Beauty and the Beast 2017 Thoughts
Cut for spoiler warnings, though you all know how the story is going to go.
- Emma Watson as Belle is super flat. Her reactions do not show much of interest or curiosity - instead, she is more bookish and standoffish. She is ostracized because she intentionally holds herself apart. sappherine described her as being more Hermione than Belle, which is a pretty good description. Her singing range seems low, probably to be safe, but also jars you when listening to "Belle" and other songs. Also she didn't touch Beast's face before she left huweh
- Beast was pretty endearing, surprisingly. Idk I lowered my expectations a lot, so they were met naman. I guess I like his fleshed out backstory and the added details to questions I had about the original (e.g. where were his parents), though I'm not sure what the parental background detail really did. I mean, was it just there to explain why he was a douchebag and to give him common ground with Belle? They fell in love in the original without those necessarily...
- Side characters were great, though. Le Fou was the best. I was worried that they would make him sad comic relief, but he was the best character all the way. I love that he had moral qualms instead of always being a yes man, and also the little line thrown out regarding illiteracy roflmao
- I'd like to know the lyrics to the new songs and the added lines in the existing songs. Everyone else did a pretty good job of singing. I initially laughed at the solo Beast song, but it ended up being one of the most heartfelt tunes. "Gaston" was a great song sequence to watch. "Be Our Guest" was also entertaining, except for Emma!Belle's tepid reactions.
- Ballroom scene was beautiful (and I like the Beast prep scene before it). Belle's gown was appropriately dreamy, Beast looked wonderful in his waistcoat and all, the embedded orchestra! And the waltz! And the lighting change when Beast lifted Belle.
- I'm like 50/50 about the backstories regarding the parents. Like, okay, they both loved their mothers a lot, but then what? And Adam's father was an asshat (also looked like he was played by Luke Evans for some reason?), while Belle's father loved her lots but also sheltered her a lot, too?
- Also seems odd for the Enchantress to cast a spell on the Prince for being douchey but basically lived among villagers who were also pretty judgmental and she didn't do anything to them.
- FrouFrou cutest dog!!! Chip was more endearing in the original, though I liked the expanded cast of servants naman.
- I sang all the songs to myself with my hand cupped over my mouth I COULDN'T HELP IT
- Ewan McGregor 1000% commitment to role and accent hahaha
- COSTUME DESIGN AND PRODUCTION DESIGN AMAZING WALA AKONG MASABI honestly mulling rewatching just for those