Directed by Casper Van Dien, very loosely based on the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty (2014) adds a B-Movie twist to the old story… with zombies and other monsters getting into the mix. The story centers on a prince and his whipping boy, who learn of a beautiful princess cursed with eternal sleep… and they venture off to rescue her from the evil queen that cast the spell. Bad special effects are counterbalanced by the beauty of the female leads. Grace Van Dien is radiant as Dawn/Sleeping Beauty. Olivia d'Abo is seductive as the evil Queen Tambria. The rest of the cast is hit or miss, including Finn Jones, Casper Van Dien and Edward Lewis French.
Directed by Andy Tennant, Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998) added a twist to the usual fairy tale treatment by changing the context. The story is woven more as historical fiction, set in Renaissance-era France (complete with a great Leonardo da Vinci character serving as a sort of "Fairy Godfather"). The cinematography is lovely, and Drew Barrymore is absolutely ravishing and radiant in the lead role. The supporting cast is great as well, including Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Megan Dodds, Melanie Lynskey and Jeanne Moreau.
Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Anjelica Huston: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Anjelica Huston: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Leonardo Da Vinci: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Leonardo Da Vinci and Drew Barrymore: Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Directed by Terry Gilliam, The Brothers Grimm (2005) is a creative and exaggerated portrayal of legendary folklorists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The story casts the brothers as conmen in early 19th Century French-occupied Germany, duping villagers into paying them to expel fake witches. However, when a real evil queen sorceress, dormant for 500 years, seeks to steal the youth from young girls in a nearby town… the phony exorcists must summon real courage to face a genuine fairy tale curse. Many references to famous fairy tales are present, including Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, the Gingerbread Man and Snow White. The set designs are artistic and stylish, adding a unique twist on historic medieval architecture. Matt Damon and Heath Ledger are an odd but good pairing as the Brothers Grimm. Lena Headey is tough in her supporting role. Monica Bellucci steals the show, though, looking radiant and enticingly sexy as the beautiful youth-obsessed Queen. Peter Stormare costars.
