‘Beauty and the Beast’ Movie Review: A delightful remake

Some 26 years have gone by so fast and we may have forgotten cartoon films from our childhood, this tale as old as time remake of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ will surely bring back the fantasy of a good animated happy-ever-after fairy tale.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ Movie Review: A delightful remake
Photo courtesy of Usmagazine
Director Bill Condon's live–action version of the 1991 classic animated musical romantic fantasy film perfectly combined the best hand-picked CGI creation and Broadway-ready sensational music all together. This Walt Disney produced film is already making waves at the box office since day one.

The film presented two strong leads, Emma Watson as the proactively confident Belle and Dan Stevens as the intimidating, bitter-cause-I-am-cursed Beast.

Stevens who's viewed first as a vain prince being garishly made up before he appears at an opulently ball. The debutante ball is a rhythmical swing of cream-colored gowns and a soaring aria sung by Audra McDonald. He was zapped into a beast and his servants into various household objects by a lady who came to his party begging to be allowed in. Casted her aside, she in turn casts a spell to the prince who can turn human again once he learns how to love and be loved.

Belle at Beast castle
Photo from Beauty and the Beast Official Trailer
Emma Watson has the perfect frisky soulfulness to bring your dream Belle to life. Belle walks out of the house, singing and wandering through the village, that lovely lyrical meet-the-day poem. From her opening scene marks a capable persona that takes pride of a true beauty in a fine picturesque of flowers, fabrics, textures and riotously bright springtime colors.

One of the best casting is Luke Evans, as the handsome Gaston who is a narcissist and is engaged in a never-ending quest to gain Belle's hand. As great as Luke Evans' Gaston—Josh Gad is equally intimidating as LeFou. Gaston's confused and silly sidekick is weirdly controlling that holds every moment a beat too long.

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Belle and Beast met when she rescued her father, Maurice (Kevin Kline) in the gloomy castle where he’s being held prisoner for plucking a rose. Portraying the loving and sacrificial daughter, Belle traded places with his father.

Belle and Beast met when she rescued her father, Maurice
Photo from Beauty and the Beast Official Trailer
The Beast is a walking pile of animated taxidermy that looks like a hairy hulky figure with ram horns. I can’t emphasize enough that he is a horrifying nightmare. What is different to this version is that the Beast is as hot book lover as Belle. He has a large room full of books.

It's the literacy that gets a booming shoutout to score our Belle's interest. Belle's captor's thing for Shakespeare is a frisky turn-on. It takes her no longer to get used to life in the castle, with the singing and dancing household furniture to live by.

singing and dancing household furniture Beauty and the Beast
Photo from Beauty and the Beast Official Trailer
The special effects and sounds are best with the look of Beast’s servants. Thanks to computer wizardry, Ewan McGregor sings and sways around as candlestick Lumiere, Ian McKellan as a clock Cogsworth, Audra McDonald as a wardrobe Madame Garderobe, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as a feather-duster Plumette, Stanley Tucci as a piano Cadenza, Emma Thompson as a teapot Mrs. Potts and Nathan Mack as teacup Chip give voice to the enchanted household objects that are relevant to this familiar fairytale.

Three instrumental aspects that remarkably give 'Beauty And The Beast' such a lifelike feeling: the classy dress up, the extravagant sets and amazing actors. Who wouldn't mind tossing a penny with this triple treat movie?

The costumes are sophisticated and lavish right down to every tiny bow, button, frill, sequin and ruffle. The sets were gorgeous, from wild green countrysides to spectacular, snow white landscapes to majestic castles. The characters, even when they were pictured as pieces of furniture household come to life, looked stunning and clever.

The cinematography of Tobias Schliessler is different enough, and certainly, strong to stand on its own if you’ve never watched the cartoon. Both enchanting and nostalgic on its own terms, this retelling fairy tale made enjoyable for people of all ages.

WATCH: ‘‘Beauty and the Beast’’ Official trailer


--M, The Summit Express


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