Now Reading
BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A Remake That Blossoms With Success

BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A Remake That Blossoms With Success

Avatar photo
BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A Remake that Blossoms with Success

It is a tale as old as time – a successful Hollywood film being brought back to life for a new generation, revitalizing and breathing life into a timeless classic. More often than not, the remake, however, does not live up to expectations or its predecessor, leaving fans and viewers robbed of a nostalgic, refreshing experience. While not as perfect as the 1991 animated masterpiece, Beauty and the Beast is an elegant and magnificent display that true love for a film never dies.

The height and anticipation for Beauty and the Beast has been intensely growing since the film’s announcement – more so than Disney’s previous attempts to remake their films into live-action (The Jungle Book and Cinderella) – yet none has seen the same level of excitement. It is not just that Beauty and the Beast is a loved childhood story that makes this remake so intriguing and desirable, but that Disney is bringing their most cherished, successful and timeless classic to live-action.

To encapsulate the magic and royalty of this film successfully in a live-action format was no easy feet with expectations for some of the film’s greatest scenes requiring perfect execution and beloved characters requiring the perfect casting. And while this film was not a home run on every element, director Bill Condon perfectly encapsulates the magic of the original, while also bringing a new modern viewpoint.

A Tale As Old As Time

The film begins with the traditional fireworks over the iconic castle, yet the savvy Disney fan will instantly realize Cinderella’s castle has been replaced by the gloriously constructed castle of the Beast. Seeing an old, withered hand picking a rose from the outskirts, we are whisked into the castle, the original film’s narration (delivered this time by Emma Thompson) instantly plunging viewers into nostalgia.

The narration, however, is more in-depth and drawn out giving viewers a longer look of the Prince (Dan Stevens) before his curse – as well as the inhabitants of the house. With this longer introduction, viewers will instantly understand that while honoring the film that came before, this will deviate from the original.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A Remake that Blossoms with Success
source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Following the Prince’s (now the Beast’s) fall into despair, viewers are once again whisked away to the tiny village where Belle (Emma Watson) and her father reside. Home is more central to the town, allowing for several individual scenes from the original film to be combined into a seamless introduction to Belle, the townspeople and Gaston (Luke Evans). Familiar tunes from childhood ring out one Bonjour after another crescendoing into the first dismissal of Gaston – and the first appearance of Maurice (Kevin Kline), Belle’s Father. Maurice is no longer the cooky, insane father that viewers will know from the original, but a sullen clock smith who understands his daughter is different and ahead of her time.

Leaving Belle behind to run the home, and dodge Gaston’s proposals, Maurice leaves for the market promising to bring Belle back a single rose – a request she makes every year. Getting lost along the way, he finds refugee in an abandoned castle. Yet, this is unfortunately where his luck ends. The Beast imprisons him, accusing him of stealing – Maurice’s horse the only one to escape. Galloping home and alerting Belle, they race off to save Maurice – finding that by saving him, Belle would have to sacrifice her freedom.

Following Belle’s agreement to take her father’s place, the deviations from the original become a more constant occurrence throughout the rest of the film. While not all these deviations were a bullseye, the nostalgia of the film opened a door for me to enter and enjoy a new experience – a new version of the story I have always found to be my favorite.

The Beauty

Emma Watson was a perfect casting (kudos to casting director Lucy Bevan) for this film – she was, in part, playing herself. Watson, like Belle, is a strong, fearless, modern women who has a well-known love for books – commonly leaving books for people to find in all the places she visits (subways, statues, etc.). Yet, while she was always the perfect Belle, it was amazing to see that other important and cherished roles within this film had their perfect living counterpart to portray them.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A Remake that Blossoms with Success
source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Maurice, more sad than insane, is perfectly brought to life through the interpretation of Kevin Kline, while Ian McKellen as Cogsworth and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts each encompass their respective characters perfectly – Emma Thompson meeting the standard set by the original endearing performance of Angela Lansbury. Rounding out the supporting cast is Josh Gad, whose performance of La Fou is not only a match to the original – in many ways an improvement.

Yet, it is the performances of Luke Evans and Ewan Mcgregor that are the stand-outs throughout this entire film – and my favorite to watch. Luke Evans, while I was not in agreeance with the changes to his character Gaston, did one of the best performances within the entire film embodying his character with ease. Ewan Mcgregor’s performance was the one I was most intrigued to see as he had admitted to having trouble mastering Lumiere’s French accent. I had also loved his musical performance in Moulin Rouge and was excited for another performance in a musical – a performance that was just as good as the last.

The details within this film were incredible both with the sets and the masterfulness regarding the execution of the music. The hit classic “Be Our Guest” was a display of nostalgia at its finest. Recreating the classic display of household appliances entertaining the new addition to the castle was gorgeously executed and choreographed. There is even a moment when the Eiffel Tower from the original film is replaced with a Guillotine – giving the film a truer authenticity to the times.

