The Small Fries

Greetings everyone! This Movie Monday, I’m sharing my opinions about the newest superhero movie on the block. Everybody’s favorite wise-cracking, fourth-wall breaking anti-hero finally got his own film! For those of you not in the know, I’m talking about Deadpool. Marvel’s very own Merc With A Mouth had an extremely successful opening weekend in February and continues to be a hot ticket among moviegoers.

When they first announced a Deadpool movie was in the works, I was equal parts excited and cautious. The Merc With a Mouth is my all-time favorite comic book character, so although I was excited for him to get his due recognition, I was apprehensive as well. How were they going to pull off Deadpool in all his foul-mouthed, take-no-prisoners glory?

Well I am happy to say that Ryan Reynolds and 20th Century Fox did not disappoint. Deadpool is every bit as raunchy and gory as is to be expected from reading his comics. Making the film R-rated was definitely a risky business move, but it worked to the movie’s advantage. Everything is true to the character and tone of how the comics are written. The jokes never felt heavy-handed or forced and 95% of the jokes landed in Deadpool’s natural cadence.

One additional thing I’d like to mention is the film’s brilliant marketing campaign. This is undoubtedly the best marketing for any movie since possibly Blair Witch Project. Ryan Reynolds filmed a large number of viral videos that successfully introduced the character to those who might not be familiar. In addition, cross-platform marketing took place on Twitter, billboards, and even Tinder. Not to mention the most viewed red band trailer in history. The marketing for this movie undoubtedly helped it to reach a wider audience and make it the box office smash it is.

Deadpool is a great movie both for die-hard fans and those who are new to the character. It provides a plethora of humor and a touching backstory that explains Deadpool’s origin and motivations.

--Julie

On October 5, The Martian hit theaters. It is the latest sci-fi movie to hit the big screen that involves interplanetary space travel. Since Interstellar came out in fall of 2014, I’ve been looking for a similar movie to obsess over. Interstellar was great in every field: graphics, casting, score, etc. But what drew me to Interstellar was the science behind the plot. Kip Thorne, a theoretical physicist, was even a consultant during the writing and production processes. I knew this movie was a one of a kind. I wasn’t sure I would find a movie that I would like just as much, or more. That is...until I watched The Martian.

From left: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, and Aksel Hannie

Matt Damon stars in this sci-fi drama as Mark Watney, the best botanist on Mars. No, seriously, he grew a crop of potatoes on Mars. He was stranded on the planet after his team had to make an emergency evacuation during a storm that led them to believe Mark was dead. After being stranded for months, logging his experiences, and finding ways to survive he makes contact with NASA - who is under heavy scrutiny for the failed Mars mission. Now begins the fight to bring him home.

Mark and his Martian potatoes

I don’t want to give too much away about the movie, because it’s such a wonderful piece of film that everyone needs to see it for themselves. This star studded cast does not disappoint. Along with Matt Damon we see Jessica Chastain, Sean Bean, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, and Chiwetel Ejiofor making up the majority of the cast. Together, along with several others, they work to rescue Watney. The entire time I was watching the movie my heart was racing. Are they going to get there on time? What if they miss their interception? Jessica Chastain plays Melissa Lewis, their commanding officer, who is in charge of the Ares III Mission. I loved her in Interstellar, so imagine my excitement when I saw she was in this movie as well. She has a knack for playing strong female leads, and in this role she doesn’t back down to any challenge the team faces as they try to bring Watney home.

Ares III crew headed back to get Mark

The soundtrack was fun and full of disco hits with a few ABBA songs thrown in. Watney kept mentioning his dislike for the type of music, but Lewis’s musical tracks left behind were full of the “great” disco oldies. It gave his time on Mars, although serious, a lighter feeling. Though the thought of his immediate peril was always in the back of my mind, hearing the light and bouncy music made it easier to accept the dangers Mark was facing on a daily basis.

