**Author’s Note: Slight spoilers for those that have not seen the movie, although for many of us that have seen the movie, there are slight changes from the animated film. If you do not want to be spoiled, go over to the section titled “Overall Thoughts”. Since I am comparing two versions of the film, this will be the lengthiest review that I have done by far and first for a musical.**
When I first saw the trailer for this and heard the instrumental background for Beauty and the Beast, I was curious and at the same time excited because this was literally the number one favorite Disney animated film of my childhood (second being Tarzan and third being The Lion King). I had a feeling that some people would be bashing on Emma Watson (just because of her acting and that they easily recall her from the Harry Potter films) [rolls eyes] and the fact that the appearance of the Beast was off just because of the horns (which for the dumb comments they referenced it to looking a bit devilish which is paranoid to be honest). To me, the look of the Beast was a little…odd. Not exactly what I was expecting and yes…I still think it resemble a bit of a goat (with the horns as well), I don’t know why but it sort of does. I might get used to it over time but the fact that this was a musical just makes it more enjoyable for fans. The new generation might like the titular song done by Arianna Grande and John Legend but as for me, Disney tried way too hard to have them replicate what was done by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson and the fact that it started a pointless stupid debate online doesn’t surprise me.
After I watched it with my best friend, we both discussed as the credits rolled that one of the songs felt at least autotuned compared to most of the other songs. However, after I listened to the new songs again after watching the film, it became clear to me that another song that I thought wasn’t tampered with by being autotuned, actually was. Turns out that one version was more of my favorite than the other. I speak of the new track titled “Evermore”. Before I go into detail as to why it’s my favorite and why I would rank it first, I want to make a quick note that I did go and check some of the Broadway tracks, particularly “If I Can’t Love Her” which after listening to both tracks, I did spot some musical notes that had some similarity.
Speaking of the Broadway musical hit, those that are familiar and have seen it would likely spot a few things with regards to lyrics and a nod to a track from it that those who haven’t seen the musical wouldn’t have caught. It’s from another new track titled “Days in the Sun” which I actually like a lot compared to “Human Again” from the re-release of Beauty and the Beast (I did watch that one and that song felt a bit forced compared to “Days in the Sun”). I will make a section regarding the ranking of my favorite tracks from the film and I will say this, I absolutely love the new tracks in the live-action film but since I am reviewing a musical, the music would only make sense with the visuals if you go and watch the movie. Just listening to the music itself would give you an idea of what is going on and also show the differences between animated and live-action. Also, scattered throughout, I will mention some of my favorite moments in the film and then list a few others that I could relate to after the music. All of this will be on the “Overall Thoughts” section of the review.
The live action version of the film does a few things differently that the animated version couldn’t have done in 2D form. For one, when the film does open, instead of using the familiar castle used in the opening title nowadays, the castle that is used instead is the Beast’s castle and it goes straight into the prologue itself and viewers are then given the background of the former Prince who is shown as a bit of a selfish playboy and the makeup acts as a mask of sorts which shows a different “beast” altogether. I felt that the prologue sequence itself was really well done. We get a couple of original characters (one of them becomes the wardrobe), and the short song titled “Aria” goes well with the ballroom dance sequence. For those that think the person narrating in the prologue is one of the servants, it isn’t. I quickly found out a bit later as to who the Enchantress was as the prologue played itself out when Belle’s father, Maurice, is found by a woman named Agathe (but more on that later).
I know that there were mixed feelings about the opening title ‘Belle’ and I actually agree with many viewers about how it was heavily autotuned after listening to the track numerous times. For those that say that most of the times when Emma Watson was singing that it was autotuned, I dare you to listen again to those songs. That song as well as the reprise were the only times that it definitely felt autotuned but when I was watching and spotting the differences between both live action and animated versions (I will list them down shortly on what I recall), it illustrates not just the times in France back then, but also how the viewpoint of the villagers and their reaction to a woman reading was no different historically. It was frowned upon true, but it also shows how little the villagers understand because their minds are literally closed off whereas Belle is the opposite. The only person in town that supports her was Père Robert (Father Robert). This is one of the tiny details that was different from the animated version (in which Belle went over to a bookstore). I liked this change because it shows that the Church shows no indifference to individuals and supports them no matter the circumstances, which is something that regular villagers tend to forget. The triplets in the live action version of the film during the song as the lyrics go: “But behind that fair façade, I’m afraid she’s rather odd” as well as the tone that it was delivered in shows that they share the same viewpoint as the rest of the villagers in looking down at a woman who tries to educate herself.
