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I’ve watched Cinderella so many times since the Blu-Ray arrived. I’ve loved the animated feature since I was a little girl. I still remember listening to my Read-Along Cinderella record that played a chime whenever you needed to the page in the book. Now I’m in totally in love with the live-action version, too.
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It’s truly one of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. The sets. The costumes. The prince. All stunning. (Especially the prince.)
The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new Stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family.
Soon, she is forced to become their servant, disrespected, covered in ashes and spitefully renamed Cinderella. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her, and she continues to remain positive, determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.”
When Ella meets a dashing stranger in the woods, unaware that he is really the Prince (Richard Madden) and not merely Kit, an apprentice at the palace, she believes she has finally found a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the King (Derek Jacobi) summons all maidens in the kingdom to attend a royal ball at the palace, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit. Alas, her Stepmother forbids her to attend and callously destroys her dress.
Meanwhile, the calculating Grand Duke (Stellan Skarsgård) devises a plan to thwart the Prince’s hopes of reuniting with Ella and enlists the support of the devious Stepmother. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand. Soon, a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham Carter) steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin, a few mice and a magic wand, changes Cinderella’s life forever.
A live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, “Cinderella” brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh (“Thor,” “Hamlet”) and starring two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine,” “Elizabeth”), Lily James (“Downton Abbey”), Richard Madden (“Game of Thrones”) and Academy Award nominee Helena Bonham Carter (“The King’s Speech,” “Alice in Wonderland”), “Cinderella” is produced by Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Elysium”), Allison Shearmur (“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1”) and David Barron (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”) with Tim Lewis (“Edge of Tomorrow”) serving as executive producer. The screenplay is by Chris Weitz (“About a Boy,” “The Golden Compass”).
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Now, just in time for your next movie night, Cinderella is available for your home. Special Features on the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD version include:
- Alternate Opening: Ella’s Childhood
- Frozen Fever
- Staging The Ball
- Ella’s Furry Friends
- A Fairy Tale Comes to Life
- Deleted Scenes (with introductions by Kenneth Branagh)
- Costume Test Fun
(You’ll really enjoy that last one…the costumes in Cinderella are one of my favorite parts of the movie!)
There’s also a special offer when you purchase the movie through the Disney Movies Rewards program. Valid from September 15 through December 22, 2015, you can purchase your own Cinderella’s coach necklace for only $8.99 plus $2.95 shipping. The charm size is ¾”h x 7/8”w and the necklace is 19″ long. The charm can be removed and the necklace will work with other charms.
Disney
Want more Cinderella? Don’t forget to join in sharing a Million Words of Kindness, grab some coloring sheets, activity pages and check out how to make a Cinderella basket or wedding dress inspired ribbon barrettes!