An Enjoyable Film, But Disney Can Do Better

Rating: 9/10 (24 April 2017)

There are a plethora of one- and two-star reviews for this film on IMDb. That signifies the film is worthless or nearly worthless, providing no entertainment. This is a radical position to take, especially when its accumulative rating is (currently) 7.8, indicating that many people were entertained.
That does not mean, however, that the film is perfect or that it could not be better.
The story is about the transformative power of love. Being a musical, the viewer should expect romance and music. The music is an established commodity. But how does the film realize the characters, the story, and the action?
I enjoyed Emma Watson as Belle. Her singing voice is more than satisfactory and her acting fits the character. The other primary character--the Beast--is more problematical. His CGI face takes the viewer away from the action and disconnects the two romantic leads. Also, the movement of the Beast sometimes looks weightless, as if the he does not have a large and ponderous presence, which undercuts the menace he is meant to project.
I enjoyed the scenery and I think the camera work was very well done.
Being a Disney fairy tale, we expect more than music and romance; we expect enchantment. The overall effect of the film is enchanting: the depiction of the town of Villaneuve, the renderings of the interiors, the Beast's castle, the landscapes, and the music, of course. There are genuine moments that tug at the heartstrings, that jerk at the tears.
The Beast's facial CGI impacts the emotional content of his scenes somewhat, but the film still delivers the Disney moments of heartbreak and resolution.