With plenty of gorgeous sweeping landscapes, a generous helping of bibbity bobbity boo, and a tightly corseted heroine, Cinderella makes her way to theaters as Disney's latest princess to get a live action adaptation. It stays very close to the original 1950's telling, not taking the generous liberties that last year's Maleficent did, but it still has plenty to inspire dreams and foot fetishes.

After her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, who reduce her to scullery maid. Despite her circumstances, she refuses to despair. An invitation to a palace ball gives Ella hope that she might reunite with the dashing stranger (Richard Madden) she met in the woods, but her stepmother prevents her from going. Help arrives in the form of a kindly beggar woman who has a magic touch for ordinary things.

Director, Kenneth Branagh brings his picturesque landscapes and love of Shakespeare out in full force. In every rolling scenic pan, the focus remains on Cinderella, highlighted as almost a beacon. She's just a little bit brighter than anything around her, even from a distance. Every scene, especially the Prince's fete is so opulent and textured, it brings a whole new level of awe to the beautiful picture. Cinderella's classic ballgown is beyond gorgeous with its lavish layers, and butterfly accents.

The story itself plays on the safe side, all the while shoving the message of being brave and kind will conquer all. It gets a little preachy, and repetitive. While much is the same as the classic cartoon, there are a few changes, which makes the classic feel new again. One of those changes is the introduction of Ella's parents that have only been mentioned in back story in the past. A golden haired Hayley Atwell brings Cinderella's mother to life, displaying both strength and tenderness. She like her daughter, are so sugary sweet, that she's too good to be true. Ben Chaplin is Cinderella's handsome traveling salesman father, who is dotting on his daughter, and utterly in love with his wife. The loss of her father is utterly devastating, and  so well done, that its tear worthy.

From there the story delves into the more classical aspects with Cate Blanchett's Lady Tremaine turning the young Ella slowing into nothing more than a servant girl waiting upon her and her horrible daughters. Blanchett really shines in this aspect, delivering a performance that is reminiscent of the movie stars of the golden age such as Bette Davis. She revels in her wickedness, and had the film focused on her instead it would have been a delightfully darker tale. The little back story into her descend into darkness really helps to flesh out her character.

Instead Cinderella goes for a much more naive and lighthearted feel, and excels there as well. Lily James is mindnumbingly sweet as Cinderella. Her childlike positivity can make the most callous of us believe in magic. She emits a fresh exuberant attitude while being free speaking and earnest, its easy to see why the Prince would fall head over heels for the girl after a chance meeting in the woods. And the way the girl effortlessly glides into the Prince's fete, its no wonder that she's the belle of the ball.

And speaking of the Prince, Richard Madden is so shiny and bright as the Prince, he's almost hard to look at. Seriously shiny, to the point I think they must have applied Vaseline to his teeth. I'm not sure if it was the beard or dire scowl on his face during his Game of Thrones days, but his blue eyes have never shined so bright.

The rest of the supporting cast are equally delightful in the very small parts their given. Delivering an extra bit of glitter and Helena Bonham Carter brings to life Cinderella's playful and slightly ditzy Fairy Godmother. Holliday Grainger's Anastasia and Sophie McShera's Drizella are byproducts of an overly doting, but fairly rotten mother, who've spoiled them beyond repair. Derek Jacobi is the kind hearted king, with a bad ticker, who's part is all too brief. Rounding out the cast are Nonso Anozie as the Prince's sound board and Captain of the guard and Stellan Skarsgård as the dubious Grand Duke.

Many will come for the mass appeal of the short Frozen Fever playing before it, but will find themselves falling in love with Cinderella. The story lacks the panache or uniqueness of Enchanted or The Princess Bride, but more than makes up for those short comings with charm delivering a story with loss, love and magic.

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The ship has sailed, and land is in sight. Valencia is on the horizon. Galavant contemplates if he should save the kingdom or Madalena first, poor Galavant still has no clue that he's walking into a trap.

Richard cannot wait for Galavant to arrive so he can slay him and then bed his wife. Madalena screeches for her maid to fix her hair. Her maid has been getting sweet talked by the chef. Richard can't help but be excited about tonight, thinking that once Galavant is gone, and he delivers the gem to his wife she'll be happy. Madalena is just wretched though.

Madalena lets her marvelousness go to her head. She thinks that the answer to her problem is for her to take the kingdom for herself, and her ego has a few different parts, enough to fill up an entire hall of mirrors, all spurring her on.

Valencia's population has been drastically reduced the sign notes as Sid takes a potty break and contemplates zippers. The light in the sky is perfect for hero lighting, and so Galavant stops to do some push ups. Isabella looks for ways to stall, and Galavant finally accepts that he stinks, and needs a bath.

The trio head over to visit the monks, who've taken a vow of song. Galavant doesn't appreciate the song, but come on, it's Weird Al. Isabella asks for shelter, a bath, and maybe a little consell for leading someone she likes astray.

