Beauty and the Beast (2017)
2017
123 Minutes
A live-action adaptation of Disney's version of the classic 'Beauty and the Beast' tale of a cursed prince and a beautiful young woman who helps him break the spell.
User Review
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WHAT I LIKED: There are undoubtedly moments in this film that work, and some of those come from the further development of our lead characters. Yes Belle and the Beast do get a more layered background here, and that adds to the story and builds something on top of what we allready know. For the most part though, the scenes that engage are the ones where the film finds itself copying the original word-for-word, and that's a shame, but it is arguably forgiveable when the new-found visual effects (and cast) bring it all to life in such a different way.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Sadly though, despite all, 'Beauty and the Beast' is a film that has no idea what it wants to be, and frankly that's the biggest trap any re-make can possibly fall into. For a start, elements here drive to be something funnier and quirkier than the original, whilst others drive completely the other way in pursuit of realism and constant explenation. That means each feels like an annoying distraction from the other - the quirky style has no charm because it constantly gets brought down a peg or two, yet the tense realism feels forced and unneccessary because of how silly it's equally trying to be. Even the visuals can't quite decide whether to be beautiful and delicate or garish and campy, and the overall result is a film that not only leaves you without any particular feeling at all, but also one that, at its core, seems entirely pointless.
VERDICT: The message here is that if you don't really know what you've got to add to the original, then you shouldn't re-make it at all. This isn't a terrible film; just a confused, and consequently irrelevant one.1 member likes this review.
