La belle et la bete

It’s easy to go into something with unusual hope, a reboot of a movie that you were obsessed with as a child? Beauty and the Beast, how could it have not been made sooner? As a girl, I was bookish, and shy, who also grew up in a small town. I loved the original Beauty and the Beast so much it hurt, because it was relatable for an awkward girl.

The reedit of the actual French world was just beautiful, for a live action version, a proper representation of the era was amazing. The costumes, wigs, foods, makeup are more on point. They tell you it’s French, and they say bonjour in the animated version, but nothing was similar to what would actually be during that time. Most people probably view it as flamboyant, but that was what royalty wore and did back then, parties so grand, the men in just as much makeup as the women, and those wigs! The study of the architecture, the detail of the objects, they were all very fitting. The sad part was some of the classic scenes they destroyed, “Be Our Guest” looked something more like Baz Luhrmann’s version of Moulin Rouge. They slightly made up for it with the “Tale as Old as Time” ballroom scene, yes, it was over the top, but so was the animated version. It was exactly what the little girl in me expected to see if it was real.

Emma Watson as Belle was honestly winsome, on point and easily the best choice, other than the fact that she looks about 7 years too young. The fact that her real life actions matched the role was only to her advantage. The soulful big eyed stare, the awkward rejection of Gaston’s request for dinner, it all came across the screen in a believable state. Oh Gaston, no one fights like Gaston, it’s just not possible. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Luke Evans, I think he provides an excellent villain appearance. I’m not really sure why they had to emphasize why the other girls were not as good as Belle, I believe he called them “rabbits” in comparison for hunting. Which is more evil, trying to get Belle’s father killed by tying him up, or bribing the asylum owner to lock him up? You can call it as your choice, because both are awful, but at least in one option he would be alive. Kevin Kline as the father was a less endearing, they didn’t show him as an inventor, and they focused quite a bit on the lost mother. The reason for imprisoning by the Beast was just ridiculous in comparison, a stolen flower from a garden is quite different then invading someone’s home, especially a person with violent social problems.

The side characters that were only voice characters were actually a bit disappointing. Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, well, didn’t feel it. The shining spot was Ewan McGregor as Lumière, not surprising since he was in Moulin Rouge, so possibly the French lover in him carried over. Also, it was unusual that just as they played up the mother role with Belle, that they gave the Prince a family, and the domestic help said they stood back while he was abused, making it sound that he was not a gruff man because of his own personality. And hey people, get modern, the character’s name was LeFou, why couldn’t his affection be for another sex, and the name almost implies it. Disney is trying to update the image they are imprinting on the world, so why wouldn’t you? Other than that, the character was fitting, except the ending scenes.

Now let’s get to the meat of the movie, Dan Stevens along with his interaction with Emma Watson. She was not as upset in the live action version when she shoved her father out of the cell, and it’s better to not think of the Beast saying “DEAL” when she offers her life in the animated version. Dan Stevens was a high point, even though they massively mellowed down the character. The costuming and his movements were more Beast-like and less like a large dog (does anyone remember him pacing on all 4 feet in the movie in front of her door in the cartoon?). I appreciate they still had the snow interaction scene, and the song fit just as well, especially when she got pelted by a giant snowball. Their library scenes are my favorite, sometimes you forget how much you loved a hobby until someone is so grateful for the opportunity to enjoy it, it’s eye opening. The song Dan Stevens sings after letting her go and how she will haunt him every day for the rest of his life? I’m not a soppy sort of female, I hate over the top romance moments, I normally roll my eyes, but it was relatable. You are haunted by something you love that has to go and isn’t in your control.

Of course, we end with a village torch scene, the movie has Beast in the title, come on. It’s like Frankenstein or Dracula, you know it’s going to have some kind of riot with people moving only from their fear. They had the enchantress who cursed him appear and just watch the riot (creepy?), and the servant appliances fight off everyone. Gaston of course takes the final shots at the Beast, but the Beast is not supposed to die before the actual last petal fell. He comes back to life AND is human again? All with the enchantress there, standing like a creeper who just changed her own rules. All of the townspeople return, all of a sudden remembering their Prince, apparently forgetting they just attacked the castle, but weirdest part of all, nobody questions the death of Gaston. Disney can not only have monsters die, but actual people and it’s like it never happened, just like mafia.

All in all, I can understand why some people who loved the classic wouldn’t exactly love it, and there are scenes that I could go without seeing again. But I already know I’m going to buy it when released, and that I’m going to look for the modernized jewelry they had on Belle’s ear for the ballroom dance.

Vu le 25 mars au cinéma ArcLight Beach Cities (Los Angeles)

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