As for Luke Evans and his portrayal of Gaston in terms of performance, I actually enjoyed it a bit. While others would say that he was lacking on the part that makes him a bit fun (like in the animated film, I will get to the titular track of the character later), I actually welcomed that lacking part in that it sort of gave the character a bit of a backstory but I find the minor vendetta of making Le Fou [portrayed by Josh Gad, who I recognized as “Olaf” from Frozen] (for those that weren’t sure of the meaning, it translates as “the fool” in French) a gay character a bit unnecessary. I actually found it a bit amusing only in the fact that he seemed like the type of character that didn’t know exactly what he wanted. Over time, the character was evidently being put more on the sidelines. Gaston at first comes out a bit headstrong and straightforward and admires Belle for not letting others and their opinion get to her, but what he doesn’t realize is that it also applies to him. When the villagers destroy Belle’s washing machine invention in retaliation for trying to teach a girl to read and then Père Robert goes to help her, the mental division between those that understand people and those who fear change are quite evident. The part in which Belle is singing the lines which act as a foreshadow to the film itself explaining her favorite part of the book she’s reading while walking through a flower shop (compared to the animated version in which Belle is reading to sheep, which technically is a bit odd) I found better than the former however, I only had one tiny minor complaint which was a little disorienting and that is the camera movement as it occurred going in circles during that exact sequence that I just described.
Belle’s relationship with her father Maurice (portrayed by Kevin Kline) is one part of the film that I actually like because when comparing him to the animated version, I actually prefer the live action version of Maurice since it shows and demonstrates that how much he cares for his daughter and how he understands that just because some people have different views doesn’t mean that they’re crazy or strange. This brings up the question “Who really has the small mind here? Is it them or me? How and why am I letting my ignorance blinding me from understanding why this person is what he/she is?”. When Maurice is singing the first two stanzas of “How Does a Moment Last Forever”, he’s working on a little music box which resembles a windmill and there’s a bit of a foreshadow as well as a backstory at the same time. It shows inside the life that he once had with his wife when Belle was a baby and also the painting that he has of her with Belle in her arms. Maurice is more of a tinkerer and I found myself grinning slightly as he is asking Belle for a couple of parts and she already has it in hand ready. The exchange that the two have when Belle asks if her father thinks she’s odd explains why I prefer this version of Maurice when he replies that “Small minded also means safe” and that his daughter is way ahead of his time. I think the adjective that he tells Belle when describing about the mother she barely knew as “fierce” is also fitting to Belle as well. There’s a few small nods to the original story written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont which is what I think some or most people are familiar with. Belle asking for a rose from her father as he prepares to go to the market to sell his wares, stumbles across the Beast’s castle and wanders around inside, and then trying to get a rose from the garden, much to the dismay of the Beast. The only difference is that Maurice comes across Chip, the enchanted teacup, which then causes him to freak out and then stumble across the garden before trying to pick a rose.
One obvious funny moment in the film (at least to me) with the servants of the castle is when they start to talk and then quickly revert back to trying to be inanimate and then seeing the reaction of both Maurice and Belle when they realize most of the castle is alive. There were some great quotes in this movie that I remember pretty well and have to say kudos to the scriptwriters on this. One in particular is during the scene in which Belle tries to reason with the Beast in saying her goodbyes to her father. When Maurice explains to Belle about the life sentence just for picking a rose and Belle asks if she could say her goodbyes that “Forever can spare a minute”, there was a part of me that indicated early on that I really prefer this version of Belle compared to the animated one particularly because of both character development and depth. Yes, the animated one was pretty to look at I admit…but in terms of depth…that is what was missing. Emma Watson does a good job with how she portrays Belle because of her real work as a feminist supporter and that she wanted to make the character a bit different from how it was before. What was not surprising was when Belle pushes her father out of the cell and took his place and how the Beast insults Belle by calling her a fool for taking his place.
