Well done

Rating: 7/10 (9 June 2017)

Emma Watson does better than average work as Belle, and a host of other characters make this classic come to life. If that truly is Watson's voice, she can sing fairly well; although I wouldn't expect her to release a solo album in this lifetime. Could they have done better in casting someone else for Belle? Absolutely. But I guess name recognition had something to do with this. Watson seems rigid at times, and lacks real emotion where it is needed in this film. Still, the amount of CGI, costumes, and other parts of this movie make it well worth watching. I don't get all the controversy over a gay character, because frankly, I didn't see it, and I was looking for it. But I guess some people need to make controversy when there is none. And not that it honestly matters in the grand scheme of things, but they would have been fine with not remaking the theme song that was originally sung by Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion. That's a classic version that is better off left alone. John Legend and Ariana Grande don't come close to pulling that song off the way Celine and Peabo did. But like most musical talent today - they lack their own creativity and talent, compared to what used to be considered star power.