Disney has been doing the live-action remake thing in earnest for a couple of years now, but the track record is still pretty pristine. Discounting the lackluster prequelMaleficent, 2015’sCinderellais a sumptuous, incredibly earnest tale of goodness;The Jungle Bookwowed with striking visual effects that made the dangers of the jungle tangible; andPete’s Dragonis a deeply compassionate, heartwarming tale of companionship. But Disney faced no greater task thanBeauty and the Beast, as this marks a redo of modern classic that is still fresh in the minds of audiencesandattempts to improve on the first animated film ever nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.
So how did they do? DoesBeauty and the Beastcapture the magic? DirectorBill Condon—whose resume ranges from character-centric dramas likeKinseyto lavish musicals likeDreamgirls—proves to be a swell choice to spearhead this redo, as he really seizes upon the original film’s Broadway musical leanings. Indeed,Beauty and the BeastandThe Little Mermaidserved as the foundation for Disney’s 90s renaissance largely because songwriter and Broadway veteranHoward Ashmanconceived of them as lavish Broadway musicals. Condon captures that spirit tremendously in the live-action redo, really selling this thing as an ornate and theatrical event in every sense of the word.
The film also attempts to close some plot holes that the animated film presented like why the witch cursed the Beast’s staff, what made the Beast so horrible, etc. Some of these work better than others, and the film could stand to lose a subplot or two, but for the most part this works. The Beast’s expanded backstory makes him despicable on the inside and out from the get-go, which in turn makes him more terrifying, and the performances ofEmma WatsonandDan Stevensreally sell this romance as an organic development instead of a contrived plot point—something the live-action film was in danger of due to the CG animation of the Beast.
So yeah, for the most part I think Condon’s take onBeauty and the Beastis a success. It’s quite magical, the production design isinsane, and the performances and songs are mostly memorable—althoughJosh Gadsteals this thing from a musical standpoint with his incredible rendition of “Gaston.”
Enough of my rambling, though, andMatt’s review is already on the site—we now want to hear from you, dear readers. What did you think ofBeauty and the Beast? How does it stack up to the original, and where does it fall within Disney’s slate of live-action films? Does this make you more or less excited for upcoming musical adaptations like the live-actionAladdin? Sound off in the comments below.