Mark waiting for the solar panels on the Rover to recharge

Under the direction of Ridley Scott, the cast flawlessly pulls off this wonderfully written script that has a healthy balance of serious and humor. We always have the dangers and the risks underneath the much needed comedic relief. Honestly, I think without some of the witty one-liners and comical situations, I think The Martian would have been too dark. It shows that you should make the best out of any situation, because you never know when it’ll end in the violent vacuum that is Outer Space. Though it won Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes this year, I do believe that it was more than just a comedy and has the potential to pull through as the year’s Best Motion Picture at the Academy Awards. However, it does have some tough competition that we plan on reviewing up until the Oscars on February 28, 2016.

The Martian is now on Blue-Ray and DVD!

--Kasey

I hope you all are enjoying your Super Bowl Sunday. I’m trying to write this sneak peek for you while paying attention to the game. We’ve got a lot in store this week as we cover several different things for you!

Monday: For our Movie Monday, we are continuing our race to the Oscars as we bring you our review over Best Picture nominee, The Martian. This was a movie I missed while it was in theaters, but I bought it as soon as it came out on DVD and Blue-Ray. I was obsessed with Interstellar last year, and I’ve been told that I will be just as obsessed with The Martian. So, keep an eye out for our review over this “comedy” (according to the Golden Globes).

Tuesday: We will be covering several shows in our Television Tuesday oneshots such as Teachers and Hell’s Kitchen. I will also be giving you a follow up with the season finale of The Expanse, because it was that intense.

Wednesday and Thursday Julie has Top Five and Retro Rewind surprises in store for us on top a predicitions list of who will take the Grammys, which are taking place next Monday; followed by Friday Favorites. Depending on how the week goes will depend on what makes our favorites list!

Keep checking back everyday for new reviews from your favorite Small Fries!

--Kasey

This week a timeless classic with a twist hit theaters: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Based off the novel by Seth Grahame-Smith that was released in 2009, this movie takes the classic by Jane Austen and adds the gruesome details of a zombie apocalypse. From the casting to costumes to special effects, PPZ was far from disappointing, but it was still not without its faults. The cast was full of familiar faces who all did exceedingly well with bringing their characters to life and adding their own special twist to them.

The sisters Bennett, ready to show what they're made of.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains,” or so the opening line of both the book and the movie tells us. Immediately the movie diverges from the book when we first meet Colonel Fitzwilliam Darcy (played by Sam Riley) clad in leather, as he heads to a bridge party. He had a tip that someone was bitten by an unmentionable (zombie). This causes unrest at the party as Darcy sits down and releases flies that can detect dead flesh. Suddenly we see Darcy turn into a complete badass as he breaks a glass, stabbing the guy, slicing his throat, and then ultimately ending his life by stomping on his head. I can honestly say I did not see that coming from Mr. Darcy.

From Left: Sam Riley as Mr. Darcy and Douglas Booth as Charles Bingley

While the credits are rolling, we learn about how the zombie plague came about and the basic history of England since. All this being narrated by our dear Mr. Bennett who is played by Charles Dance. Many of you will know him as Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones, and trust me, he is more likeable in this role. We finally meet all the lovely Bennett sisters, who are all skillfully trained in martial arts and war. Lily James plays our heroine, Elizabeth Bennett, and she does a great job bringing such an iconic and strong female character to life. The movie then continues to run parallel to the book as we learn Mr. Bingley (played by Douglas Booth) has moved to Netherfield, there’s a ball in Meryton where we meet Darcy and Bingley, and then a zombie attack. Here we see just how BA and awesome the Bennett sisters are as they slay some zombies, and I think this is the moment where Darcy fell in love with Lizzy.

Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet putting her training to the test

Soon after we meet Mr. Collins. Excuse me, Parson Collins. The role of Mr. Collins could not have been cast more perfectly. Just when I thought the character couldn’t get any more comical, Matt Smith proved me wrong. Many of you will know Matt Smith from one of his previous roles, the 11th Doctor in Doctor Who. Everyone knows Mr. Collins to be the ridiculous suitor of Lizzy and doting parson for Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Seeing Matt Smith take this character and insert him into a zombie apocalypse was something I didn’t know I needed to see until now. Honestly, he stole every scene that he was in and brought out his awkward and ridiculous qualities even more. From him proposing to Lizzy to paying Lady Catherine all the right compliments to being obsessed with Mr. Darcy, I never stopped laughing at Parson Collins.

Matt Smith as the ridiculous Mr. Collins

Speaking of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I just want to say I LOVED her. For those of you that are familiar with the original movie and/or book, Lady Catherine is detestable. She hates Elizabeth and the idea of her and Darcy being together. She looks down on everyone who isn’t her, and makes it known what she thinks of them. In this version, she is supposed to be this BA warrior who is known throughout England for what she’s done against the zombie hordes. Lena Headey, currently known as Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, is our Lady Catherine. What’s not to love about Lena playing a likeable version of Cersei? However, some of her characterization fell a little short for me. Donning an eye patch and having just enough sass to keep the character recognizable, I am slightly disappointed in her story line. Considering the changes the writers made from this book to the movie, I was hoping they would add more scenes to show her kicking some zombie butt to show her skill as a fighter. We were just expected to take everyone’s word for it.

All hail Lena Headey as Lady Catherine de Bourgh

One character that I would hate to leave out is the beloved Mr. Wickham, played by Jack Hutson. In Pride and Prejudice, he is just Darcy’s rival that we only see a few times in the book and we learn later why Darcy hates him so much. Though the rivalry is still there in this movie, we see Wickham even more. He is actually at the center of the zombie uprising, as we see that he is indeed one of them during the final fight between him and Darcy. He was the one orchestrating the attacks in London and helping the zombies take over England. His story change was one I did not expect, but I’m glad it happened; we finally see Darcy kick his ass!

Jack Huston as George Wickham showing Lizzy where the "civilized" zombies congregate.

Now, it’s time to talk about Darcy and Elizabeth. To me, there is no replacing Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. It can’t be done, so I am very picky about who they cast as him. Sam Riley, I thought, was a great fit for Darcy in this world. Seeing him in a commanding position against the undead army gave Darcy different qualities that Riley seemed to pull off comfortably, all while maintaining the qualities everyone has grown to love. Lily James does the same when bringing Elizabeth into this world. Luckily, the two have chemistry on screen, otherwise some of the scenes between Darcy and Elizabeth would have been painfully awkward and terrible. Specifically the scene when he first proposes. Hands down one of my favorite scenes in the original, and now one of my favorite scenes in this movie. You have the heated discussion between Elizabeth and Darcy along with some martial arts. Elizabeth is easily beating Darcy in their little dance as she swipes his leg, kicks him in the face, throws a few punches, and tries to stab him. However, he doesn’t let her win easily as he blocks and parries her attacks. I just hope Darcy learned his lesson: Don’t piss of Elizabeth Bennett.

The epic first proposal isn't going well for Mr. Darcy

This book runs ALMOST parallel to the original Pride and Prejudice. You could set the copies side by side and follow along in the story, just insert zombie scenes into the original and you have the exact same story. It was an interesting book, but I do think this is the one time where I like the movie more than the book. Reading about a zombie apocalypse is not as satisfying as seeing it. Throughout the movie, you see nods towards the two iconic versions of Pride and Prejudice. There’s a slight nod to the 1995 version (with the perfection that is Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy). We see a slight reenactment of the infamous lake scene. If you need a reminder, click the link below to watch Colin Firth turn a simple swim into a scene women have yet to forget. There are also several nods to the 2005 version. They use similar video montages when Bingley is leaving Netherfield.

Here's the classic lake scene from the 1995 version.

