Favorite Romance

Hello everyone:) This week each of us will take a turn talking about our favorite romantic (fill in the blank) :) I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about my favorite romantic movie. I have a slew of favorites that I watch over and over again that brings forth that happy, contented sigh or blasted tear to my eyes. But one movie stands out above all others in my mind. I think you will be surprised to find out what it is.

There have been a million (Yes, I exaggerate, but it feels like a million) different versions of Cinderella shown on the big screen. Out of all the fairy tales to be redone, IMO, Cinderella is the most popular. Of course there is the Disney version and probably most well known. There are also teen flicks like, A Cinderella Story and Another Cinderella Movie. Heck, even Elmo stared in one called Cinderelmo.

So why am I babbling about Cinderella? Because of all the movies I could pick from it is one of these Cinderella adaptations that wins as my all time favorite.

Ever After

The moment I watched it ten years ago, I fell in love and I still love it to this day. Drew Barrymore stars as Cinderella and Anjelica Huston as the wicked stepmother. Could you ask for a better villain? She plays the part to perfection, adding just a bit if vulnerability so you see she is also struggling with a deep sadness she refuses to reveal. I loved this addition to the character. Now she is still wicked, LOL, but this side that is rarely shown in any other version I’ve seen, added a lot of depth to the character.

Then there is the Prince of France. Henry (played by Dougray Scott). Again, not your perfect swoop-you-off-your-feet-go-ga-ga over Prince. He’s arrogant, slightly spoiled and privileged. It’s his growth throughout the movie, with the help of Danielle, a woman who believes in helping the poor, that gives another layer of richness.

Ever After might be an odd choice among some of the classic romances out there, but I’m a sucker for a fairy tale. This everyday rendition of a childhood story is taken one step forward with depth, scenery (which is breathtaking, I might add) and a solid plot that goes further than a woman being treated as a housemaid in her own home and the Prince who rides in on a white horse to save her. I've added a video here. It's more than a trailer so if you haven't seen the movie you will get more insight to how the movie progresses, so be warned. But I couldn't help myself either, LOL.

So my question(s) to you today is: Do you have a favorite romance movie, or better yet, a version of a movie that has been redone to death, but one version stands out above them all?