'Cinderella' Movie Reviews Roundup: Charming Tale Never Gets Stale

The story of Cinderella might have been told and retold a hundred times on stage and in film, but the tale never seems to get stale. This is true for the most recent "Cinderella" film with Lily James in the title role.

Added to the cast is Richard Madden who plays the role of her prince. Helena Bonham-Carter steps in as her fairy godmother while Cate Blanchett plays the role of the evil stepmother.

With a great cast in the film, all attention is focused on whether or not the plot will stay true to the fairytale. US Magazine states that the story is fairly "straightforward" and follows the original closely, adding that it is "timeless and charming."

The film's strengths, as pointed out by the review, lies in the "lavishness" that is seen on screen, which is destined to bring in a large amount of female viewers to the theaters.

In its review, Vanity Fair noted that director Kenneth Branagh did not try to "reinvent" the story but instead opted to tell a familiar tale with elegance and a good amount of efficiency. The review said the film has few surprises but is an old tale told well by the director. The cast – especially Richard Madden and Lilly James who transitioned from the hit series "Game of Thrones" and "Downton Abbey," respectively – also got good mention in the review. Cate Blanchett also manages to steal attention of viewers in her role, Vanity Fair said, adding that she was able to glide through her role as the evil stepmother with playful ease.

The "sumptuousness" of the film was highlighted in the review made by the San Jose Mercury News which also stated that the film is quite clearly divided between the bad and the good. The review described the film as "visually stunning," crediting its director for infusing it with "wit and style."