Beauty and the Beast: A Timeless Classic

Emma Watson, a United Nations ambassador for women, former child actress in the Harry Potter films, and spokesperson for HeForShe.org (a foundation for gender equality) stayed true to her famous human right's persona as she brought back to life Beauty and the Beast’s ‘Belle’ from Walt Disney’s timeless classic. Director Bill Condon adapted his take from the original 1991 Disney animation, turning the well-known story into a new-aged, life-like, on-screen musical equipped with humans, talking candle sticks, and much of the original song and dance (music produced by Alan Menken) seen by its cinematic predecessor over two decades earlier.

Credits: Walt Disney Motion Pictures

As Watson sang her way through the first scene, (with the song titled “Belle” created for the 2017 version which aired on March 17 in theatres), what became evident was how the movie still targeted children, yet was made adaptable enough so parents could still sit through the scenes with enjoyment (or at least as they reminisced about their childhood days).

“If you ask me to sit through most musicals I would say no,” said Ariez Heshaam, University of the Cumberlands Alumni, “but this one was really nicely done and I quite enjoyed watching it.”

Credits: Slash Film

With having worked on other renowned films like Gods and Monsters (1998) and the musical Dreamgirl (2006), director Condon was able to make Beauty and the Beast (2017) general enough for all ages, which was an impressive touch. He succeeded, as well, in creating a remake rather than a brand new collaboration, as there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary from the original apart from a place here or there. Compared to the old 1991 animation, much of the costumes (designed by Jacqueline Durran) and even down to the hairstyles of the remake were identical to years earlier. As much as being reminded of the past was sweetly nostalgic in many ways, admittedly, the lack of a difference in “flavor” from past Beauty and the Beast adaptions perhaps made the film slightly duller to those who were well-oiled with the story. However, having the human touch of real actors as well as a few specks of high-tech animations here and there were a major, major bonus. And as Watson charmed viewers on the screen, her acting was dramatic, intense and trusting.

Credits: Vanity Fair

Dan Stevens played the role of the Beast, and while viewers excruciatingly admired him from afar for most of the movie, the soft and kind demeanour he portrayed made him into more of a pet bear rather than a feared and grotesque animal. In many ways, Luke Evans terrified onlookers more so in his role of the bad guy: Gaston. He was fearsome, ruthless, and mean; perhaps doing well to teach children the moral of the story that looks are not everything in this story.

Cogsworth (Ian McKellen), Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson), Chip (Nathan Mack), Lumiere (Ewan McGregor), and Madam Garderobe (Audra McDonald), were all important characters showcased also. Unchanged amongst these characters were the famous chore song “Be our Guest” as they sang along a welcome for Belle (Emma Watson) at the beginning of her journey in the film.

Credits: Movie Pilot

In many ways, Walt Disney’s classics are meant to be timeless and unchanged which is what is seen in the majority of this new adaption. However, slight cultural adjustments were made in this 2017 version of Beauty and the Beast as a “gay moment” was introduced, and was the first of its kind ever to find its way into a Walt Disney film. 2017 seems to be a drastically transformed year in outlook, especially for Disney with having intentionally put forth in the past some controversially questionable standards to children (what with skinny princesses and the expectations that all good men must be handsome, muscular, or in one shape or another: a prince). LeFou (Josh Gad), who is Gaston’s (Luke Evans) right hand man in the story, was the random character chosen to contribute this milestone of an acknowledgement to the LGBT community.

Director Condon spoke to Attitude Magazine saying “LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston (Luke Evans) and on another day wants to kiss Gaston.”

Casts members felt it important to add a slight alteration to LeFou’s character, according to The New Zealand Herald, as earlier animations depicted him as a fool. Actor Gad spoke to producers saying, “We gave him something that he doesn’t really have in the original, which is a conscience. He doesn’t have the blind faith and he starts to ask himself – without giving away too much – is the beast the one with the fur or is it the one that looks like everyone else?”

Classics never go out of style, and each Walt Disney recreation brings fans back to the fantasies and stories of their youth. 2017’s Beauty and the Beast is a bitter-sweet love story worth savouring over and to remember decades past – with family, friends, and loved ones.