Before I go any further regarding the main heroine, I want to quickly shift gears and bring focus to the servants of the castle themselves…and one particular moment which immediately made me think of one of the likely future projects of Disney because of Belle’s reflexive reaction. To start off, Audra McDonald…the name only rang a bell to me because I recall her performance, however faintly, in Disney’s version of Annie (the one in 1999). She portrayed a character known as Madame de Garderobe (who does the song “Aria” in the prologue) an original character but then gets transformed into the familiar wardrobe. The scene in which she literally interacts with Belle and brings up the line “Let’s see what I got in my drawers” and then the moths come flying out made me smile a bit, but what really got me grinning is when she literally went crazy with the fabrics and then calls in the Master’s pooch (which I forgot how she called him) to help her [I was like mentally screaming in my head ‘They added the dog! Yes’] and then just when it got tight around her waist did Belle felt it almost hurt. Her reaction for a split second from it is the same from the movie Mulan (which is likely to be one of Disney’s next live action projects). I loved how she played the character in this movie and her singing…oh my goodness, despite having some parts was great. Next, Lumiere and Cogsworth portrayed by Ewan McGregor and Sir Ian McKellen. I love both of these actors and I can sort of understand why some people might be divided in terms of their performance. I see it as a bit of a toss up on both characters when comparing the animated version with the live action ones…but if I really had to choose…I would say that I like both. In the animated version, the two almost act like comic relief characters and I actually like the interaction between the two especially the part when they bring up the ‘West Wing’ and Lumiere manages to catch Cogsworth on the slip up and they just simply dismiss the area as “storage space” and that the East Wing was the ‘only wing’ (place with a room) available. I think with what Ewan McGregor was given to work with despite being unsure of his French accent and not having seen the original animated film did pretty well. Some parts that I enjoyed was when the Beast calls out Lumiere who is ticked when he finds out that dinner was made for Belle and Lumiere tries to explain his reason for doing so and then puts it on Cogsworth. Ian McKellen I felt was given very little to work with for the character and compared to the animated counterpart voiced by David Ogden Stiers, I thought he did alright with what he had.
As for Mrs. Potts and Chip, I would say that it’s a bit of a toss up for me on this one. On the one hand, I think that Emma Thompson’s performance as Mrs. Potts was OK, but she was supposed to represent warmth yet I felt it was lacking something. Although when it also comes to singing the titular song is where I get a little divisive. To me at least, the accent is sort of heavy compared to Angela Lansbury (who voiced Mrs. Potts in the animated version). However, the design in terms of both characters is where it’s also divided. Putting the face on the side instead of the front (like how it was in the animated version) just didn’t quite cut it for me. Chip on the other hand was the only one that was exactly the same. A minor complaint but in my opinion I don’t think it would have been that hard. I liked how they added a few moments that I found absolutely adorable besides the familiar line “Want to see me do a trick?”. One in particular was how Chip reacted to seeing Belle inside the castle and asks, “What type of tea does she like? Earl Grey? Oolong? Chamomile?”. The other moment I will explain a little later regarding the song “Days in the Sun”. The featherduster being played Gugu Mbatha-Raw I actually liked a bit more compared to the animated counterpart portrayed by Kimmy Robertson and yet the only reason that’s the case is that during the sequence where the servants are turned back to their human selves, I had to admit that Gugu was quite stunning and her performance was quite good.
When I saw the way how the room interior was like for the East Wing, I could see quite a bit of old French designs in some parts of the room and I have to say kudos to the design team on how it came out. I was a bit amused when Belle thought almost most things in the castle was enchanted when she picked up the hairbrush and thought it was alive much to the chagrin of both Lumiere and Cogsworth.
