Updated Disney classic won’t disappoint original fans

A tale as old as time, but revamped with live action and special effects, “Beauty and the Beast” was a hit. Disney’s second go at the classic fairytale was an exciting rendition for viewers of all ages.
It’s funny that Disney has only recently been given praise for creating strong female heroines, and have been chastised for its past princesses all needing a man to save them. Belle breaks a norm of the time by being a literate female, and she refuses to marry Gaston without fear of becoming an old maid. She courageously takes her father’s place as prisoner, and actually ends up saving the prince. Disney’s animated version came out in 1991, decades before “Frozen,” “Brave,” or “Moana,” which are receiving the credit as Disney’s breakthrough movies with empowering female characters.
Emma Watson was sure to delight as Belle, and lived up to my expectations. She had the look, the voice, and the strong, intelligent female characteristics which we all loved from her past role as Hermoine in the “Harry Potter” series. She certainly was no damsel in distress.
I was quite pleased with all of the casting. Kevin Kline portrayed Belle’s loving father Maurice. And although Maurice is somewhat flighty, Kline managed to still give him dignity. Luke Evans captured the arrogant Gaston, and especially fitting was Josh Gad as Gaston’s quirky and faithful sidekick LeFou.
Not only did the real life characters mirror Disney’s animated version, so did all of the computer-generated character’s that were cursed in the castle. The Beast was menacing, Lumiere was just as dashing, Cogsworth was the same sputtering coward, and Mrs. Potts and Chip were as cute and heartwarming as I remembered from my childhood. The spot-on digital animation truly kept the film to its original triumph, just giving it a refreshing update.
All of the classic songs and scenes were masterfully reproduced, including the opening village scene, LeFou’s tribute to Gaston in the pub, the castle dining services making Belle their guest, and the storming of the castle at the end. One scene was added, but it did not change the plot, rather gave some touching insight into Maurice and Belle’s past. Their adoring father-daughter relationship was almost enough to bring a tear to the eye in a couple of different scenes.
There were two nods to the LGBT community, which received criticism prior to the public release. Some found these additions to be inappropriate for a family film. However, they were fairly subtle and children may not even catch them without it being specifically pointed out. The moments did not have an effect on the plot, and therefore did not really make a difference. There were also a variety of races and interracial relationships depicted in the movie. Once again, this addition was not an integral part of the film, but nonetheless an indication of the modern time.
I viewed the movie in 3-D, which added a little flare. (Watch out for the snowball if you do too!) The movie hit theaters Friday, but its popularity should keep it playing for a few more weeks. Disney’s second shot at the film is definitely worth the watch, and won’t disappoint fans of the original. Whether you spring for the 3-D glasses or not, the suspense, humor, and touching moments all add up for a stellar love story.