Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Rating: 8/10 (8 June 2017)

The remake of "Beauty and the Beast" is Disney's latest in live action animation. Blending real actors with CGI, it's a story most of us know (and love) about Belle and the Beast.
Emma Watson (of Harry Potter fame) plays Belle, a simple country girl who is looking for her Prince Charming. She lives an ordinary life in an ordinary town surrounded by ordinary people. Trouble is, they think SHE'S strange. Gaston, the local hunk, has decided he must make Belle his wife since she clearly isn't interested in him. Fate, however, has other plans for both of them.
Although the film was very pretty to look at, it lacked depth and simply did not have the heart the animated version had. I love Emma Watson, but her singing voice was adequate at best. Kevin Kline (who portrayed Belle's father) looked like he would rather be anywhere but where he was.
It was Luke Evans (as Gaston) that stole the show. He stayed true to the character of Gaston, and man could he belt out a tune! Another problem I had is Disney trying to introduce a sexually confused character, LeFou. I wish someone would try to explain to me why this was done because, quite frankly, I am sick and tired of people trying to rewrite fairy tales just to make them "politically correct."
Rated PG and even with its flaws, I would still recommend it.