A new take on the tale as old as time

Flying feather dusters, singing pianos, and barking ottomans filled the screen of Beauty and the Beast.  The 1991 hit was recreated as a live-action movie, starring Emma Watson and hit theaters on March 17. The movie was awaited by many with a love for the fairytale, including children, teens, and adults.

Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a bookworm with conviction and intelligence, who lives with her father in a small provincial French town. When Belle’s father becomes a prisoner to the Beast, she selflessly takes his place. However, when Belle becomes prisoner, she unknowingly finds herself the victim of a curse upon the castle and the Beast that only she can break.

The film and original cartoon version were very similar in both plot, musical numbers, and even side characters, with only a few differences and additions to the beloved story. These changes did not detract from the story and really added depth to the characters and filled holes from the original plot.

Everything about this movie was elegant and extravagant, from the decor and the dialogue to the costumes. The level of detail was also extreme; so much that you could see individual tufts of fur on the Beast and the flakes of rust on Lumière and Cogsworth. These small details and additions to the movie really brought the original picture to life.

One of the most memorable scenes in the film was the “Be Our Guest” number, in which Lumière serves Belle dinner to cheer her spirits. This sequence looked incredibly real with the bright and colorful spotlights on the dancing utensils and Lumière’s animation. It was also quite memorable because of the catchy tune that many know from their childhood.

The only negative detail from this movie was the high amount of autotune from Emma Watson’s singing. The high-pitched tune did not match with Watson’s natural voice, which only slightly distracted me, but was very noticeable.

Although many may not enjoy fairytales, Beauty and the Beast had a little something for everyone, with action, humor, and romance. I would highly recommend this movie and give it 5/5 stars.