When we get to the Gaston number, I was curious how the changes to the lyrics would be and whether or not it would flow well with how it was portrayed on screen. As Gaston explains to Le Fou what he imagined when he got married and the plans with Belle but instead got turned down, his remark when Le Fou tries to cheer him up when there were other women around I felt in my opinion was like a double entendre. “A great hunter doesn’t waste time on rabbits”, he tells Le Fou. I think most people probably found it alright, some really like it, and a few were disappointed because of some parts missing, and by missing I mean the line “And every last inch of me is covered in hair”. I actually found it pretty fun and a little amusing since Josh Gad did the improvised line at the end of the song about being illiterate when trying to spell Gaston’s name. The part that seemed a bit typical was the following:
(Gaston)I needed encouragement. Thank you Le Fou.
(Le Fou) Well there’s no one as easy to bolster as you.
(Second of silence).
(Le Fou)Too much?
(Gaston)Yup.
Le Fou trying to bribe the patrons to join in on trying to encourage Gaston was quite entertaining to watch and the changes to the song was a bit subtle and different to an extent from the animated version and fun. A couple of parts were changed in terms of illustration to the lyrics but for most that understood some of the lyrics particularly “No one fights like Gaston, douses lights like Gaston”, to me, I knew that it meant knocking someone out but it was put a bit differently in the live action version.
I had to admit that the two of them were quite hilarious and enjoyed their performance in the song. Another part of the song that I liked was when Gaston explains how he hunts, a new part that wasn’t in the animated version. It goes like this:
(Gaston): When I hunt, I sneak up with my quiver, and beasts of the field say a prayer. First I carefully aim for the liver. Then I shoot from behind.
(Le Fou): Is that fair?
(Gaston): I don’t care. (Fires his rifle)
The end of the song itself seemed more improvised than new lyrics in my honest opinion but I enjoyed it nonetheless and the part when a few of the patrons put on the red suit on Gaston really completed the look of the character. Yes, Gaston is a bit narcissistic and also proud of his prowess as a hunter (which goes into some detail in the live action version), but over time, the dark undertones begin to reveal themselves (particularly in The Mob Song and when Maurice tries to lead Gaston to the enchanted Castle of the Beast and then Gaston reveals his intentions to him about asking Maurice’s permission to marry Belle and he refuses which causes Gaston to leave Maurice knocked out and left in the woods for the wolves).
One scene that had me slightly grinning was when the Beast tries to have Belle come down to dinner, the servants telling him of what he should be doing and their reaction when the Beast does try to smile at Lumiere’s request, and she refuses by saying the following: “You’ve taking me as your prisoner and now you want to have dinner with me?! Are you insane? I would rather starve than eat with you”, to which the Beast responds “Well then be my guest!” I found it quite clever of the scriptwriters to make a foreshadow of what happens later with that line while having it as a way for the Beast to vent his frustration at the same time. An interesting effect with the live action version that I felt was quite appropriate and made sense at the same time was every time a petal from the enchanted rose fell, the castle was affected in some way, as well as the servants. As Lumiere pointed out to the Beast that “they become less human as time passes”. There were some really good quotes and scenes that I would have some trouble listing them all down without giving the rest of the movie away and I already mentioned a few of them.
In the “Be Our Guest” number, I felt that visually it was well done but there wasn’t as much interaction so to speak between Belle and the servants and when I compare it to the animated version, the original was more of a show stopper performance and the live action version just managed to squeak by a bit (same goes with Ewan McGregor’s performance). One tiny little hint that I am sure a few spotted but guessed at the significance of it was right at the part as the lyrics go “While the candle lights still glowing, let us help you, we’ll keep going”. Disney gave a hint at another project that they planned on doing, which is Aladdin (Cogsworth had a turban on his head, there was a resemblance of the palace as well). Also, a smart thing that was done is taking out the “10 years we’ve been rusting” and replacing it with “Too long we’ve been rusting” was quite clever in my opinion.