There are several scenes from the original storyline of Pride and Prejudice, that are also in this book, that were left out. I was slightly disappointed, but overall pleased with the movie. Personally, nothing will ever beat Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. However, this was a great love letter to Jane Austen’s work as well as the equally beautiful film versions of Pride and Prejudice. It just had a great twist on it that is going to draw this generation to the story. I highly suggest going to see this in theaters. Trust me you do not want to miss catching this on the big screen.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is in theaters now!

--Kasey

This week we’ve got a lot in store for you, Small Fries, and we are really excited! Starting today we will be introducing themed days to you with quick one shots of Television Shows, Movies, Retro Rewinds, and Top Fives. Be sure to keep checking back every day to see new reviews posted! Today is a combination of our “Sneak Peek Sunday” and “Movie Night Monday.” We’re going to give you some insight into what we’ve got cooking this week and a list of movies to watch for the Oscars!

Sneak Peek

This week, we’ve got a special treat for you. We have our second featured writer, Sarah Geerling, making her debut as an honorary Small Fry. She will be doing a special over Syfy’s newest series, The Magicians, and trust me when I say she’s got a lot to say about the show. If you’re a fan of the book series or are just really interested in the show, check out her review over the first episode!

We’ve also got two reviews over the current episodes of Syfy’s The Expanse and MTV’s The Shannara Chronicles. They will be covering all the episodes that have aired so far. Trust me when I say The Expanse is going to be your TV’s newest obsession! This week we’ve also got a new Retro Rewind coming your way over the popular 90’s Sitcom, Full House, with a speial surprise on Wednesday! Also, watch out for one shots over popular TV Shows that have returned or premiered this year!

We are really excited to be sharing our new format with you as we start off the new year with a new batch of Fries!

Movie Night

With the Oscar’s just around the corner, we’ve decided to start prepping ourselves. This week, we’ve decided to do a very relaxed Movie Monday. Instead of giving our reviews over Oscar nominated movies, we decided to give you a list of the movies we’re most excited for and will be reviewing over the next few weeks:

Bridge of Spies

Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan

In 1957, in the midst of the Cold War, New York insurance lawyer James Donovan is enlisted to provide a pro-bono defense for Rudolf Abel, who is accused of spying for the Russians. The CIA then sends Donovan to East Berlin to conduct precarious negotiations with the Soviets to exchange Abel for a recently captured U.S. Air Force pilot, Francis Gary Powers.

The Martian

Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Eljiofor, Kristin Wiig, Jeff Daniels

Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind when an unexpected storm hits Mars, forcing his crewmates to abandon their mission. Watney, a botanist, must engineer ways to feed himself and survive the harsh environment, and after he reestablishes communication with NASA, scientists around the globe race against time to rescue him.

The Revenant

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson

While on a danger-laden journey through the American wilderness in the early 1800s, frontiersman Hugh Glass is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, Glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.

Room

Starring: Brie Larson, William H. Macy, Joan Allen, Jacob Tremblay

A young woman who has been held in captivity in a small shed for seven years tries to make as normal a life as she can for her five-year-old son, Jack, who knows her only as "Ma." When Ma and Jack escape their captor, Old Nick, they must cope with the outside world and forge relationships with Ma's conflicted family.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Starring:Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult

Years after an apocalypse has devastated the world, Australia has become a wasteland ruled by outlaws hoarding fuel, water and other resources. Desperate to escape a tyrant called Immortan Joe, loner Max Rockatansky joins forces with Imperator Furiosa, who is fleeing from Joe and his fanatical followers with a precious cargo that she has smuggled from Joe's stronghold.

