Beauty and the Beast does the animated film proud

Rating: 9/10 (28 March 2017)

Most Disney films are timeless but I feel I can relate even more so to the films which were released during my childhood.
I was 8 in 1991.
Going into Beauty and the Beast I was excited to say the least, but I was also nervous. This was a big piece of my childhood and after making the mistake of glancing at some reviews on IMDb, I was a little worried the film was going to be one big disappointment.
Fortunately I was not disappointed.
Firstly, Emma Watson was stunning as Belle.
She isn't going to win a Grammy Award and won't be belting out a power ballad any time soon, but her voice had a softness about it that just worked. Dan Stevens' signing voice was just as good as were the rest of the supporting cast. The old songs were as good and the new songs didn't feel out of place.
Luke Evans was brilliant and his portrayal as Gaston as to be one of the best of any characters in a Disney film. Both Gaston and LeFou are more developed and evoke more emotion from the audience than the respective characters in the animated film.
The only criticism I can make is that the connection between Belle and the Beast did on one or two occasions feel a little forced. The best way I explain it is to say that this was a result of the film trying too hard to literally reenact scenes from the animated film rather than telling the same story in its own way.
These scenes were very few and far between however, and the Dance Scene more than made up for any shortcomings elsewhere.
Belle and the Beast walking down the stairs to meet each other just as "Tale as Old as Time" started to play was a spine-tingling moment. Emma Watson and Dan Stevens gave this life that just isn't possible from an animated film, no matter how brilliant it is.
I have read a lot criticism around the CGI, in particular the Beast. It is entirely possible I am not as observant as some other people but I just didn't see it, at least not to detract from my enjoyment of the film. I did see the film in 2D, it is possible it's more noticeable in 3D.
If you love the animated film, make sure you watch Beauty and the Beast. If you didn't, still make sure you watch it.