Beauty and the Beast

Rating: 8/10 (1 April 2017)

The 1991 original Disney cartoon was the first full-length animated film to be nominated the Oscar for Best Picture, and following from Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella and The Jungle Book it becomes the next Disney classic to get the live action remake treatment, directed by Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Chicago, Dreamgirls). Basically somewhere in France, an enchantress disguised as an old beggar woman asks a selfish prince (apparently named Adam) (Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens) for shelter and offers a rose in exchange, he refuses and turns her away twice, she reveals her true beauty, but for his arrogance she punishes the prince, transforming him into a hideous beast, all his servants are turned into living inanimate objects, and all memory of the kingdom is erased from the memories of the villagers. His only way to see the outside world is through a magic mirror, and the enchanted rose remains, to break the spell the prince must learn to love another, and earn their love in return, before the last petal of the rose falls, or he will be doomed to remain a beast for all time, and the servants will become their respective objects forever. Years later, in the village of Villeneuve, Belle (Emma Watson) is the beautiful but unusual daughter of artist and tinkerer Maurice (Kevin Kline), she is appalled by the arrogance and narcissism of celebrated former soldier Gaston (Luke Evans), who seeks her hand in marriage. On a trip to the market to sell music boxes, Maurice and his horse Philippe get lost in the forest, following an attack by wolves, they finds the secluded castle of the Beast, Maurice ends up locked in a chamber as a prisoner, for attempting to steal a rose, for Belle, from the garden. Belle realises her father is missing, she ventures into the forest and finds the castle, the Beast confronts her, she offers herself to take her father's place as a prisoner, the Beast accepts this, and Maurice is released, Belle promises her father she will find a way to escape. Belle meets and becomes friends with the servants of the castle, including candle stick formed Lumière (Ewan McGregor), carriage clock formed Cogsworth (Sir Ian McKellen) and teapot formed Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson). Wandering the castle she finds the forbidden west wing, and the enchanted rose, the Beast is enraged, Bell frightened runs away, the Beast saves her from an attack by the wolves, and when he is injured during the fight, she assists him back at the castle and nurses him back to health. Belle and the Beast form a friendship, and the servants are convinced she may be the one to help break the curse, the Beast allows her access to the library, filled with hundreds of books, she may be developing feelings, but remains uncertain due to her imprisonment. The Beast shows Belle a gift given to him by the enchantress, a book that takes a person wherever they want in the world, Belle uses it to take herself and the Beast to a small house in Paris, where she used to live with her parents as an infant, through this she learns her Mother (Zoe Rainey) died of the plague, the Beast comforts her. Meanwhile Maurice has returned to Villeneuve, the villagers believe him to be crazy, ranting about a beast, but Gaston offers to help him, but reveals his true intention is to marry Belle, Maurice refuses. Gaston leaves Maurice tied up in the forest to die, but he is rescued by hermit Agathe (Hattie Morahan), he returns to village and openly accuses Gaston of his crime, but Gaston convinces the townsfolk this is more crazy ramblings, they plan to send Maurice to an asylum. Belle and the Beast have become much closer, sharing a romantic dance, but she discovers her father's predicament using the magic mirror, the Beast allows her to leave to save him, he gives her the mirror to look back and remember him with, the Beast realises he truly loves Belle. At Villeneuve, Belle proves Maurice's sanity by revealing the Beast in the mirror, Gaston realises she has feelings for the Beast and rallies the villagers to go to the castle and kill the Beast, Belle and Maurice are locked in a wagon. During the ensuing fight at the castle, Gaston's companion LeFou (Josh Gad) sides with the servants when Gaston abandons him, the Beast is initially to depressed to fight back, but Gaston attacks the Beast, the Beast regains his will seeing that Belle has returned, he corners Gaston, but spares his life. The Beast reunites with Belle, but Gaston fatally shoots him, before falling to his death as a bridge collapses, the Beast dies as the last rose petal falls, and all servants are turned into their respective objects. Belle professes her love to the Beast, Agathe watching reveals herself as the enchantress and breaks the curse, the Beast is returned to human form, and the servants and castle are restored to their true forms, also the memories of the villagers are restored, with some recognising the servants, the prince and Belle embrace, and everyone in the kingdom dances happily. Also starring Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe, Nathan Mack as Chip, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Gerard Horan as Jean the Potter and Adrian Schiller as Monsieur D'arque. Watson is beautiful and sings well, Stevens is good as the Beast, Evans milks the pantomime style villain, and the supporting cast are great as well, it follows primarily the same format, with only subtle changes, the recognisable songs remain, including "Be Our Guest", "Something There" and "Beauty and the Beast", plus great brand new songs, including the wonderful "Evermore", the costume design, production and special effects are brilliant, and the love story element is believable, it may be more style over substance, but all of the family will definitely enjoy it, it is a most entertaining musical romantic fantasy. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, and it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Very good!