Essentially, a perfect remake

Rating: 8/10 (10 June 2017)

When this film was first announced, skepticism was of course running rampant. The original animated film from 1991 is widely considered a masterpiece and one of Disney's best films. Doing the story justice with real actors of flesh and blood was going to be a challenge. That was no secret. So how does the finished film compare to the original? Thankfully, I found Bill Condon's take on the "tale as old as time" to be surprisingly refreshing. It's a great new spin on a story we're all familiar with. But by taking elements from the original that worked well the first time and changing what did not, this adaptation of Beauty and the Beast is easily what I consider to be the most successful Disney remake we've seen yet.
For the most part, the film takes the setting of it's story very seriously. Costumes and sets are all tailored and designed to perfection. And similar to Cinderella (2015), the film feels more like a period piece then a live action spin on a cartoon. The production design team were clearly trying very hard to make you believe that this is 1770's France and I think they definitely succeeded. There is some great craftsmanship at work here. This might seem like only a minor aspect of the overall spectacle, but Disney has run into some trouble before in terms of accurately representing history. Needless to say, that was scarcely a problem in this film.
One of the most prevalent things about this film I can say for it is that it has one of the most superb casts I've seen in a long while. Say what you will about Emma Watson's singing abilities, but she certainly looks the part of Belle, if nothing else. She is beautiful, intelligent and strong. Everything that we loved about Belle in the original translates nicely to this version. But the actor who deserves the most of my praise is Luke Evans as Gaston. Right from the moment he was announced, I knew he would be nothing but phenomenal in the role. And I was happily correct. Evans brings a fierce intensity to the character that was not present in the original. Gaston, it seems was a part that he was born to play.
Other noticeable performances include Josh Gad as Gaston's meek side kick, Lefou; a side villain who is greatly improved upon in this version; and Kevin Kline as Belle's father, Maurice. He brings a quiet and sincere quality to the character, contrasting greatly with his over-the-top persona in the original. Dan Stevens is also quite excellent as the cursed Prince. Having no prior knowledge of the actor's previous works, I was nervous to see how he would deal with playing such a complex character. Thankfully my worries were put to rest over the course of the film. He exudes a lot of humanity and charm through layers of CGI and has a strong singing voice to boot.
In my humble opinion, Beauty and the Beast is a nearly perfect remake. It changes what didn't work before and keeps what did. It adds new songs which are as equally powerful as the old classics we know. The care, love and attention to detail is hugely apparent in every scene. It is a well crafted and high spirited effort to bring a beloved animated feature to life.
Now that the next string of Disney remakes have been revealed, we may soon experience a new and prosperous period for the company, one with more momentum and success than the Disney Renaissance. But for now, let Beauty and the Beast serve as the example for how to make a proper and successful remake that doesn't lose any of the heart of it's predecessor. It's a charming, emotional and passionate story that will always be adored for all time.