Disney revisits a tale as old as time

Rating: 7/10 (4 July 2017)

Tale as old as time, or in the case of 'Beauty and the Beast,' 1991. After 26 years, Disney breathed new life into the animated classic in the form of a live action musical that starred the likes of Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the famed beast.
The latest in a string of live action conversions of 2D animated pictures, 'Beauty' is nearly a carbon copy of the fan favorite, from the same songs and dialogue to nearly identical scene selections. While this is kind of eerie in one respect, it's kind of cool and respectable to see Disney pay homage in this way.
While Watson does a pretty good job, she does not exactly fit the part as well as a few other actresses probably could have (including Anna Kendrick or even Lily Collins). Still, she does a good job with her vocals and generally acting. Luke Evans is pretty spot-on as the boisterous Gaston, and Josh Gad adds a dose of humor as the dimwitted LeFou. For the rest of the cast, they are pretty much limited to being vocal actors, but still bring to life everyone from Cogsworth the clock (Ian McKellen) to Mrs. Potts (Emma Watson). And then there's Stevens as the prince-turned-beast himself, who fulfills the role quite nicely.
In this version of 'Beauty,' we get a little bit more backstory, which is helpful when it comes to character development. And while the film is mostly a vehicle for musical numbers, it doesn't come off exclusively as a musical in the way other recent similar films have. And for a film that is so dependent on CGI, it doesn't come off this way visually. The French countryside and the enchanted castle look and feel authentic, which is not something that can be said about many similar films.
Judging by its massive box office return and love among fans, it's fair to say 'Beauty and the Beast' is another example of why Disney will continue to give these stories a second wind. Expect 'Aladdin' and 'The Little Mermaid' to follow in the future.