Review of Beauty and the Beast (2017) by Faith P — 24 May 2018

While this film does not match the magic of the 1991 Disney classic, this Beauty and the Beast has a lot to offer audiences and it does not disappoint.

However, I do have a few criticisms before I dig into the positive aspects of the film. In some respects, Gaston's character almost detracted from the story a bit too much. Of course, Luke Evans does a great job of filling his role, but I feel that his portrayal of Gaston was far more evil and coercive than he needed to be. Le Fou also seems to get lost in the mix as the story progresses and after a while one begins to wonder why he is in the movie to begin with.

As to the positives, overall the acting was spectacular. Emma Watson fits perfectly as Belle, and I was blown away by Dan Stevens portrayal the Beast/the Prince. The emotion that he conveys in facial expressions alone are absolutely amazing. The supporting cast also do tremendous jobs in their roles, particularly Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellan, and Emma Thompson among others. The curse is given more weight on top of everything, and that emphasis adds onto the urgency of the cursed characters. Finally, the emotionalism that this film presents adds another great deal of weight. The back stories (as vague as they are) of both Belle and the Prince add another layer to their relationship, which was necessary. Overall, this film, thought it is not to the level of its source material, is an enticing retelling of the classic, magical story.