HOME | DD

Description
Beauty and the Beast was my #4 best Disney Movie of all time. So needless to say, I was keen to have that nostalgic hit of the live action remake. Sure, it's a cash-in, but cash-in's aren't so bad if the viewer is enjoying them.

But damnit Disney! Stop making me so TORN about a film! Beauty and the Beast 2017 was one of those films where I felt immersed and caught up in the songs and atmosphere, yet something was stopping me from really liking it.. To me, this was because Emma Watson (Belle) has... 1 FACIAL EXPRESSION! The only expression I've seen her do since she first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone is the "....WTF?" eyebrow-raised expression. Admittedly, she does this expression very well, but it doesn't really suit when you're being chased by wolves, talking with a giant monstrous beast, or dancing in a beautiful ballroom. If her behaviour could just feel a bit more... organic it would be so much more easy to forgive, but I just couldn't buy her performance.

Don't get me wrong. I was really happy with most of the rest of the movie. The song and dance numbers were spectacularly remade with painstaking detail and actors that were all enjoying dancing on set. And it's hard not to get caught up in the energetic atmosphere of the songs.

This really helps offset Emma's performance because everyone around her is so vibrant and alive. And Emma Watson *does* look beautiful as Belle. She physically suits the role well. I just wish that character of deep earnesty was more present in her performance.

The story mostly sticks to the old one except for some... unusual new additions. I was fortunate enough to see the movie with animetist and we were both puzzled at a couple of the strange story decisions. For example, Beast and Belle use a magic map given to Beast by the sorceress, but this is used only to show how Belle's mother died in one scene. Wherein this incredibly powerful artifact of immense power is never broght up again, not even to get Belle to her father instantaniously.
I liked seeing characters like Lafoo given more character depth, though it would've been nice to see him have a change of heart in certain scenes. Both of us simultaneously cringed when Lafoo left Belle's father to be locked up.
That being said, even if I was disappointed by some of the acting, we both thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, the lush, astonishing visuals, the beautiful orchestra and how immersive the movie felt.

Perhaps it's simply due to me audio editting for so long, but the auto-tune stood out to me like a sore thumb. So while I was being visually blown away and the surrounding actors were selling it, Emma's singing sadly broke the immersion for me.

Overall, it's another detailed, painstaking remake of a classic movie I adore. Though it is disappointing that Belle's 1991 cartoon face showed more convincing human facial expressions than Emma Watson's 2017 performance did.

Description
Beauty and the Beast was my #4 best Disney Movie of all time. So needless to say, I was keen to have that nostalgic hit of the live action remake. Sure, it's a cash-in, but cash-in's aren't so bad if the viewer is enjoying them.

But damnit Disney! Stop making me so TORN about a film! Beauty and the Beast 2017 was one of those films where I felt immersed and caught up in the songs and atmosphere, yet something was stopping me from really liking it.. To me, this was because Emma Watson (Belle) has... 1 FACIAL EXPRESSION! The only expression I've seen her do since she first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone is the "....WTF?" eyebrow-raised expression. Admittedly, she does this expression very well, but it doesn't really suit when you're being chased by wolves, talking with a giant monstrous beast, or dancing in a beautiful ballroom. If her behaviour could just feel a bit more... organic it would be so much more easy to forgive, but I just couldn't buy her performance.

Don't get me wrong. I was really happy with most of the rest of the movie. The song and dance numbers were spectacularly remade with painstaking detail and actors that were all enjoying dancing on set. And it's hard not to get caught up in the energetic atmosphere of the songs.

This really helps offset Emma's performance because everyone around her is so vibrant and alive. And Emma Watson *does* look beautiful as Belle. She physically suits the role well. I just wish that character of deep earnesty was more present in her performance.

The story mostly sticks to the old one except for some... unusual new additions. I was fortunate enough to see the movie with animetist and we were both puzzled at a couple of the strange story decisions. For example, Beast and Belle use a magic map given to Beast by the sorceress, but this is used only to show how Belle's mother died in one scene. Wherein this incredibly powerful artifact of immense power is never broght up again, not even to get Belle to her father instantaniously.
I liked seeing characters like Lafoo given more character depth, though it would've been nice to see him have a change of heart in certain scenes. Both of us simultaneously cringed when Lafoo left Belle's father to be locked up.
That being said, even if I was disappointed by some of the acting, we both thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, the lush, astonishing visuals, the beautiful orchestra and how immersive the movie felt.

Perhaps it's simply due to me audio editting for so long, but the auto-tune stood out to me like a sore thumb. So while I was being visually blown away and the surrounding actors were selling it, Emma's singing sadly broke the immersion for me.

Overall, it's another detailed, painstaking remake of a classic movie I adore. Though it is disappointing that Belle's 1991 cartoon face showed more convincing human facial expressions than Emma Watson's 2017 performance did.