This film does a great job at staying true to the original fairy tale known as Cinderella.

With just a few minor differences–that don’t really affect the plot–I was pleased when I left the movie theatre.

This live-action film, unlike the cartoon, starts out by showing young Ella alongside her kind father (Ben Chaplin) and beautiful mother (Hayley Atwell).

Ella had a lovely childhood up until her mother fell fatally ill.

Before her death, Ella’s mother encouraged her to continue to believe in magic and to have courage and be kind.

Years later, when Ella is a teenager, she continues to live by the virtues her own mother believed in.

Living happily among with her mice friends Jaq and Gus, Ella graciously accepts the fact that her father has decided to remarry a widowed woman by the name of Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett).

Upon arrival, Lady Tremaine and her two daughters Drizella (Sophie McShera) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) seem a tad stuck up, but Ella welcomes them with a warm smile.

Soon after, Ella’s father must travel abroad for work.

Although she is greatly saddened by this, Ella tells him to bring back the first branch that brushes his shoulder on his journey so he has to think about her while on his travels.

During her father’s absence, Ella is informed that her father became ill and past away when a man brings the branch her father had promised home to her.

Lady Tremaine only grieves for the fact they could be out of money, not the fact the her husband has just died.

Lady Tremaine and her daughters then become extremely cruel towards Ella and end up forcing her to move to the attic.

They fire all of the maids and farm hands to help with their financial situation, leaving Ella to do everything.

Surprisingly optimistic, Ella does her chores to the fullest and continues to confide in her mouse friends. One night, Ella sleeps by the fire to stay warm and awakens with ash on her face. Her sisters and Lady Tremaine begin calling her “Cinderella.”

When going for a ride on horseback in the woods, Cinderella encounters a handsome man, an apprentice, named Kit. Never having a chance to tell him her name, Cinderella and Kit part ways.

Come to find out, Kit is actually the prince. He is quite distraught over the fact that his father, the king, insists that he must marry a princess.

Even though Kit tells his father of the kind and beautiful girl her met in the forest, the king is still adamant on having his way.

To declare a truce, Kit convinces his father to send invitations to every single maiden in the kingdom in hopes that he will again run into Cinderella.

When the invitation finds its way to Ella’s home, Lady Tremaine refuses to buy her a dress, so she spruces up her mother’s old dress.

When she comes downstairs to leave for the ball, Lady Tremaine belittles Cinderella, rips her dress, and forbids her to attend the ball.

Ella, left to her own devices goes outside and sobs until her fairy godmother appears. She grants Ella with a carriage made from a pumpkin, a new bright blue dress, and glass slippers.

Her fairy godmother also transforms some lizards into doorman, a goose into the driver, and the mice into horses. Before leaving, the fairy godmother puts a spell on Ella so that her stepmother and stepsisters will not recognize her. She also warns her to return by midnight because by then, the magic will have run out.

Ella arrives at the ball looking gorgeous as she descends down a long flight of stairs. When Kit sees her, he asks her to dance and they become the center of attention.

After the dance, Kit brings Ella to tour the castle and she finds out that he is the prince. As they slowly fall in love, Ella is forced to leave suddenly when she notices the clock has struck 11:59. In the chaos of things, one of her shoes is left behind before she makes it to the carriage.

Kit’s father passes away soon after, but not before telling him he is now content with Kit marring his true love, even if she is not a princess.

Kit then orders the grand duke to have every woman in the land try on the slipper in hopes of finding his true love. Because of Ella’s bashful responses to Anastasia and Drizella discussing the ball, Lady Tremaine realizes she was the girl dancing with the prince at the ball and finds the slipper she had hidden in the attic, and breaks it.

When the Grand Duke arrives, Anastasia and Drizella try their best to fit into the slipper, but because it is magical, it will only fit Ella’s foot.

Before leaving, the captain of the guards asks if there is anyone else in the house. Lady Tremaine denies this, but is soon proven guilty when Cinderella is heard singing from the attic.

One of the horseman who turns out to be Kit in disguise runs to her with the shoe. Proving to be a perfect fit, Ella and Kit are finally reunited and leave after she forgives her step sisters and Lady Tremaine.

The filmcloses at Kit and Cinderella’s wedding, and the announcement of them being crowned King and Queen.

This movie is perfect for all ages, I believe both children and adults will find it entertaining.

Kids can learn lessons from Ella’s kindness and everyone can enjoy the beautiful love story renewed from the original 1950 motion picture.