peternorth
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Be Our Guest.
I rushed here to post a review of Disneys Beauty and the Beast. Derived from the 1991 all time classic Beauty and the Beast, which itself is based on a French fairy tale.
Well where does one start? Feelings, emotional, feeble, tender. A superb mixture of Disneys finest ingredients. An ode to the 91 classic, yet provides its own spin on the tale of love and what's on the inside that counts.
I thought the movie was clever in its use of light, to illustrate human nature. Hero and villain. THe haunting castle was dark but not gritty, just an air of despair. The sun kissed town, bright and happy.
Human actors and animation blended seamlessly. I admit I was apprehensive about how this would transpire, but was pleasantly put at east. Attention to detail of the Beasts cohorts in Lumiere, Cogsworth and to a lesser degree Mrs Potts and Chip was spot on.
I also admit I doubted how the new characters would interact and gel with the incumbents. However, those fears were dispelled as the movie progressed.
Watson as Belle was a curious choice in some quarters. I'm not 100% sold, but it doesn't matter. She provided an innocence that Disney craves. Does she flesh out what Belle is about? Hmmmm, I'm not totally sold...something was missing but I don't know what.
Luke Evans as Gaston. Several sources tell me he stole the show. He brought arrogance Gaston is known for, and Im sure was a hit with the ladies. His duet with Le Fou was amazing, and for mine the best song of the movie. In costume with script, great.
Josh Gad as Le Fou. Fab-you-lous! PERFECT as the chubby, overzealous running mate. Jolly. Le Fou didn't hold 100% true to the original, including a empathetic side to Gastons selfishness
K Klein as Maurice. Would've preferred a more rotund actor to stay true to the Maurice path. But Klein demands respect.
Ewan McGregor as Lumiere. I think he stole the show personally. Was front and centre in all castle scenes. One could say he, wait for it, lit up the screen.
Gandalf as Cogsworth. I've always loved the character Coggy. Perfect for the responsible member of the house. Mature and old hat.
Emma Thompson as Mrs Potts. Is ET the go to girl for the quintessential English lady? Prefer Angela Landsbury, but sometimes I just have to let go.
Dan Stevens as (the) Beast. It's hard to judge an actors performance under layers of costume. Thought he stayed true to the Beast though.
Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe. ok.
Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadeza. Severe reservations about this character, who is new. But if Tucci is involved and charged with bringing an unknown to life you know it will work.
Music. Every box office movie needs a killer soundtrack (Guardians, Kong: Skull Island). BATB didn't need to reinvent genius here. Although the original songs were not followed exactly (think when singers/bands dont sing their songs exactly how they are on the album) it was but a minor distraction.
I wish they included the upbeat Human Again song.
WIR: YES! 9/10
Tale as old as time