All synopses pulled from: http://oscar.go.com

For a complete list of Oscar nominations and more movie synopses visit: http://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/oscar-nominations-2016-the-complete-list-of-nominees

--Kasey

Avengers Assemble

It’s not even officially summer yet, and Age of Ultron is already the hit movie of the season. The eagerly anticipated follow-up to the 2012 hit film, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and the Hulk take on a different kind of threat in the form of the evil artificial intelligence of Ultron. As a huge fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this has been one of my most hotly anticipated films of the year, and as a whole it didn’t disappoint. However, I will say that I enjoyed the first Avengers film a lot more and Age of Ultron left a few things to be desired. CAUTION: SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT.

The Good

• Nobody does a good, snarky one-liner like Joss Whedon. The dialogue was one of my favorite things in the first Avengers, and once again it did not disappoint.

• There were a lot more action sequences in Age of Ultron, and they were all breathtaking. I could not take my eyes off the screen. I’m pretty sure I didn’t blink during the Hulk/Iron Man scene.

• Speaking of Iron Man and the Hulk, every scene between Tony and Bruce was fantastic. The acting chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo is out of this world. I would watch a movie with just those two. Science bros for life!

• The plot itself was wonderful. Ultron managed to make the idea of artificial intelligence scary again, and we got a glimpse into the Avengers biggest fears.

• The introduction of characters such as Pietro and Wanda Maximoff and Vision were excellent.

• The cameos! War Machine, Falcon, and many more appearances made me extremely happy.

• To connect the previous two points, the new Avengers team being trained by Steve and Natasha at the end blew me away. I’m so excited to see what they do with the new crew.

The Not-So-Good

• I felt that the whole Bruce/Natasha relationship was very rushed and forced. It came out of nowhere, as neither of the two characters had even hinted interest in each other in previous movies. The chemistry was awkward and I felt it was a waste to use those characters as a romantic side-plot instead of exploring them further as individual

• Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson had terrible Russian accents. Otherwise, they were well cast in their respective roles as Wanda and Pietro Maximoff (Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver).

• I really did not like Hawkeye’s backstory. I don’t know if that’s because I have a special place in my heart for Matt Fraction’s version of Hawkeye, but I thought it was completely lame. Hawkeye is supposed to be a normal dude, but I wasn’t crazy about the whole family thing.

• I think I speak for everyone when I ask “Where was Bucky Barnes?” Our favorite Winter Soldier was conspicuously missing, not even warranting a mention.

• There was no point in introducing Pietro only to kill him off at the end of the movie. In the comics, he is a main member of the Avengers team, so I thought this was pretty pointless.

• When Hulk went incognito in the jet at the end of the movie, that could have been a perfect opportunity to set up a solo Hulk movie. I love Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal of the tortured Bruce Banner/Incredible Hulk, and a reboot would be great after the mediocre Edward Norton film. However, since Marvel has revealed the films for Phase Three, there is no possibility for the Planet Hulk film of my dreams to happen.

 All things considered, this was definitely a fun film to kick off the summer season. I definitely recommend it for MCU superfans and newbies alike.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is now in theaters!

--Julie

In his recent documentary, Tom Felton – famously known as Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter franchise – sets off to find out why superfans do the things we do. I would like to state right off the bat that this is a very accurate glimpse into the life of the superfans, fangirls, fanboys, or whatever else we go by. It shows that each of our obsessions means something more to us than just what’s on the surface, and Tom is on a mission to find out what exactly that is.

He was first inspired to find this explanation when his very own superfan, Tina, gave him a card about his dog passing. He had met her many times before, but this one special moment made him wonder; why does she care? Tina had once waited four hours outside of an event just to see Tom. She follows him to all of his events just for that picture, autograph, or just a brief moment with him. Tom wants to know what drives her.\

We start off by meeting “The Biggest Harry Potter Fan,” Steve. Honestly, I wouldn’t argue that statement. He has a basement full of Harry Potter merchandise; over 1000 pieces and worth more than $13,000. He has enough Harry Potter clothes to last him three months, without ever having to repeat an outfit. Steve is the ultimate Harry Potter fan. Tom took his time to sit down with him and find out why he is such a big fan. We learn that Steve was bullied as a kid for being a small, skinny nerd. Harry Potter helped him get through everything, and he carried this obsession with him into his adult life. He will tell you that “this never impacted my life negatively. It has never driven people away.” People accept him for his obsession with Harry Potter; it is a part of who he is. However, unlike many fans, Steve is not “fanboying” over the fact Draco Malfoy is sitting in his house. He recognizes the actors as “people playing the characters that I love.”