The suspense build up as Belle goes into the West Wing of the castle and finds the enchanted rose is where I think that I find myself in disagreement with those that might say it was rushed. The suspense build up I agree is the only reason it felt rushed. It almost didn’t look like Belle was taking her time looking around but it was when she was looking at the rose that the Beast appeared. It is here where it was a bit of a let down for me. The Beast seemed more concerned than really angry with Belle. The line “Do you realize what you could have done?” definitely was rushed when delivered as I was listening, instead of in a more angry steady pace to illustrate his frustration. In the animated version, the look on the Beast’s face had more of a look that said “Oh great. Now I’ve done it. Better go after her to make sure she’s not hurt”.
As Belle tried to fend off the wolves and then the Beast comes in to protect her, there was that moment in which Belle was contemplating of going on and thinking to herself, “He did save me, yet he also told me off. It doesn’t seem right to just leave him there injured”. The way how the expression appears in both versions are quite different. With the live action version (at least in my opinion), Belle notices that there’s something in the creature which made her feel sorry for him. I mentioned earlier about how Gaston’s character starts to show a darker side when Maurice tries to convince Gaston to no avail that there’s a Beast that took Belle and then he responds in the same fashion as Belle when Gaston reveals why he decided to help despite not believing his story and then leaving him for dead for the wolves only for him to be found by Agathe later (I will elaborate on her later).
There was a moment I liked with regards to the new song, “Days in the Sun” which is much better than the “Human Again” song from the re-release of the animated version of Beauty and the Beast in 2002. Mrs. Potts explained to Belle that after the mother passed away, the father made the Master even worse than him and the servants felt that they were to blame when the father messed up the Prince since they didn’t do anything to help despite having watched over him all his life. After seeing the flashback and who was singing at first, and then hearing the servants sing before Belle does a small bit and the tone was exactly the same from “How Does a Moment Last Forever”. I actually liked this song a lot because it illustrates how the servants were before the curse from the Enchantress was inflicted upon them. The tragic part in my opinion for me was for Madame Garderobe and Maestro Cadenza (the latter having to be a harpsicord) since both of them are in separate parts of the castle (Garderobe in the East Wing, while Maestro Cadenza is in the ballroom). I felt the lyrics in the new song was really well written.
One of the adorable moments I came across was when Chip was going to sleep and it was in a cupboard. When Lumiere explains to Belle what happens when the last petal falls, I mentioned earlier that I like the twist because not much happened to the servants in the animated version.
I mentioned before about the character named Agathe who stumbles across a tied up Maurice and tends to him. She doesn’t speak as much at first, but I immediately recognized her voice as the one who was narrating in the prologue. For those that were paying attention to detail will probably recognize her character a bit later on during the fight in the castle.
I found it amusing and a good way to show how Belle and the Beast are trying to make an effort to get to know one another when Belle starts to quote Shakespeare and then the Beast follows in reciting the rest. Seeing the Beast also dislike the story of Romeo and Juliet and not as interesting as well as his reaction was really amusing. When the Beast gives Belle the library as a gift and then when asked “Have you really read all these books?” and then the Beast replies “No, some of them are in Greek”, the reaction that Belle gives and asks “Was that a joke?” illustrated how she is slowly starting to get to know him and possibly get along with him. One other scene that was good is when Belle is reciting a passage from a particular poet as they’re walking down a bridge and they both look upon the frozen lake amidst a bare, snow covered forest (it almost looked like something out a painting to me, despite the fact it was CGI). The line after which seems to be from another poet almost has another meaning and it is almost like it was addressed to the Prince.
When we get to the “Something There” number, there’s a few small differences from the animated version and I have to admit, I was chuckling a bit when the Beast reacted to Belle throwing a snowball and then he launches a bigger one at her. In the animated version, when they were eating, the song came after and Belle was trying to show the Prince how to feed the birds. One amusing moment at the end of the song was right after Mrs. Potts was telling Chip that what was going on between the Beast and Belle that he’ll understand when he’s older and then a few seconds later, he acts cheeky and responds “OK, I’m older now”.
The relationship between Belle and the Prince that starts to build was something that I happen to like quite a bit. You could almost tell that she was starting to think to herself, ‘There’s something about this one that intrigues me and yet I find him to be a bit attractive’. A few glances here and there, but when both of them begin sharing how the other is viewed differently from other people, I could see that they’re both beginning to open up to each other. That little exchange is what I figured to be significant.
