Title: Beauty and the Beast
Director: Bill Condon
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Kevin Kline, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Nathan Mack, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Adrian Schiller, Hattie Morahan.
“Tale as old as time, True as it can be, Barely even friends, Then somebody bends, Unexpectedly.” This is the song Disney fanatics were waiting to hear in the live-action adaptation of the 25-year old classic animation ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Bill Condon’s direction is overwhelmingly enrapturing, it remains faithful to the original, and enhances the spectacular magic with images that will make your jaw drop.
Emma Watson is charming as ever in the role of Belle, as she embodies a positive female role model for contemporary young girls, who can be fearless and gentle, independent and caring, beautiful and smart. The Beast, played by Dan Stevens, is effective both in looks and in temperament. The ‘Downton Abbey’ star had to give two different performances — one neck-down and one neck-up — to allow the special effects department to give life to his character and transform his body (wrapped up in a lycra body suit), and his face (covered in ultraviolet make-up), into the hairy and frightening protagonist of the story.
The rest of the cast is terrifically brilliant in bringing to life the legendary roles of Maurice (Kevin Kline), Gaston (Luke Evans), Le Fou (Josh Gad), Lumiere (Ewan McGregor), Plumette (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), Cogsworth (Ian McKellen), Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson), Chip (Nathan Mack), Cadenza (Stanley Tucci), Madame de Garderobe (Audra McDonald), Monsieur D’Argue (Adrian Schiller), Agathe (Hattie Morahan). Spectators will love this film so much they will be tingling with envy towards Belle, wishing they were “the guests” of the sensational adventures that take place in the enchanted castle.
The considerate makeover applied to the Disney classic, inspired by the fairy tale written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, glorifies the serendipity of life. Finding love through mutual understanding, facing challenges for self-improvement and hustling against adversity no matter what, are the teachings bequeathed to audiences. As spectators walk out of the cinema, they will feel inspired by this cinematic voyage to take action for their personal development: “Just a little change, Small to say the least, Both a little scared, Neither one prepared, Beauty and the Beast.”
Technical: A*
Acting: A+
Story: A
Overall: A +
Written by: Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi
