Cendrillon (Cinderella) (1899) - 5 stars out of 10

Cendrillon (Cinderella) (1899) - 5 stars out of 10

“Cendrillon” is a silent film by George Méliès that tells the story of Cinderella.  It is amazing to compare the simplicity of the first Cinderella motion picture with the extravagance of the latest version by Disney.  It is even more amazing to comprehend that 116 years have passed between the creation of these two films.  Like many films by Méliès, this story created an opportunity to experiment with special effects as the Fairy Godmother creates Cinderella’s footmen and turns a pumpkin into a carriage.  The final product is very raw but quite incredible within its historical context.  A prior knowledge of the Cinderella story is necessary to understand the film, but all of the key elements from the story are present and it is interesting to see these early dance sequences.  “Cendrillon” may not successfully compete with modern films in the entertainment category, but it is certainly an important film in the scope of film education.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFARE1Z9qZg

[Pictured: Cinderella and Fairy Godmother]

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - 6 stars out of 10

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - 6 stars out of 10

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” is exactly what you expect.  I don’t mean that in a negative way, it just typifies the family-sticks-together-when-everything-goes-wrong comedy.  The film is a very loose adaptation of the children’s book (in fact, only the title and several minute details are the same as the book) but it delivers a complete story with a moral at the end.  It is full of slapstick humor that will have the entire family laughing out loud.  We can all relate to having a day where nothing goes right, which is why this chaotic embellishment of “the bad day” will resonate with everybody; unfortunately, it strikes me as the type of movie that kids will want to watch over and over again but parents will only want to watch once.  Disney provides a nice cast with veterans Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner.  Unlike the book, the family takes the brunt of the unfortunate events while Alexander, played by Ed Oxenbould, ties the story together.  His acting isn’t anything spectacular but I feel as if his delivery makes this character one to which kids can relate.  I was disappointed in some inappropriate references to male body parts which were entirely unnecessary but, aside from that, the film is entirely family friendly.  “Alexander and the…Bad Day” isn’t the best family film that I have seen but it’s definitely worth a watch.

[Pictured: This says it all]

Cinderella (2015) - 10 stars out of 10

Cinderella (2015) - 10 stars out of 10

It isn’t often that I watch a movie and see perfection unfold before my eyes, but “Cinderella” is truly flawless.  Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation is the greatest telling of Cinderella that has ever been and that ever will be.  Unlike many films that have reimagined the classic fairy tales, this one preserves the original story and captures that traditional fairy tale feel.  There are some departures from the 1950 animated version but each one adds a new dimension to the characters without altering the key elements of the story.  By exploring Ella’s childhood, we get to experience her love for her parents, see where she learned the values that so strongly shape her character, and understand why she doesn’t simply run away when things get bad.  The naming of Cinderella creates a definitive moment where she literally and figuratively becomes a servant.  Lady Tremaine’s discovery of the shoe allows her to explain why she is so mean.  Most of all, I love the meeting in the woods.  It changes the entire message of the story as Prince Charming’s love for her is based on her beliefs and her inner goodness instead of a more superficial love-at-first-sight.  Every reimagined moment is a success and the themes of courage and kindness resonate from start to finish.  Unlike the animated version, this one takes its time and never feels rushed.  We get to enjoy the Fairy Godmother for a significant portion of time, the political importance of the ball is emphasized by exploring the event in greater detail, and an extra layer is added to the search for the mystery princess.  I also think that it helps for the mice to be included enough that they are seen as her friends but not so much that they story begins to revolve around them.  The script set the film up for success, but it was realized with its magnificent visuals and incredible acting.  For many young princesses-at-heart, the most important part of the film was the dress and the shoes.  I believe that an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design is inevitable - they were everything that we could have hoped for.  The film locations and cinematography capture the fairy tale world with relatively little CGI which makes the story more realistic.  I would’ve loved a CGI replica of Disney World’s Cinderella Castle but it would’ve taken us out of the moment.  The story was great, everything looked amazing, but the actors are what sold this film.  Lily James is enchanting.  Each facial expression, the delivery of every line, her body language, and even her soft singing out the window all created the perfect embodiment of Cinderella.  She makes an elegant Disney princess and yet, she was an equally convincing peasant.  Meanwhile, Cate Blanchet brought a lot of depth to Lady Tremaine.  Her abusive behavior progresses slowly enough that we do not realize when the transition from disinterest to cruelty has occurred.  Richard Madden transforms Prince Charming into more than just, well, Prince Charming, especially with the added focus on his relationship with his father.  The evil stepsisters were comical (I was particularly impressed with Holliday Grainger) and Helena Bonham Carter brought the perfect blend of classiness and peculiarity to Fairy Godmother.  Everything in this film is tied together by Patrick Doyle’s romanticized score which is subtle and epic, all at the same time.  I found myself emotionally on-edge the entire film because it was so magical to experience this classic fairy tale in such a real way.  Disney has set the bar very high with “Cinderella” and I don’t know if it will ever be surpassed.

[Picture Perfect]

Movie 43 - 1 star out of 10

Movie 43 - 1 star out of 10

Words cannot describe how bad “Movie 43” is and I am offended that it even exists.  It is literally intended to be the worst movie ever made.  The story is about a desperate writer pitching the worst movie idea ever and forcing a studio executive to listen under gunpoint.  Each segment is worse than the last with their themes of violence, extreme bathroom humor, immorality, and things too explicit to discuss in this review.  It amazes me that thirteen directors managed to create such a distasteful series of shorts.  You would have to consider this an anti-movie without an ounce of entertainment value.  It is criminal that they were able to get the following list of stars to appear:
Dennis Quaid, Greg Kinnear, Seth MacFarlane (well, no surprise there), Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Emma Stone, Justin Long, Jason Sudeikis, Uma Thurman, Kristen Bell, Richard Gere, Kate Bosworth, Jack McBrayer, Chloë Grace Moretz, Patrick Warburton, leprechaun Gerard Butler, Johnny Knoxville (again, no surprise), Seann William Scott, Halle Berry, Terrence Howard, Elizabeth Banks
Reading this cast list, you have to wonder how they could combine for such an unpleasant filmgoing experience.  The pointless 90 minutes of crude, obscene, offensive material drags on and on without reprieve.  Some of the actors tried to get out of it but they were stuck.  I watched this film out of curiosity, having developed an appreciation for terrible movies like “Birdemic” over the years.  This is not like that.  Instead of it being so bad that it is entertaining, “Movie 43” is so bad that it will make you question whether you want to watch another movie ever again.

[Pictured: Halle Berry blows out a blind boy's candles. Surprisingly, it is one of the least offensive moments in the film]