Fairytales have certainly been going through a bit of a rebirth as of late, thanks to films like Maleficent, so logically next in line for the 21st century treatment was Cinderella, who has just been brought back to life on the big screen by a Shakespearian actor. Yes Kenneth Branagh has gone behind the camera to breathe new life into the classic tale, which first got the Disney treatment in 1950. But is this Cinderella really much different?

Lily James CinderellaLily James meets her Prince in Cinderella

Starring ‘Downton Abbey’s’ Lily James (that’s Lady Rose) as the titular princess and Cate Blanchett as her very wicked stepmother, Cinderella’s impressive cast list also includes Helena Bonham-Carter as the Fairy Godmother and Richard Madden as Prince Charming.

Hoping to follow films such as Maleficent which have twisted the classic tale, Cinderella elaborates more on the character’s tragic backstory as well as handing over more time to the wicked stepmother, who’s out to catch herself a prince.

More: Lily James Admits Cinderella Is Not 'Swept Off Her Feet' In Live Action Re-Boot

But other than some small alterations, this Cinderella is pretty much the tale you already know, rather than being a modern or even feminist twist. As The Guardian’s Guy Lodge writes, Branagh and scriptwriter Weitz, “stick lovingly to the legend throughout.”

Though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as Lodge also notes, “while it might have been nice to see the new-model Cinderella follow Frozen’s progressive, quasi-feminist lead, the film’s naff, preserved-in-amber romanticism is its very charm.”

Watch the trailer for Cinderella here:


Indeed if your heart already has a place for Cinderella’s tale, you wont be let down by Branagh’s adaptation. “Anyone nostalgic for childhood dreams of transformation will find something to enjoy in an uplifting movie that invests warm sentiment in universal themes of loss and resilience, experience and maturity,” said The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney.

The real star of the story this time, however is Cate Blanchett, whose wicked stepmother appears to steal the show at every turn. Oscar winner Blanchett's performance has dominated most of the film's reviews, with her character being singled out as the movie's true highlight.

More: 'Frozen Fever' Short To Screen Before Disney's 'Cinderella' In March 2015

“With eyes wide, brows arched and her mouth in a permanent scowl, Blanchett blends aspects of Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck and Marlene Dietrich into an epic villainess, so deliciously unpleasant one almost wishes the film were focused more on her,” writes Variety’s Peter Debruge.

Yes this Cinderella might not reinvent the classic tale, or give us a revolutionary princess, but it does seem to be a worthy adaptation that should please even the most loyal Disney diehards young and old.

Cate Blanchett Cinderella Cate Blanchett steals the show as Cinderella's wicked stepmother