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Ever After - A Cinderella Story

Ever After - A Cinderella Story

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A wonderful fantasy
Review: When I heard that Drew Barrymore, ex-addict and former all around bad girl, was going to star in a reworking of Cinderella, I decided that her much publicized recovery had gone too far. She had become a child star in that famous fairy tale know as E.T, and I saw no way for this worldly young woman to return to that genre. I was wrong.

Ever After is a delight. It's not a masterpiece. It has some structural flaws. But the thoughtfulness and hard work that went into make it a fine entertainment. And Barrymore shows again that she has her famous family's genes.

This movie makes a number of changes to the children's classic. Most of them work, and all are intended to update the story. Barrymore's Danielle [Cinderella] is not the helpless victim of the original tale. She's a bright, feisty girl whose had some bad breaks in life and is trying to make the best of them. The always wonderful Anjelica Houston, who can play every thing from comedies [The Addams Family] to thrillers [Prizzi's Honor, The Grifters], portrays the stepmother, Rodnilla, as a miserable, ambitious woman. She's mean-spirited, but hardly evil incarnate. When her husband dies early in the film, her grief seems as genuine as his daugher, Danielle's. Even the stepsisters have changed. Neither are ugly. One is ordinary looking and is secretly appalled at the way Danielle is treated. The other is beautiful to look at, but as heartless as they come on the inside.

One of the best changes is in the social outlook. Many fairy tales are basically about impoverished characters in a country that oppresses the poor. They wind up marrying a member. The irony is that they become a member of the group that oppressed them, and once in, they appear to do nothing for the people they let behind. They are too busy living happily ever after. I always felt this sent a not-so-moral lesson to children.

In Ever After, Danielle is less than impressed when she meets Price Henry [Dougray Scott]. He is witty and handsome, but it is his father, after all, who has made life so miserable for the commoners. Henry gives no indication that he will be much different. Their second meeting happens only because Danielle must save a servant who has been taken away in lieu of the family's back taxes. She then finds out that he does have a heart and a brain, and that his attitude is a result of his never having know any life but a royal one.

The movie is done with a fine sense of humor. The dialog is very well written, and the cast delivers their lines with gusto. The sets and the costumes are delightful, with the exception of Danielle's ball gown, which is decidedly a dangerous fashion statement. I think it was designed as an inside joke.

The problems with plot structure are fairly minor. A pointless subplot was added to the beginning and the end of the film. At times, the effort to remake the story clashes with an odd tendency, at times. to try to be faithful to the original.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Perhaps You Will Allow Me to Set the Story Straight"
Review: "Then the story ... it's true."

"Oh yes. Now, what is that phrase you use? ... Once Upon a Time."

So begins the tale of Danielle De Barbarac. A child of eight, she is the apple of her father's eye and not even her father's new wife and stepdaughters can come between them. However, one thing can...

Ten years later, Danielle (Drew Barrymore) has grown into an enchanting young woman who patiently suffers her stepmother's uncalled for abuse. Forced to work as a servant while her stepmother (Angelica Huston), haughty stepsister Margarite (Megan Dodds), and caring stepsister Jacqueline (Melanie Lynskey) live off her deceased father's fortune. Danielle never loses her sweetness or her spunk. She works to maintain their decaying farm and lands, and one day runs into a very unlikely thief.

Crown Prince Henry (Dougray Scott) has lived a very different childhood. He, unlike Danielle, has lived a very pampered life with all he could desire, except the freedom to do just as he would please. Finally fed up with all the plans that his parents have made for him, he runs away from home, much to his father's wrath. In doing so, he happens to meet a very unique woman ...

Through varying circumstances, Danielle and Henry meet over and over again. He thinking she the most amazing comtess, for she tells him that is what she is in order to disguise herself. She however finds him to be a very arrogant and spoiled young man. Over time, Henry and Danielle begin to fall in love, while Rodmilla De Ghent, her stepmother, begins to suspect that Henry, who she wishes Margarite to marry, is in love with some unknown maiden. Rodmilla is not about to have her plans ruined by any one.

This version of the classic Cinderella story is quite well done and unique. Danielle, Cinderella, is hardly a damsel in distress as she is quite capable of taking care of herself and Henry is not the dream prince of the fairy tale, but is a troubled young man who needs someone extra special to guide him in the right direction. Oh, and there is no Fairy Godmother, rather, Leonardo Divinci (Patrick Godfrey) is on hand at the royal French court to give wise advise and good council.

Filmed by Andy Tennant, with music by George Fenton (Anna and the King Original soundtrack), Ever After: A Cinderella Story is a delightful tale with lovely cinematography, great acting, and a story about two people from different worlds who find that they are not so far apart after all.

WARNING: This movie is rated PG-13 for a little bit of bad language and a some violence.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome cinderella story
Review: I absolutely love this movie. Drew Barrymore acts like she was born for this role and she's just so good! Its about a girl named Danielle and when her father dies she becomes a servant for her stepmother. Yup a cinderella story but instead of a fairy godmother, she gets a famous painter to help her!

Clearly showing that girls and women can be strong without needing magic and by being themselves. Appropriate for the whole family, and most girls and women will enjoy this sweet Cinderella Story. Its a spectacular movie, wonderful scenery, wonderfully made. Drew Barrymore shows the world what she's capable as an actress.

However the DVD's only special feature is the trailer. That's so disappointing! Clearly because I remember that this movie was promoted heavily and they had many interviews, etc., so they should have had more special effects rather than the trailer.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Cinderalla (more love) Story
Review: This Drew Barrymore movie is a great love story. It is just like Cinderalla but sees him more. But one thing that made this great is one stepsister is nice.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Cinderalla (more love) Story
Review: This Drew Barrymore movie is a great love story. It is just like Cinderalla but sees him more.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: a nice surprise
Review: This was a really nice movie with Drew Barrymore. It put a very touching twist on the classic Cinderella story! I just wish that there were more special features!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cinderella with a twist
Review: A mediocre fairy tale turned into a wonderful piece of art! This film portrayed Cinderella (Drew Barrymore) in such a way that you cannot help but fall in love with the story.
You get to meet the prince, Cinderella's best friend, The "Fairy Godmother" (Leonardo DaVinci - which was charming beyond belief) and her step-sisters. They are all cast in quite a different light and it draws you right in. The costuming and acting were quite superb. The movie keeps you rooting 'Cindersoot' on.
Do yourself a favor and get this movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ever After
Review: This movie is one of the best movies I ever saw. It is a classic tale of love that has been used since the time of Cinderella. I encourage all people to watch this movie so that they san see what real love is.That is my review!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very Fun!
Review: Ever After is a great take on the classic Cinderella story. I loved the touch that references to Sir Thomas More's Utopia gave. Drew Barrymore puts in a pretty good performance as Cinderella, but I found her acting a little fake at times. Dougray Scott is wonderful (in looks and acting) as the dashing prince, and Anjelica Huston plays a totally convincing and detestable step mother. The music and scenery and costumes are all very lovely. I found the ending a bit too abrupt-I guess I just want stories like this to go on and on!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I love Drew in this movie
Review: I think this movie is so cute and so good. I love that it is like the original Cinderalla story but in a way it is not. I love Drew in this movie. She is so sweet and it was like the role was made for her. But I do think that it is a chick flick. My finance did not think it was that great but I loved it. So I would suggest women to see it.


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