Also, there was something there that wasn’t there before – back story’s for the Beast and Belle, allowing viewers to understand why they are the way they are, as well as what drives their needs and desires. This addition to the classic story was carefully woven into the already familiar tale  – almost seemingly as if it had always  been there.

The Beast

Gaston was not the Gaston of my childhood. The Gaston I remember was overly confident and c*cky, there was no one better, and there was no need to win or woo Belle – she always belonged to him. His intelligence was never stated, his confidence and cleverness of trapping Belle enough to believe that he was a man of smarts. The new Gaston is still driven by his desire to marry Belle – the best of all the ladies in the village. Yet, he is depicted as an illiterate, and at times incompetent villain.

Where Gaston had once believed everything was his that he wanted, in this film he is more of puppy dog begging for a treat. It is not until the second half of the film, that I began to see the Gaston I grew up with. Even Gaston’s song is changed, longer – and while I actually like the changes and the amplified choreography that accompanied it – I was sad to see La Fou needing to coax praise for Gaston out of the villagers, rather than have it already fully preexisting.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A Remake that Blossoms with Success
source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The sets were mesmerizingly gorgeous, capturing the wonderment hidden within the darkness. Yet, there was one technical aspect from the original art designs I was sad to see forgotten. In the original 1991 film Beauty and the Beast, as Belle is searching the castle for her father, the gargoyles that decorate the halls are the designs that had been created throughout the years by the various people who had tried to make the animated film possible. It was a nod by Disney that I have always found to be one of their most noble acts of acknowledgement. Yet, in the new film, the gargoyles have been replaced by dragons.

New songs were add to this film that did not stick with me. It caused the same stirring of emotions when the Blu-Ray version of the animated film was released and the song “Human Again” was added. They just didn’t belong there. While various aspects of the film and story were changed and condensed to separate itself from the classic, this was the one part of the film I wish had been left alone.

The Evolution of Belle

Belle within the 1991 version of Beauty and the Beast was a fearless, nonconformist, female heroine, hopeful for adventure instead of wedding bliss. She questions everything and is unafraid to break the rules. While still odd and not quite fitting in, this new Belle is a more modern version of this animated classic. She is given a backstory that explains the town’s opinion of her, as well as what drives her character. We understand the family she comes from, why they moved to this poor, provincial town and the nurturing environment that has allowed her to become the woman that she is.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A Remake that Blossoms with Success
source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Following the animated version, this Belle aids her father in his work tinkering with clockwork mechanics – always one step ahead of what he needs. Yet, while he is tinkering with gears and springs, she is the true inventor in this story. Like the Belle before her, she is an avid reader – though her reading is not enough. Raising the bar, the remake gives Belle a chance to pass on her qualities, taking a moment to teach another young girl how to read – an act that is highly looked down upon by the villagers.

A Modern Film for A Modern Time

With the remaking of a classic film comes the need to modernize it to the current time. Through modernization, the previous film is made fresh and relevant, allowing new generations and viewers to relate and connect with the film. With Beauty and the Beast, Disney made no exception.

As was mentioned earlier, Belle is the inventor in this story. Creating a homemade washer for her clothes, she is able to continue reading and educating herself. She is stronger and more defiant than the animated Belle, standing her ground and standing up for herself. She is also made an equal of the palace – allowed to understand everything surrounding the curse – except what will lift it.

By now, many will have heard about the controversial gay character within this film – a first for Disney. Many have criticized this move by Disney, some countries even refusing to show the film. Yet, as controversial as it may be, the moment this character reveals his true nature is subtle and sweet – not an in your face move to accept the times. It was a brilliant move by Disney and the filmmakers to diversify the film – even if for only a moment.

Though this is not the only modernization and example of diversity that Disney and its filmmakers changed for the film. Diversity runs skin deep, characters within this film being changed to lessen a collection of all white characters from the original film. The bookstore owner in the village is no longer a frail, old man, but instead a younger, black store owner – whose compassion for Belle and her father runs through the film.

To further the modernization, an interracial couple is introduced early on in the film – a move Cheerios made a few years back in one of their commercials that received unjust criticism. It was nice to see Disney continue to diversify, especially by placing diversity throughout the film and not just with their Disney Princess’ (Moana, Mulan, The Princess and the Frog and Pocahontas).

Conclusion

Remakes run rampant throughout the film industry, with several failing their predecessors – and viewers. With Beauty and the Beast, however, this was a film that honored the original while becoming relatable to a new generation. While not every element of this film found perfect execution, the love and nostalgia that radiates throughout the film is living proof that the love for a film never dies.

Have you seen Beauty and the Beast? Tell us what you thought in the comments below!

Beauty and the Beast was released worldwide on March 17, 2017. For all international release dates, see here.

Does content like this matter to you?


Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.

Join now!

Scroll To Top