Steve and Tom

Tom, thinking he has a better understanding of what drives a superfan, decides to head “straight into the lion’s den,” to a comic book convention in Tulsa. There he meets William Shatner and decides to interview “the king of cons” and learn what he thinks of the fans. I couldn’t help but smile the entire time, because Tom was becoming very flustered in front of Captain Kirk – just like any other fan would. I don’t know if he caught on to it, but he was acting the way any fan would when meeting someone that iconic. Tom was starstruck. Here, he also met a young fan, Jade, who was another superfan. Tom learned that her obsession began when Harry Potter helped her through her depression. She described how the Dementors were the physical form of depression and reading the books helped her “escape into their [Harry Potter’s] world and not think about my problems.”

The creator herself, J.K. Rowling, even said that “literature’s most powerful effects is to tell everyone, ‘no, you’re not alone.’” I completely agree with this part of the film. Literature in general helps everyone escape from their reality and lets them live vicariously through their favorite characters. It can help the reader cope with their problems or overcome a terrible obstacle. People look at superfans and think they’re weird and different. This documentary sheds light on the fact that our obsessions run much deeper than some people want to believe.

Bryan and Tom

We meet a few more fans, one who waits outside places for stars to come out, and two others who are cosplayers. Bryan, the fan who waits, helps Tom understand the thrill of being recognized by someone you admire and look up to is what makes all this worthwhile. When Tom heads to his final con of the documentary in Birmingham, he decides to don a costume. Tom goes as the Joker and is instantly blending in with thousands of fans and enthusiasts. He says how contagious the atmosphere is and how much fun he is having.

Tom cosplaying as The Joker

After being exposed to every aspect of what it means to be a part of a fandom, Tom still doesn’t quite understand what makes us tick. So, finally we get to meet Tina, and I think she sums it up perfectly. Seeing the characters grow up and watching them grow up on screen made it feel like we were watching our own family grow up, and we wanted to be a part of that family. Ask any fan around you and they will say it’s true. The fandoms they are involved in are their extended family. They’re people who understand them and essentially are just like them.

Tom's interview with Tina. Photo: Buzzfeed.

This documentary explains why we do the crazy things we do. Being a part of a fandom brings people together from all over the world, which explains why Comic-Con has grown into the multi-billion dollar convention that it is today. People come from all over to go to cons to dress up, meet stars, and find other members of their extended family. I suggest that anyone who wants to understand more about professional fans should watch Tom’s documentary. It is a perfect peek into what kind of effort we put forth to show support for our role models and helps show that fandoms go much deeper than the pages in the books or the movies on screen.

--Kasey

Once upon a time…

Everyone loves a fairy tale. They make us feel warm and happy inside. They help us escape from our bad days and give us hope that our happy ending is out there, somewhere. The newest adaptation of the classic Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tale, Cinderella, will do just that. From the beautiful story, the great cast, amazing costumes, and gorgeous scenery this movie is nothing short of perfect. This movie is one that will stick with you for a little bit, and after just seeing this movie, I can happily admit that I am still thinking of this movie. I honestly do not know where to begin singing my praises. Let me warn you, though, this is not the Cinderella we grew up with.

