Are you like me and feel as if Disney is constantly pushing as well as creating a numerous amount of live action remakes of their past animated films? Your sick of Disney trying to unlock your love again for well known characters and potentially ruining the magic. I understand and sometimes feel the same way with you. Well guess what surprisingly! Disney decided to change things up a tad bit with something a little more original but still with their good old fashion Walt Disney style of filmmaking. Today's live action film is not a carbon copy remake but happens to be an origin story take on one of Disney's most famous villains, Cruella de Vil from the hit animated film 101 Dalmatians. In this new film, Cruella, played by Academy Award Winner Emma Stone, narrates her life journey from birth to fashion designer in 1970s Punk Rock London. We watch as little old Estella turns more evil & evil in the fashion world against her arch nemesis and fashion rival, The Baroness, played by Emma Thompson. In a classy setting, Cruella brings the punk revolution to London causing mayhem and anarchy to the changing times. With the help of her two goons that she met as a child, Jasper & Horace, Cruella's plan is just getting started. It is her world and we are all just living in it. This movie overall, and I do not say this word lightly, is truly outstanding. Where do I begin? Let us start with the cast and the acting of the film. Not only is everyone casted perfectly in their roles from Stone to Thompson but also supporting players such as Joel Fry & Paul Walter Hauser to even the always great Mark Strong. The performances are top notch and make you feel for the characters in this truly character based driven story. The story itself is honestly quite original and a fun take on the 101 Dalmatians story. In my own personal opinion, the 2019 Aladdin remake (I know this is going to be a Hot Take), is one of the better Disney live action to have come out so far in theaters. However after seeing this new film, I think we might have a new champion. As someone who to be quite frank is not familiar with the original animated movie, this was such a bold and fresh take on a villain that deserved to have her mind unlocked for the world to see. One notion I must admit is the story is a bit choppy in some places, it starts off very Devil Wears Prada when Estella is rising in the fashion world, to this revolution Joker like movie. Looking at the trailer it just looked like Disney's The Joker with Emma Stone, however that is not the case. Thankfully it was able to find an identity of it's own that stands apart from the rest. The cinematography and the visuals of this film are also truly remarkable. I am sure knowing the Disney budget most of the set pieces were behind some form of green screen with CGI. Yet it does transport you to this punk world of London unlike anything you have seen before. The costumes are a sure thing for next year's Oscars for Costume Designs. Whoever designed and drew out the layers for each's character's wardrobe deserves all the money in the world for their ability to mix mayhem 70's with Disney villain correctly where it does not feel too much like a Hot Topic catalog. Lastly, the soundtrack!!! I was not expecting the range of music in this film from the Doors to the Stones to the Beatles to the Clash. Just a wonderful arrangement of masterpieces that perfectly correlate well with the scenes at hand. Cruella is simply stunning both character wise and visually, Disney hit the mark on this film, showcasing how if they branch off a tad bit with their characters they can still make magic.
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