Just as Magical, But 3 Major Criticisms

Rating: 8/10 (20 March 2017)

I loved the cast. I LOVE Luke EVANS! He he has a wonderful singing voice and was a fantastic actor. He was the perfect Gaston. Just as Gad was the perfect LeFou. He had the goofy sidekick part down, but also held his own when he sings "Gaston". McGregor was the perfect Lumiere, I thought Stevens was a wonderful Beast and actually found this voice and appearance more majestic than the animated one that just looked more monstrous.
I only have three complaints:
1. Belle does not read while she walks as much. She's supposed to have her nose in a book for the entire "Belle" song, and yet, she does not even have her nose in the book when they say the line "nose stuck in a book".
The reason this upset me so much is that this specific scene of Belle walking through town reading and being oblivious to everything around her was what made her my favorite character and made this one of my favorite stories. In the original Belle is reading as she maneuvers through the market and rather than stop reading she just raises her hand to hold up the inn sign so it blocks the water from hitting her. I felt like I was Belle, because I walked while reading ALL THE TIME. Seeing Belle do this made me feel less weird and I loved it. Therefore, having the newest version of Belle simply walk with the book at her side was very disappointing to me.
2. Gaston does not throw Belle's book in the mud. Instead he walks over her cabbages.
It's a critical change, in my mind. Belle is portrayed as weird because she reads, her head is always in the clouds and she's too intelligent for a woman. Gaston, the village hero represents their way of thinking, actually comments on this by saying "It's not right for a woman to read, she starts getting ideas and thinking". Then he throws her book in the mud. It is symbolic of the fact that the whole village disagrees with her love of books, and further proves why Gaston is not for her, especially with the juxtaposition of the Beast showing her his library. Books are a critical part of this story. Books are the reason the villagers think Belle odd. Books are the reason the Beast and Belle get along so well. Books are the reason Gaston is clearly wrong for her.
So I'm sorry, as a girl who decided the castle in Beauty and the Beast was better than all the others because of the library, a girl who hated Gaston and actually cried when he threw a book in the mud, a girl who related to Belle because she too walked and read simultaneouslyof course I am going to be critical of the book scenes.
3. Gaston leaves Maurice to die by wolves in the forest.
Gaston is the villain of the story, no question. However, I always interpreted him as an arrogant bully who was meant to be the foil character. He's more into physical strength than intelligence, and he's more into material things than emotional understanding. He prides himself on hunting trophies and wants Belle because she's the most beautiful girl in the village. Then at the end of the film he tries to kill the Beast, but we're to know that's because he is the symbolic character that represents all of the village and people who judge based on appearances alone. He wants Belle for her looks, and he tries to kill the Beast because of his looks. This film and this message fit perfectly with the idea of "Don't judge a book by it's cover". In this version he wants Belle so badly that he's willing to leave her father in the forest to die when he gets in his way. This takes Gaston's villainy to a whole new level
Aside from those three criticisms I loved this film. I loved how one of my favorite stories was brought to life. I cannot believe I was 1 when the first film came out and saw this one for my 27th birthday. watching this live-action version is how I celebrated my 27th birthday.
But as they say, it's a tale as old as time.