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Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
2017 | Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Emma Watson (2 more)
Story development
Building upon what already exists
Everything I wanted!
As we have already seen with the likes of Disney's live actin remake of Cinderella etc. Beauty and the Beast recaptures the magic of the animated film we all know and love. However, it achieves greatness by building upon the already familiar story and filling in holes left by its predecessor. The film was fun, enchanting and emotional.
  
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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated Cold Hearted in Books

Jan 15, 2022  
Cold Hearted
Cold Hearted
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book takes us on the journey of Lady Tremaine and her daughters - the stepmother and stepsisters of Cinderella. We spend the majority of the book getting to know Lady Tremaine before she met Cinderella’s father, and I actually quite liked her character. She lost her husband six years before the start of this book and has ended up spoiling her daughters in their shared grief, trying to make up for them only having one parent. She does decide that she’s spoiled them too much and she needs to be discipline them more and so as a punishment ends up going to a friend’s house in the country without them. There she meets the man of her dreams, Sir Richard.
This book doesn’t go the way that the Cinderella story does, where we think that Cinderella was the only person that was horribly mistreated. We see the reasoning for why Lady Tremaine in the future orders Cinderella to clean the house from top to bottom and adding in ridiculous requests at the same time. Once you have read the story, it’s completely understandable. Although, I will admit that at some stages you know that she has pushed the boundaries too far.
I was also quite glad at the reappearance of the Odd Sisters, although the time line is hazy but I would guess that it was before the events of The Odd Sisters book. I would also like to learn more about the stories that the Book of Fairytales has in, this may possibly be the stories that Serena Valentino is writing and all of these books will create her own Book of Fairytales? Only time will tell. I am hoping that Serena Valentino is in the process of writing more of these books, because I think the series is extremely clever and I do enjoy the fact that they are quick reads that are very interesting.
  
Ophelia and Prue have traveled to Paris where they hope to reunite Prue with her mother. Instead, they find that Prue’s mother is missing and there is a dead body in Prue’s step-family’s home – a body wearing a ball gown and only one slipper. Then Gabriel shows up and insists that’s not the only tie in to Cinderella.

The combination of fairy tale with cozy mystery is successful once again. There are a couple of plot points that seem a bit rough, but for the most part the story is a fun, fast paces romp. I love the trio at the heart of the series, and the rest of the cast is just as sharp and fun. I already can’t wait to see where they go next.

NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-cinderella-six-feet-under.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
A Little Siren (Not Quite a Fairytale #2)
A Little Siren (Not Quite a Fairytale #2)
May Sage | 2020 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Silvia Undine is used to shouldering the blame for everything happening around her; people tend to be suspicious of what they don't understand and they definitely don't understand her kind.
The one place she might find acceptance is her home, the ocean from which she's been banished.

Never had she imagined that her return might start a war and what she most certainly hadn't expected was to find Kings willing to fight for, against, and over her.

So after being disappointed in Cinderella I was weary going into this one. I was pleasantly surprised it was much better than Cinderella and had more depth. I was still very confused in some parts I felt like she was throwing everything at the book and sometimes important things got a little lost. But definitely an improvement and definitely a reason to continue with the series. Although the epilogue threw me and didn't quite make sense!
  
Cinderella (2015)
Cinderella (2015)
2015 | Family, Romance, Sci-Fi
10
7.9 (37 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Throw together two beautiful faces from a couple of popular TV shows, award-winning veterans of the big screen, a director who loves to immerse viewers in story in the most spectacular of ways and what do you get? Sweet, magical enchantment.

Cinderella is Disney’s latest live-action translation of a classic animated film and under Kenneth Branagh’s deft direction it is simply wonderful. Retelling a beloved fairytale and making it feel fresh, delightful and satisfying is no small feat but Branagh does it with engaging actors, charming sets, captivating scenery and gorgeous costumes.

Lily James, recently of Downton Abbey, plays the heroine with sweet, innocent strength. Showered with love by her parents, played by Ben Chaplin and Hayley Atwell, Ella knows nothing about discontent or malice. Even after she loses her mother, and even after her father brings home an uncaring stepmother and disdainful stepsisters, Ella remains faithful to her mother’s dying wish for her daughter to “Have courage. Be Kind.”

Everyone knows how Ella became Cinderella and we all know just how badly she’s treated by her stepmother and stepsisters. Cate Blanchett is wickedly magnificent as the stepmother and Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger bring new meaning to gaudy and garish.

I have to admit I’m a sucker for any fairytale that involves grand, sweeping ballroom scenes like Beauty and the Beast, Enchanted and now Cinderella. Of course, the scene could not have been possible without the help of a Fairy Godmother. Helena Bonham Carter is simply delightful in her role as Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. The special effects used to give Cinderella a stunning gown as well as a horse-drawn carriage and driver and footmen were flawless

We also know how the story ends, but that didn’t stop the audience from sighing, holding its collective breath, and cheering when the prince, played handsomely by Richard Madden, finds the maiden whose foot fits perfectly in the glass slipper.

Days after our screener, my husband and I were still discussing the movie, that’s how much we enjoyed it. And when you can get your husband to easily agree to watch it again when it’s released, you know it’s a great movie.
  
My Very First Story Time: Cinderella
My Very First Story Time: Cinderella
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cinderella: Fairy Tale with picture glossary and an activity (My Very First Story Time) by Pat-a-Cake, Rachel Elliot, Tim Budgen is a retelling of a much loved story, only with a difference, this has a multicultural slant.

Cinderella, (along with many of the other characters in this book) is portrayed as mixed heritage. She is also more capable of looking after herself, and a much better role model for young girls since this story is less about her being a slave to her ugly sisters and her “woe-is-me” pity-party and more about how she makes things happen for herself as a valued member of her society. Albeit a magical one.

I’d say this is great reading for children three years and up, as this has paper pages and doesn’t seem to be for an early self-reader, despite the title, but you can still read this story out loud to younger children at bedtime.

A charming book, full of diversity, simple rhythmic words and brightly coloured illustrations.
  
Finding Perfect (Hopeless #2.6)
Finding Perfect (Hopeless #2.6)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
Never have I read anything more perfect than this novella. EVER.
Colleen has yet to disappoint me and while Finding Cinderella wasn't necessarily my favorite book, Finding Perfect is definitely up there with my favorites! My heart juggled between hurting and joy, I laughed and darn near cried, I felt the swelling of emotion with every single page. If the title was enough of a spoiler, this is: I'm beyond ecstatic to see Daniel and Six get a happy ending!