Beast: Your village sounds terrible
Belle: Almost as lonely as your castle.
In the Beast’s case, it’s the outward appearance that almost makes him feel like an unwanted guest (which is how he treated the old beggarwoman in the prologue) whereas Belle was being chided and insulted because she was smart, headstrong, and ahead of her time. The next twist that I found interesting and despite not being mentioned in the prologue in terms of what was done by the Enchantress has to do with a magic book. It allows the user to literally escape to another part of the world. The Beast explains to Belle that this trick was the most cruel one of all by the Enchantress since he felt that there would be no place for someone like him in the outside world, and yet ironically, the same is what the villagers almost think of Belle, when in my opinion, I don’t just detect fear from them, but a slight bit of jealousy as well. What happens next I felt is also significant for both characters because for Belle, it gives her a bit of closure and for the Beast to realize how wrong he was to judge Belle’s father and for the fact that both characters have lost their mother early in life. If you recall early on, there was a music box that Maurice was tinkering with and it showed his family on the inside. It resembled a windmill on the outside and he was a painter. It showed him painting a picture of his wife. The place that Belle was thinking of, was her old home in Paris. The Beast finds out that Belle’s mother died when the Black Plague hit. I admit that it was a bit dark for a brief moment but as I stated regarding the significance of the situation, it was necessary and it filled a plot hole that the animated version couldn’t have addressed. The rose motif continues in the film when Belle picks up a rattler that belonged to her which resembles a red rose. There’s a reprisal of “How Does a Moment Last Forever” sung by Emma Watson when she describes how her childhood that she barely remembers but knows how painful and sad it is when it is gone so quickly. Maurice never explained why he was hesitant to tell Belle what happened to her mother because he was trying to protect her from the pain, grief, and guilt that he likely felt when they had to leave for that small town to get away from the Plague.
Going back really quick to the character of Le Fou, he seems to be supportive of Gaston but right after Gaston tried to kill Maurice, Le Fou tries and fails to have Gaston change and then when they find Maurice back at the tavern, Le Fou eventually becomes more of a side character and betrays Maurice and he (Maurice) gets treated like a madman. Father Robert is the only one who sees that something is amiss despite the fact that the patrons go along with a groupthink mentality. Gaston’s dark spiral downward goes further when he convinces the patrons that Maurice is a danger to himself and others and tells Maurice that his daughter ran away as a result, which Maurice himself knows isn’t true.
During the preparations for the ballroom dance, I have to admit that the live action version was pretty good. With regards to the Beast, when they put the same make up that he wore when he was human, I just couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear as to how ridiculous he looked (the animated version of the grooming mess up was just too plain in my opinion). As for Belle’s golden dress, I know how many people said it looks cheap but only at the top but the hem of the dress itself with the golden lining making it as though it was shimmering when the light hits (as was shown when Garderobe was prepping her), I thought it was a really nice touch. To be honest, I had no problem with it. I felt that Emma Watson look amazing in that dress.
Here is where I get divisive on the title song along with a minor technical problem that was a bit disorienting with the camera. Emma Thompson I’m sure is a good actress, but in terms of singing…is where I get on the fence. Angela Lansbury’s version is one that resonates with many (including myself). The animated version had a lot put in despite the budget used to make it but it was worth it. The live action version of the ballroom scene was pretty good, but not great. Just a shy close of great. I remember prior to watching the film, I was watching an interview on YouTube regarding Dan Stevens (and I think it was his daughter) who came up with the designs for Belle’s dress. Emma Thompson I think did alright, but when someone tries a bit too hard, it shows. One thing that I found a bit amusing and interesting was that after the dance, Belle explains to the Beast that Maurice was the one who taught her how and it didn’t always go so well. The small exchange between the two when the Beast asks Belle “Do you think you could be happy here?” and she replies, “Can anyone be happy if they’re not free?” makes sense in the fact that he (the Beast) starts to understand what he must do. This brings up the familiar quote “If you really love someone, you should know when to let him/her go”. He eventually does and let’s Belle leave with the mirror.
