A Tale As Old As Time Finds New Magic in Live-Action Adaptation

   Disney's plan for remaking their animated classics into live action iterations can be considered either a genius, artistic choice, or a money-hungry cash grab. In all honesty I think there's a little bit of both in there. I was one of the millions of children whose childhood was blessed with the whimsical tales of Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and many more. They are cherished stories that hold a special place in my heart, and the movie fan in me is stoked whenever an announcement is made that a new live-action version will be made. The critic, however, wants to know why it is that Disney isn't investing in new and original stories? Sure the likes of Frozen, Zootopia, and Moana can be considered new and original, and that's well and fine. Keep pumping out new animated stories, because they work. But, why not do the same with their live-action films? They've got the money, so why not take some risks? Disney is the staple for family-friendly films, so how much risk is somewhat limited. At any rate, no matter what they do, they can't seem to disappoint. They're latest live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast has been highly anticipated and you know what? Screw the cynical critic, because this movie is magical!

   If you loved the original animated feature, you'll love this film, hands down. It's almost a carbon copy, with all your favorite songs and near-identical dialogue. That didn't bother me. I thought it would at first. But the little kid inside was swept away with the magic from the opening scenes. There are a few changes to the story involving the Beast's background and the origin of the curse, there are a couple of new songs, and there are some subtle tweaks to the characters that are different from the animated version, but overall it's the same movie. Yet, it still manages to be its own thing, garnishing all the feels and magical happiness that only seems to come from Disney's grab-bag of storytelling. The production overall is fantastic. I mean, sheesh. This movie is just beautiful to look at. The musical numbers are awesome, and the execution of the story was spot on.

   The cast is where this movie really shines. Emma Watson flourishes as Belle. I mean, she really nailed it! And she can sing! Quite beautifully in fact. For someone who started their career making eight films playing the same character, it would be tough for anyone to move out of that spotlight and into other characters. That stigma that she will forever be Hermione Granger is something that I'm sure will last for a while in a lot of people's minds. For me, I didn't think of her as anyone other than Belle. She captured the spirit of the original, while making her own stamp on the character. A lot of credit needs to flow her way because if Belle doesn't work, the whole thing falls apart. Dan Stevens is alright as the Beast/Prince. Josh Gad as LeFou is spot-on casting in my book, and he's brilliant. He's a really good singer, too. Something I think people either don't realize or tend to forget. The guy's been on Broadway for crying out loud. But, the standout for sure is Luke Evans as Gaston. The man embodies the egotistical, self-loving, maniacal man's man perfectly! I loved every minute of his performance. I honestly can't think of anyone who could've done better. Brilliant casting across the board.

 
My only squabble (and it's sort of a big one?), was the CGI of the Beast. It's 2017 and the advances that have been made in the visual arts department are amazing to say the least. But for some reason, there were times where the Beast just didn't look all that convincing, mainly in the facial area. It was as if the CGI was unfinished at times. Now, it wasn't so bad as to take me out of the entire experience, but when you consider what has been done with motion capture in other films, this one just seems to be lacking just a bit. If I were to put the Beast up against, say, Caesar the ape from the latest Planet of the Apes film, taking the entirety of the films into view, I would say Caesar would win over the Beast in the category of realistic depiction. But let me be clear, there were only moments where this seemed to be an issue, and again, the magic of this film overpowered any annoyances I may have had with the cartoony rendering of the Beast. The message of the story still resonated with me.

   When all is said and done, whether you think this movie's existence is warranted or just an excuse for Disney to make a quick buck, there's no arguing that this isn't a great movie. It captures that Disney magic, lifting you with whimsical music, fun characters, a compelling story, and a heart-warming message. It's really good. Is it Disney's best live-action adaptation? I would say no. It's a close second to The Jungle Book (which was down right amazing!). I really think people will be happy with this film. It's a nostalgic blast of happy that a chaotic world like the one we live in could really use.