It seems that we cannot get enough of fiary stories on the big screen and Disney has been leading way in terms of bringing to life live-action adaptations of these classics.
The Jungle Book
And we are going to be treated to another children's classic this week as Disney and director Jon Favreau deliver The Jungle Book, a film that looks on course to be another big hit. The movie is based on the book of the same name by Rudyard Kipling and is inspired by Disney's animated classic, which was released back in 1967.
To celebrate the release of The Jungle Book this week, we take a look at some of the other fairy story live-action movies that we have been treated to in recent years. Do you have a favourite.
- Cinderella (2015)
The Jungle Book comes hot off the heels of Cinderella, which was the big live action fairy tale movie to hit the big screen last year.
Cinderella marked the return of Kenneth Branagh to the director's chair while Chris Weitz adapted this well known tale into a brand new screenplay. It really was a gem of a film and one of Disney's best movies of 2015.
Lily James delivers a delightful performance as Cinderella, a role that really did send her star rocketing last year. There is something incredibly charming about her from the moment that you meet her and she confidently carries this big movie on her rather inexperienced shoulders.
Branagh has told this story that we all know so well in a simple way and yet, he has managed to capture the magic that makes the animation film so special. The director does put his own stamp on the story and on the characters but without ever going too far or trying to make it feel too real.
Branagh brought together a wonderful cast list as James starred alongside Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter, Nonso Anozie, Stellan Skarsgård, Sophia McShera, Holliday Grainger, and Derek Jacobi.
The move was both a critical and commercial hit as it went on to gross over $542 million at the global box office. Not only was the movie one of the highest-grossing films of the year, it was also one of the highest-grossing female-led films of 2015.
- Maleficent (2014)
A year before the success of Cinderella, Disney brought Maleficent to the big screen for the first time. Maleficent is one of Disney's greatest villans and this movie was the Sleeping Beauty tale from her point of view.
Angelina Jolie took on the title role in what proved to be a wonderful piece of casting. She looked amazing in the Maleficent black robes and horned head piece - for me, there was no one else who could have played this role.
Jolie really got under the skin of this character and showed that there was more to her than just this iconic villain that we have all come to love. She is a woman who was betrayed and who - underneath all of the darkness - is a woman who did have a heart.
Maleficent really is a fascinating film and gave audiences the chance to explore a story and a character from a very different point of view - adding some interesting layers to the central character as it went along.
There may have been initial worries about how well the movie was going to perform, but Maleficent went on to gross in excess of $757 million at the global box office by the end of its theatrical run. Not only is Maleficent the highest grossing female-led movie of 2014, it is also the third highest grossing movie of the year behind Transformers: Age of Extinction and Guardians of the Galaxy.
- Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
It was back in 2013 when Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters hit the big screen and it was one of my guilty pleasure movies of the year. It is a film that really is a whole lot of fun.
The movie saw Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton take on the title roles while Tommy Wirkola was on both writing and directing duties. The movie took the Hansel & Gretel characters that we all knew so well and set the story years after they were kidnapped by a witch... they now hunt down witches and destroy them.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters was the fourth feature film from Wirkola, who had brought us the terrific horror film Dead Snow a couple of years earlier. He had assembled agreat cast as Renner and Arteron starred alongside Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare, and Pihla Viitala.
This is a movie that is bloody and more than a little bit silly but its a film that is entertaining. There is a great chemistry between Renner and Arterton and I love the strong sibling bond thread of the story that is weaved throughout the film.
Naturally, this is a movie that was panned by the critics, but it did enjoy some box office success during its theatrical run. It is a movie that you can just kick back and enjoy and is not to be taken too seriously. Personally, I found it to be a terrific piece of escapist cinema with plenty of laughs and action along the way.
- Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
Snow White and the Huntsman was one of the big summer movies of 2012 as Kristen Stewart returned to the title role as Snow White... but this was Snow White like we had never seen her before.
The movie saw Rupert Sanders make his feature film directorial debut, while Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Sam Claflin, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, and Toby Jones joined Stewart on the cast list.
In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen. Can the young princess rise to be the leader her people need her to be?
Snow White and the Huntsman was one of the summer 2012 movies that I really did enjoy and thought it was a great take on a tale that we all know so well.
Stewart play Snow White as a much stronger and tougher character than we have seen before and it is great to see her ride in to battle at the end of the movie rather than have a bunch of blokes do it for her. She is also the heart of this story and you are rooting for her to succeed and avenge her father.
But it is Theron who really steals the show as Ravenna. There's always a danger to take a larger than life character such as the Evil Queen - Theron is an experienced actress and never allows those over the top moments to descend into farce. There is a strength and a vulenerability to this character that Theron capture so beautifully.
A second movie has been released earlier this year that is set before events of this film. Hemsworth and Theron are back but Stewart has not reprised the role of Snow White in The Huntsman: Winter's War.
- Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Hard to believe, but it was six years ago when director Tim Burton brought Alice In Wonderland to the big screen and but his own - and rather unique - stamp to this iconic tale.
Mia Wasikowska took on the central role of Alice in what was the biggest role of her career at the time. The movie also marked the first time that she had worked with Burton. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, and Michael Sheen were just some of the other names on the cast list.
Alice In Wonderland is a movie wher Burton's imagination was allowed to run wild as he created a vibrant and interesting world that you really could get totally lost in. It was a true visual treat. While this is a story that we all know well, we have never seen it visualised in the way that Burton has delivered.
There's a charm to Wasikowska's interpretation of Alice while Depp is perfectly cast as the odd Mad Hatter. The pair have a wonderful chemistry and they work so well together throughout the movie. However, for me, Hathaway was totally miscast and I did not like the character of the White Queen at all.
Alice in Wonderland is the most successful film of Burton's career as it grossed over $1 billion at the global box office. It ended the year as the second highest-grossing film behind Toy Story 3.
Alice Through The Looking Glass is set to hit the big screen later this year but James Bobin has taken over the director's chair. Burton is set to serve as producer on the project.
Other movies in this genre that you need to check out include Jack the Giant Slayer, Oz The Great and Powerful. Alice Through the Looking Glass, Beauty and the Beast, and The Litte Mermaid are all on the horizon
The Jungle Book is released 15th April.
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