I mentioned earlier how I prefer Dan Stevens’ version of “Evermore” compared to the one done by Josh Groban (which is done at the end credits) because of the amount of emotion put by the character and the emotional impact is doubled when watching it with the film as the Prince tries to keep her in his view as she leaves. I have to say kudos to Alan Menken for this since the lyrics are really well written (also because I like some of his previous work as well). Josh Groban is a great singer, don’t get me wrong, but there seemed to have been something missing that Dan Stevens’ version seems to give. It happens to be one of my new favorites and probably will be for quite a long time.
Despite Belle’s pleas and explanations, Gaston’s darker half already reveals itself when he locks up Maurice and Belle and riles up the townspeople. Le Fou tries to change his mind but Gaston threatened to turn on him as well. The Mob Song I felt was OK but lacking a bit. The momentum in terms of Gaston trying to rile up the crowd was a bit lacking since he deviated a bit to literally drag Le Fou into it. However, I think it did sort of make up for what it lacked by giving Gaston some evil dialogue. Belle manages to explain to Maurice how the Beast let her go and then shows him the rose rattle that she found when in Paris. She manages to convince him to help her escape to help the Beast as she helps her father pick the lock from the cell, which I actually liked better compared to the animated version of how Chip had to use that weird contraption to get Belle and Maurice out. While there were a few nods from the animated version of the film on the fight in the castle (particularly the villager that was dressed into a drag queen who ran), the live action version of it was that there were three guys that were changed (by Garderobe) and two run away except for one, Mrs. Potts pouring hot water on some of the villagers from one of the pillars (in the live action version, it’s from a chandelier), I actually liked how they didn’t make it too long. There were a few obvious but amusing moments during the fight. One was when Cogsworth sends the books flying to “teach the villagers a lesson”, another was when Garderobe sees Maestro Cadenza and she literally quotes “The Fat Lady Sings” as she jumps down and scares off one of the villagers. As the villagers run away, Agathe is the only one going into the castle for good reason.
The fight between Gaston and the Beast is also not as long and drawn out compared to the animated version, but I like the evil dialogue given to Gaston and how Luke Evans portrays the character in a dark tone (considering that I have seen him play another title character in an average attempt on a classic, Dracula). When the Beast tells Gaston as he is holding him by his neck as Gaston seems to plead for his life that he’s actually “not a Beast”, it definitely showed how the Prince has actually changed while Gaston has succumbed to his pride, vanity, and devious nature. When the last petal fell, I felt a little sad for the servants as they slowly turned into inanimate versions of themselves as they tried to say their goodbyes. As Agathe makes her way into the West Wing, it is revealed that she is the Enchantress from earlier as she undoes the curse that was afflicted on the Prince and everyone else. However, I think some people are a bit divided with regards to the reunion. One thing that I will mention is that the only tiny hiccup that Disney made is that Mrs. Potts recognized the toymaker (the one that said that he forgot what he was trying to recall) as her husband. I would agree a bit that the reunion scene felt a little rushed, but the ballroom dance scene at the end was actually pretty good. The dress that Belle is seen wearing during that scene I actually like just as much as the dress in the ballroom dance from before. The part where Le Fou finds himself dancing with a guy as a sudden mix up I felt was a bit amusing while the LGBT community might have not have been bothered with it. It was amusing when Belle was asking the Prince how he would have felt to have a beard and getting a growl/mixed in with a smirk response, and I figured that was only because her father Maurice had one.
Overall Thoughts:
Before I give my rating, I admit that Disney did follow almost beat by beat from the animated version but put in some small twists and changes that I felt had a huge impact. Little moments that had some significance. Some people might have been a bit let down at the transformation sequence near the end and even Dan Stevens did the same beat when the Prince realizes that he’s human again before turning to face Belle (just like in the animated version). I did say that I scattered some parts that I felt were significant throughout my review. Here’s some of what I felt were big moments: Father Robert and the Church and how Belle got her books, Maurice explaining to Belle about her mother as he tinkers with the music box, Maurice going through the Castle and getting caught by the Beast for picking a rose from his garden, Belle and the Beast stealing glances at each other while getting to know each other, Belle going to Paris and finding out what really happened to her mother, Mrs. Potts explaining why the Prince acted the way he did (“Days in the Sun”), the Beast letting Belle go to help her father (“Evermore”). I know that I listed a few quotes that I liked but there were quite a bit more that caught my attention. The music I actually enjoyed quite a bit, except for a few (Belle being a mixed bag because of the auto tune, The Mob Song).
