Writer: Erny Suzira

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Watch this if you liked: “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

The Good, the Bad and the Tale as Old as Time:

The new "Beauty and the Beast" movie is Disney's first adaptation from its Renaissance era and it certainly is a huge gamble for the production company as the original film did not only receive generally positive reviews from critics, it also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and became the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture - a feat that is very hard to beat.

Though comparably, many would like the original better, the new movie is still a delight as it does justice to its predecessor by reimagining some scenes differently, providing more detail on the backstories of the two titular characters, expanding the roles and traits of certain characters, and featuring a couple of brand new songs which are as equally enjoyable as the existing ones.

Truthfully, the movie brings a colossal sense of nostalgia which reminds us why we loved the beautiful classic so much in the first place.

However, for some the movie may seem like a mere 'copy paste' of the 1991 animation as it has the same characters, same songs, and exact flow of story, but it is not so much so, as the 2017 movie is simply the same story told in a new medium, with some minor adjustments, additions and enhancements that ends up turning it into something fresh and vibrant, while at the same time, staying true to the original classic.

No one could've played Belle better than "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson who has completely left behind her days as Hermione Granger and grew up into someone so beautiful, poised and full of confidence. Her interpretation of Belle pays tribute to the original character, but also gives greater depth to it. Her one flaw would be her singing chops, which feels as though it has been auto-tuned too much compared to the rest of the characters, but Watson does try her best to make up in the other departments.

Other colourful characters like Mrs Potts, Lumiere and Cogsworth are simply adorable and fun to watch, even though the CGI is not exactly the best that Disney has ever created, but it is certain for sure that the live-action version of Gaston and LeFou played by Luke Evans and Josh Gad respectively, are way more likable and entertaining that their animation counterparts.

It is still hard for the movie to catch up with the success of the original animation, but nonetheless, the new "Beauty and the Beast" take is still a great movie with plenty of strengths. One commendable aspect of the movie is how it fixes and mends the mistakes and blunders made by the original animation, making the story flow more smoothly and make more sense to the audience of today.

Trivia:

• Sir Ian McKellen who voices Cogsworth in this new adaptation, had initially turned down the same role in the original "Beauty and the Beast (1991)".


Cinema Online, 04 April 2017