Magical From Start To Finish

Rating: 9/10 (16 March 2017)

Having grown up with the animated Beauty and the Beast, I could not wait to see this live-action version. Not only was I not disappointed, but the movie exceeded any expectations I had going in. The movie is magical from start to finish, full of familiar characters, songs, stories, and places. It introduces us to plenty of new characters, songs, stories, and places but does so in a way that respects and enhances all that was original. The blend of old and new is wonderfully done. The humor sprinkled throughout was a fun touch. The musical numbers were amazing, especially "Be Our Guest".
Some reviewers have pointed out flaws in the CGI and Emma Watson's portrayal of Belle. I looked for and did not spot any obvious or distracting CGI elements. The characters looked realistic but still had a sense of whimsy to them. Emma was stunning as Belle. Everything from her singing voice to the intelligence and strong will she showed through the character was fantastic.
I would highly recommend this movie for anyone who is a fan of the original movie and can go into this one with an open mind. It does contain some scary moments and mild violence though, so I would caution parents of young children to research it or see it first.