And the sheer razzle-dazzle spectacle is totally old-school, with dancing napkins instead of chorus girls and everyone bursting sumptuously into song at every available opportunity. It’s got the same talking appliances, performed here by an all-star cast: Ewan McGregor is Lumiere the French candlestick Ian McKellen is pompous clock Cogsworth Emma Thompson does her best cockney as Mrs Potts. This funny and drop dead gorgeous ‘Beauty and the Beast’ stands on the shoulders of a giant – the original animation. Only true love – as Céline Dion must surely have once sung – can set him free. Of course, the Beast is actually a dashing prince, transformed by a kind witch as punishment for his cold-heartedness. The pair’s get-a-room bromance is a highlight.īelle’s inventor dad (Kevin Kline) is on his way to market when he takes a wrong turn and finds himself locked in the gothic castle belonging to Beast (Dan Stevens from ‘Downton’, hiding behind a furry face). Luke Evans is hilarious as her sexist meathead suitor Gaston, whose charming chat-up lines include: ‘Do you know what happens to spinsters in the village when their fathers die? They beg for scraps.’ Josh Gad (Olaf the snowman in ‘Frozen’) is his adoring sidekick Le Fou. Watson brings sincerity to the role of Belle, the only bookworm in the village in eighteenth-century France. This is a lavish pull-out-all-the-stops musical. And it's all done with a lovely feeling of integrity too. Not only is Belle the most feminist Disney princess ever, 'Beauty and the Beast' also features the first (and second) ever interracial kiss in a live-action Disney movie and the first openly gay character in a Disney movie fullstop.
And three cheers for director Bill Condon and star Emma Watson for having the courage to make a live-action musical adaptation of the adored 1991 animation with 2017 gender politics and a diverse cast. That's it.The virtue of courage is high up on the list of Disney princess must-haves (just below kindness, beauty and a strapping prince in tight trousers). Rubbing salt in the wound, belle's dress was pretty much ruined.The one thing I liked about this movie was lumiere. Her performance in beauty and the Beast was cringe worthy.Īlso, the SONGS! (I'm not even going get started on those) But in all honesty, I don't think acting is one of her gifts. I don't have anything against Emma Watson, she seems to stand up for the right things (feminism). When an actor is cast in a role, it shouldn't be because she is famous, has a pretty face and represents another million dollar franchise.Īn actor, essentially, should be good at ACTING. Too bad the main character was not great, the movie itself is enjoyable and the special effects are really good, wish horror movies had this kind of CGI.
She had the same face seeing spoons dancing, someone being shot, and when a handsome prince appeared before her.The whole Belle being an inventor was so irrelevant to the story, and during the dance with the Beast, she was so stiff and it was so badly choreographed, it ruined one of the most beloved Disney scenes.No chemistry between Beauty and Beast at all, the only moment that made me feel something was when the enchanted objects were becoming just objects. (My daughter likes to watch the Cinderella live action almost every day, I highly doubt Lily James was actually witnessing a pumpkin turning into a charriot). I read here on the Trivia section that while shooting Be Our Guest the crew had to make her smile and all: that's a bad actress right there, it's not like they were working with 6 year olds. Hadn't seen Emma Watson in a movie before (not a Harry Potter fan), but for some reason, social media had me with the idea she was a good actress. Absolutely not the lion king 2019, beauty and the beast, Cinderella or maleficent 2014 had nothing to do with sleeping beauty but at least Elle Fanning looked like Aurora. ONLY Aladdin cast created the movie in a special way. The 3 girls who have a crush on Gaston are not unique as the ones in the 1991 version. both girls are beautiful but they don't match.!!Īlso the animation one is so special and rare but not the 2017 version. I love Emma Watson and her other roles but she was not the perfect girl for being Belle. Reviewed by sidragomez-11516 grade 1 / 10Įxcept the luxury palace and the chandeliers nothing else were special & attractive.