Madalena comes looking for a cup of tea. The cook lets it spill that he's planning something special for the evening. Madalena knows that he has a thing for her maid, so she'll help him win her maid if he lets her in on Richard's plan. The chef doesn't know much, just that things will go down around 9 pm.

Isabella talks with a monk, forcing him to break his vow of singing. He notes that she's fallen for Galavant, which she hasn't realized, and betrayed him as well.

Richard awaits Galavant while Madalena and the Chef wait. He's late of course. Isabella arrives alone, demanding that Richard take the jewel and leave Galavant alone. richard notes that the princess has fallen for the knight, and he's not surprised, but he tells her that she will bring Galavant to hi and shows her her parents under silver platters. Isabella screams thinking that they're dead, but they aren't yet. But they will be if she doesn't deliver Galavant.

The monks sing with Sid, and Galavant admits that Isabella was right. He needed a better plan, and she helped to bring him back to himself. Isabella notes that she didn't do all that much to bring Galavant back, and comes pretty close to paying him a compliment. She does see how he sees the good in people even after they betray him. Before the pair can make any confessions, Sid interrupts with his complaining about his crotch itching due to the monk's robes.

Madalena sets her plan in motion by writing a missive on the chef's back. She sends it off with the fastest pigeon. Madalena tells him that he has her permission to cook the finest of meals on her, and even have a bottle of wine from her cellar. Chef isn't sure that she'll even accept, but Madalena orders Gwen on the date. Gwen doesn't think that love is made for people like them, but Chef is sure that it is. Gwen tries to reason with him, but the chef is convinces her that they could be happy.

Galavant prepares to storm the castle. Isabella tries to talk Galavant out of the plan, but its too late. Richard has spotted them and he calls the guards in to capture them. They grab Isabella, and she tells him not to give, but he does. The women in poor Galavant's life are never as noble as he is. The guards take Galavant, Isabella and Sid into the dungeon. Galavant is at a loss for words, but Sid isn't. He cannot believe how underhanded she's been. Isabella apologizes, but she was worried about her family. Galavant tells that had she told him they could have come up with a plan. Isabella isn't sure that he would have helped if he had nothing to gain. It's too late now to know if he would have though. He asks her if Madalena really wanted him to come, Isabella confesses that she doesn't know. Galavant is taken away.

Gwen heads off to meet the Chef.

Richard prepares to hang Galavant. He unmasks him, but it isn't Galavant, but his chef. Galavant is unhooded and he's seated at the opulent table in the Queen's quarters. That lavish meal she told the Chef to prepare wasn't for him and Gwen, but herself and Galavant. She unties Galavant and tells him that everything is going to change. she's written someone who will execute her husband.

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GUEST STARS ABOUND ON TWO NEW EPISODES OF “GALAVANT” AIRING SUNDAY, JAN. 18

WEIRD AL YANKOVIC, SOPHIE MCSHERA (“DOWNTON ABBEY”), RICKY GERVAIS AND

RUTGER HAUER ARE GUEST STARS SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET)

“Completely Mad…Alena” – As our heroic trio finally approaches Valencia, they find shelter and doo-wop among local monks who have taken a vow of singing, led by Confessional Monk (Weird Al Yankovic). Madalena, frustrated with King Richard, decides to take matters into her own hands with her own devious plot involving the besotted Chef and her winsome handmaiden, Gwynne (Sophie McShera), on “Galavant,” airing SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Dungeons and Dragon Lady” – While Galavant struggles with the realization about his true love, King Richard goes on a voyage of self-discovery, thanks to a potion from the magician, Xanax (guest star Ricky Gervais). As Galavant draws closer to the woman he really loves, an emboldened King Richard starts to assert himself, just as his meaner, elder brother returns—Kingsley (Rutger Hauer) on “Galavant,” airing SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

 “Galavant” stars Joshua Sasse as Galavant, Timothy Omundson as King Richard, Vinnie Jones as Gareth, Mallory Jansen as Madalena, Karen David as Isabella and Luke Youngblood as Sid.

Guest starring on “Completely Mad…Alena” are Al Yankovic as Confessional Monk, Sophie McShera as Gwynne, Darren Evans as Chef, Stanley Townsend as King of Valencia and Genevieve Allenbury as Queen of Valencia. “Completely Mad…Alena” was written by Casey Johnson and David Windsor and directed by John Fortenberry.

Guest starring on “Dungeons and Dragons Lady” are Ben Presley as Jester, Darren Evans as Chef, Stanley Townsend as King of Valencia, Genevieve Allenbury as Queen of Valencia, with Rutger Hauer as Kingsley and Ricky Gervais as Xanax. “Dungeons and Dragons Lady” was written by Kirker Butler and directed by James Griffiths.

Dan Fogelman, Alan Menken, Glenn Slater and Chris Koch serve as executive producers. Abbey C Studios Ltd. produces “Galavant” for ABC Studios.

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