Cinderella opens on a beautiful setting of the countryside where we first meet our heroine, Ella, as a baby. Through brief snippets we watch her grow up and learn of her close relationship with her mother and father. Of course, her mother is ripped away from her very tragically by a severe illness when she was a young girl. Ella’s mother’s last words to her are “have courage and be kind.” This is the main theme and is repeated several times throughout the movie. Soon after her death, we see Ella as a grown woman with her father, when he is introducing the dreaded step-mother and her two daughters, Drisella and Anastasia . Ella’s father soon passes while he is away on a trip, and thus begins the traditional story we all know of the little cinder girl. The story continues on and pays tribute to the classic cartoon version in small details. The fairy godmother uses the phrase “Bippity Boppity Boo” several times when she is helping Ella prepare for the ball.

Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother

Oh, and of course, Gus-gus, Lucifer, and all of the mice make appearances throughout the movie. As familiar as this story is, it was also very different from other versions of the fairy tale. It showed more of the hardships Ella had to face and how difficult it was for her to bear the death of her parents alongside her mistreatment from her step-family. The entire time I was cheering for her to get out of there and find her prince. This adaptation did an amazing job drawing the audience in and making it fall in love with its heroine. I felt as if I was going through everything with her instead of being a witness. Every aspect of the movie helped a great deal with that. Especially its cast.

The chemistry between the characters radiated off the screen. Especially between Cinderella and her prince. Lately I had been let down time and again with this type of chemistry and character development, so it was refreshing to find a movie that was able to fill that gap. Lily James portrayed our heroine and exceeded every expectation I had. Despite everything thrown at her, she stayed upbeat. She had courage and was kind. Ella even forgives her step-mother for everything in the end. She never gives up and eventually is rewarded for it; she gets her happily ever after. Richard Madden was our dashing and charming, young prince. I can honestly say, he portrayed every girls’ dream Prince Charming; right down to the smile.

(See? Perfect.)

Richard Madden as The Prince/Kit and his perfect smile.

Alongside our poor Ella, he is also going through his own hardships and pressures. Kit, the name he used to introduce himself to Ella, is facing the pressures of marrying for prospects instead of love on top of his father quickly dying. However, like Ella, he cares the words “have courage and be kind” with him which helps he carry on and continue searching for “the forgetful girl who loses her shoes,” or so the kingdom refers to our mysterious princess as. Our evil step-mother, Cate Blanchett, did a great job making me hate her. The moment she plopped Lucifer out of her carriage and paraded into Ella’s home, I felt an immediate sense of disdain and hatred toward her. Blanchett made her character truly evil. At one point she tells Cinderella that she treats her this way because she “is innocent and good.” Only a truly villainous person could be that cruel to a good natured person. Her character adds the serious and dark nature to the movie. However, our beautiful fairy godmother gives it some much needed comedic relief. Helena Bonham Carter is our bubbly fairy. She is a very picky builder when choosing the vegetable she will turn into a carriage. However, she “knows a thing or two about shoes,” or so she tells Ella. They could not have picked a better actor to portray such a classic role.

Lily James as Ella and Cate Blanchett as the Step-mother

If this movie is nominated for anything come award season, it better be for costumes. Each and every costume worn by all the characters were so detailed and beautiful. The dresses were so vibrant and full, especially Ella’s ball gown. The deep blue gown had so many layers and dimension to the dress, that it was a scene in itself to watch it move and flow as she and the prince danced. The glass slippers looked like they were made of diamond instead of glass that looked even more beautiful when the light reflected off them. I guess Carter does know a thing or two about shoes. During the entire ball, it was hard to decide what I wanted to focus on: the dancing or the gowns.

Lily James and Richard Madden in their ball costumes

There are so many different aspects of this movie that was near perfection. I applaud Kenneth Branagh for his amazing job directing this movie. It was a beautiful story and a stunning visual presentation for my eyes. The chemistry between the Ella and Kit could be felt off the screen. Call me a hopeless romantic, but their final scene made me feel warm and bubbly inside. I highly recommend for everyone to go see this movie this weekend. You may even run into me there for my second viewing.

…and they all lived happily ever after.

--Kasey