Here’s where I rank my favorite musical tracks and I already explained a few of the ones that were really great, good, or even OK.
1.) Evermore (Dan Stevens)
2.) Belle
3.) How Does a Moment Last Forever?
4.) Days in the Sun
5.) Be Our Guest
6.) Aria
7.) Beauty and the Beast (Emma Thompson)
8.) Something There
9.) Gaston
10.) The Mob Song
Some of the reasons are similar to a YouTube uploader by the name of Grace Randolph in terms of why I liked certain songs more than others (videos below). Evermore being ranked as my first, since Dan Stevens did an amazing job and I said kudos to Alan Menken on a job well done and the lyrics had a certain meaning, not only describing how the Beast felt as Belle left but also the regret of having to be what he is because of how he behaved previously and how opening himself up to her has changed the Prince in various ways. Also, the stanza as follows below:
“Wasting in my lonely tower,
waiting by an open door.
I’ll fool myself, she’ll walk right in
and be with me forevermore”.
The last three lines actually has some meaning because it reflects the anticipation of seeing your loved one near the door lifts one’s spirits and the same goes for ones that are in personal relationships, like a family member or a close friend. I already explained about the song Belle earlier and how it was like a mixed bag to me just because of the auto-tune and how it didn’t feel natural. The third song, How Does a Moment Last Forever is sung by Celine Dion, who did the pop version of Beauty and the Beast originally. I actually like this one considering how Kevin Kline who plays Maurice sung the beginning part of the song earlier in the film and how love helps define a human person and makes certain moments feel like they’ll last for a long time. Particularly the following:
“Love pays no mind to desolation.
It flows like a river to the soul.
Protects, perceives, and perseveres
and makes us whole”.
The reprisal sung by Emma Watson when Belle and the Beast are in the windmill in Paris as she acknowledges that her childhood is gone and knows how hard sometimes it is to move on from something that was so tragic is emphasized a bit more from the one that is sung by Celine Dion about how people have bad times and need someone to care about to help pull them through even the darkest of days and how love does that.
With Days in the Sun, I mentioned how it illustrates and gives a bit of a backdrop and explanation with what happened to the servants but the emotional tug that I felt gave me some sympathy for them since they felt partially responsible for how the Prince turned out.
I’ve already explained the rest of the other songs and I would take the time to mention the additional quotes that I happen to like besides the ones from earlier.
Belle: (to Father Robert) Your books make the world feel a bit smaller
Father Robert: Bon voyage
Cogsworth: This way to the East Wing
Lumiere: Or as we like to call it, the ‘only’ Wing.
Beast/Prince: That’s the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard. ‘Charm the prisoner’
Mrs. Potts: You can’t judge a person by who their father is.
Maestro Cadenza : Anymore tasteless requests?
Beast/Prince: When I enter the room, laughter dies.
Beast/Prince: Your village sounds terrible
Belle: Not as lonely as your castle
Beast/Prince: So I told her how beautiful she looked and that maybe we should have a dance together. I never thought that she would say ‘Yes’.
Visually, the film was really amazing and the small changes in the story was a good thing. The music was a bit nostalgic and I thought it fit well with the visuals. While adding elements from the French story, I had a few minor dislikes mostly regarding design of the servants. The acting was pretty good for the most part and I like the nods to the original film while making an attempt to make it mature for adults.
Overall: 9.0
Beyond the Trailer (Beauty and the Beast Music Ranking)
Beyond the Trailer (Beauty and the Beast 1991 Comparison with 2017)
A Writer's Corner (Anime, Media, Everyday Life) 