July 2015, and sit with your little girl, enjoying the wardrobe, and being sure to tell her that Cinderella should have stood up for her rights!