Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last six months, you know that Disney has created a new live-action version of its classic animated fairy tale, starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter) as Belle and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as the hirsute cursed prince. One might wonder why we need a live remake of one of the most perfect Disney films ever made, and of course, the answer is money. (And by the way, there are more live translations on the way—a lot of them.)
Nevertheless, the movie has abundant charms, starting with the stellar song score by composer Alan Menken and the late lyricist Howard Ashman, with new lyrics by Tim Rice. Watson and Stevens are both appealing in the leads. And the numerous CGI characters—all bewitched housewares, if you remember—are exquisitely rendered, though maybe just a little creepy.
The production numbers are so opulent and furiously edited that they can be overwhelming, but the overall look of the film (set and art direction, costumes and cinematography), are truly stunning.
Any remake suffers by comparison with our cherished cinematic memories, but this new Beauty and the Beast is a worthy companion to its hand-drawn predecessor.
