Because the problem with such well told tales is just that. You know what’s going to happen, and when. Then you read the film is just shy of two hours, and recall the moment in bad adaptations of A Christmas Carol when you realise you’ve still got two ghosts to go. Is this just an exercise in ticking a live action take on a classic story off the list? It’s infectious, too. Backed by a glorious Patrick Doyle score, this Cinderella eschews the need to fill in backstory that wasn’t there, and focuses on telling the story we know, really well. This is welcome, and it means we don’t get anything akin to finding out more about Willy Wonka’s early years for instance. Rather, we get the story of Ella – played by Lily James – as she becomes parted from her parents, and slowly falls under the charge of her less than pleasant stepmother. Do note: in spite of the U certifcate, there is a body count here. To Branagh’s credit, he gets the pacing right, with the film giving you plenty of time to admire the sheer craft of the costumes and sets, but with a keen eye on keeping the story going. Branagh’s stage work has seen him tell familiar stories before, and you almost sense he’s finding the sweet spot before familiarity breeds proverbial contempt. Elsewhere? Holliday Grainger in particular and Sophie McShera have lots of fun as Cinderella’s stepsisters, and Game Of Thrones‘ Richard Madden is a fine prince. But there are plenty of nice surprises in the supporting cast too – even CG creatures that don’t jar – and Nonso Anozie is on particularly good form. Perhaps a bit more humour wouldn’t hurt in places, and there are moments when you get the impression that the film is edging towards a musical number, only to pull back. It’d be interesting to know how close the production came to including songs, but it’s a wise choice to play it as straight as it does. Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.