I went in to the cinema expecting to be disappointed, or to nod off, but I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It's dark, it's funny, it's utterly entertaining. It just goes to show that when film makers are given an imaginative script, the magic can still happen.

Emma Stone, she gets lots of parts, and you can see why, she's so good, she's excellent in this, and really does inject some vigour into the character.

How nice it was to be back in a cinema!

This exceeded my expectations, 8/10.

I had no interest in seeing "Cruella"...none at all. After all, I really hated the two previous live action films based on the "101 Dalmatians" series. But my daughter insisted I watch it with her, as she said it is a silly but really enjoyable film...and after seeing it I agree. But I would also add that it is very well written...and I loved some of the dialog. I was expecting to give it a 2 or 3 and end up now giving it a 9!

The story in no way involves Cruella trying to make coats out of puppies. Instead, it's a prequel in which you see what helped to create the evil and god-awful Cruella we've all come to love in the full length cartoon. I'd say more...but think it's just a film you see for yourself.

Overall, an amazingly well written and very entertaining film. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that the music is too much...too loud and distracting. But otherwise, it's a terrific and very entertaining film.

Cruella de Vil is in the rogues gallery of the Disney Parks hall of shame.

The crackling villainess usually exchanges barbs with Captain Hook to entertain and frighten the parkgoer's.

She is bad because of her love for fur coats made from dalmations.

So this prequel has had to retool the character of Cruella de Vil to make the audience root for her.

To me this was a Disnified version of a Harley Quinn movie. Dark edged and twisted but family friendly with a lot of mainly 1960s pop music.

Young Estella (Emma Stone) has always felt guilty as she thought that she was responsible for the death of her mother when being chased by dalmations.

When orphaned, she hooked up with Horace and Jasper and lived a life of petty crime.

Estella always yearned to be a fashion designer, she ends up working with The Baroness (Emma Thompson) a haute couture designer who is casually cruel.

When Estella learns the truth about The Baroness, Estella's rebellious streak gets the better of her. Donning the guise of Cruella, she taunts and sabotages The Baroness fashion shows.

Cruella has to be seen in its own right and you need to forget about the Dalmation films. It is offbeat and entertaining but also rather bloated.

Stone and Thompson decked out in ever outlandish costumes give delicious performances. Other characters are two dimensional who seem to be retreads from other Disney live action movies.