Director: Bill Condon
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, Hattie Morahan, Haydn Gwynne, Gerard Horan, Ray Fearon, Emma Thompson, Nathan Mack, Audra McDonald, Stanley Tucci, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Clive Rowe, Thomas Padden, Adrian Schiller, Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor
Rating B+
Disney introduced us to the delightful tale of Beauty and the Beast in 1991, capturing the hearts of romantics everywhere… and now Disney, utilizing the creative work of director Bill Condon and his team, brings the animated wonder to life in the live action film version of Beauty and the Beast. All the lovable characters, both human and non-human, jump off the screen with amazing CGI effects that will provide for a visual feast for the eyes that is bound to leave a smile or two that will last for days. Colorful musical sequences, gothic set designs, and a picturesque countryside make for the backdrop to tell the tale of a Belle (Emma Watson), a beautiful unconventional bookworm who is taken prisoner by a Beast (Dan Stevens). Despite his crude and intimidating demeanor, Belle is able to see past her captor’s ugliness and recognizes the kind soul that lies within the large brute wearing horns and fur.
A narcissistic selfish vain prince is put under a spell by an old hag (little does he know that she is actually a beautiful enchantress) when he refuses to give her shelter on a cold night. The prince is cursed to live as a Beast and his castle and staff are all cast under the same ghostly spell. All those who reside with him are turned into living talking household objects and his royal manor takes on a life of its own. They are all cursed to this fate unless the Beast finds someone to love him before the last pedal from a magical rose falls from its stem. If love is not found, all are doomed forever. When Belle’s father is taken prisoner by the Beast, Belle manages to trade places with him in an effort to save his life. Now she lives with the master of the palace and slowly the two (it just so happens they both love to read) develop a friendship that will lead to so much more.
Beauty and The Beast‘s amazing cast brings new energy into all the characters. Playing Gaston, the handsome egotistical machismo suitor after Belle’s hand in marriage, Luke Evans is (surprisingly) a scene-stealer as he reveals that Gaston does not have the best of intentions. His sidekick LeFou is played energetically by Josh Gad who expertly delivers some great one-liners that add comical energy to the movie and another surprise performance. A side love story between Lumiere and Plumette is adorable with the voices of Ewan McGregor and Gugu Mbatha-Raw to play out the love affair between a candlestick and a feather duster. Emma Thompson is Mrs. Potts, the wise motherly teapot that embarks all her wisdom as she sings the title track for the film. Kevin Kline, who plays Belle’s eccentric lovable father Maurice, seems confused about which accent he needs for his role – he needs a French accent but sounds more like an American trying to pull off a British accent. Then there is Ian McKellan as the anxious clock, Stanley Tucci as the damaged harpsichord and Audra McDonald as the opera singing wardrobe. All the actors add just the right touch to their enchanted characters to make us fall in love with them.
Emma Watson plays the heroine, and once you get over her Hermione Granger past from the Harry Potter series you can’t help but notice how perfect she is for the role of Belle. Her singing, though not terrible, is not nearly as good as the original singer from the animated version of the film. Watson is charming and engaging as Belle and she brings a whimsical quality to the female lead while still managing to pull of an independent young woman who truly knows how to love unconditionally stand up for her principles. Dan Stevens nicely pulls off a beastly brooding rather grumpy creature that processes no social graces but whose love for Belle will bring out his true nature. Stevens has a tricky job in that he has to perform alongside CGI effects to create a believable monster and he manages to do this seamlessly so there are no distractions between the real actor and the illusion.
A stand out in Beauty and the Beast are the amazing visual effects. The musical numbers match that of any Broadway show and the scene where Ewan McGregor uses his singing chops as the candelabra hosting Belle during the “Be Our Guest” dinner sequence is a tantalizing marvelous feast for the eye that will make those watching dizzy with delight. The only problem is that Emma Watson looks a bit disjointed from the scene. With all the frenzy going on around the dining room she is sort of just sitting there with nothing to do. With special effects on overload, household items come alive during a well choreographed fight sequence that is very entertaining. There are alterations from the original songs to the new production, but this does not detract from the storyline. Unfortunately, a few of the new songs lack appeal and fail to impress so perhaps the film would have been a little better off without these additions. Belle dancing the waltz with her Beast creates for a beautiful magical moment as her dress flows across the dance floor and light falls from the ceiling as the two never take their eyes off each other. The Beast’s castle is eerie, majestic, and breathtaking, all at the same time giving a classic look to this captivating fairytale.
Another twist with the new film version of Beauty and the Beast is a racially diverse cast, a hint of a gay relationship, and feminism to bring the storyline up to speed with modern times. The animated version of Beauty and the Beast is near perfect. And, while the updated version still does not reach the standard of perfection that the original accomplished, it is still an awesome treat and definitely worth the watch. A tale as old as time never goes out of style and can only bring joy to fans of the this magical story.
