A New Classic

Rating: 10/10 (22 April 2017)

I'm a 80s kid so I grew up with the original Beauty and the Beast, which means I also watched it hundreds of times. It was such an empowering movie for a young impressionable girl, because Belle was "different" and smart and loved to read, which was not something Hollywood liked to portray about girls or women.
Anyways, on to the live action BatB.. I absolutely loved it! I rarely go out and watch movies in the theater these days but I went and watched this one. I couldn't wait and I was pleasantly surprised. I went into this visual experience super excited and I definitely enjoyed myself thoroughly. As soon as the original opening BatB song started playing in the beginning, my heart was practically leaping out of my chest, I teared up and a wave of nostalgia took me back to my childhood. It was such a melancholy yet warming sensation.
The movie was fun, had a bit more backstory than the original cartoon version, was very well casted, had new surprises but mostly kept to all the original magic that I loved as a child and even now when I think about BatB. A beautiful display of cinematography leaves this one as a shining star that will be as loved as the classic.
Oh and about the gayness, it was so minor and silly, people shouldn't let that stop them from seeing this masterpiece.. trust me God won't strike you down!
**The Following May Contain Spoilers**
My faves.. The characters: As I stated above, this movie was very well casted IMO. Belle, well of course, it was the wonderful, smart Emma Watson and she was so refreshing. Her simple beauty and crisp voice really made her the perfect Belle. I loved how Belle was so strong and fierce in this movie. Gaston! Where do I begin.. Luke Evans is such a hunk, I always had the hots for him in any movie I watched with him in it.. well he certainly fit the bill for Gaston! Also, he can sing and his voice seemed perfect for the part. Lefou was another favorite of mine, played by Josh Gad. He was perfect and really paralleled the cartoon Lefou in a lot of ways. Lumiere is the last I'll gush about.. I was surprised that he was vocalized by Ewan McGregor but what a great job he did.
A few misses.. Not really the actors fault but no one can replace Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts, sorry.. she's the bomb and I like the old Cogsworth better but Ian McKellan gave it his best (still on the top with Magneto and Gandalf though!).
The ending was also really special. Of course I knew what was going to happen in the end, but when all the servants, i.e. household furniture, were being permanently turned into furniture, I cried. It was a really touching moment and I loved how they were all saying their good- byes, it was really sad (even though I knew the spell would be broken!).
Overall, I think it was the perfect live action version of the "tale as old as time". I couldn't have left happier and filled with peace than after I watched this movie.