“Your library makes our small corner of the world feel big.”
– Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
I am a huge fan of the original Disney and Pixar movies. I was skeptical when they announced a live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, but I am always willing to give most things a chance. In this case, I am glad I did. I was fortunate enough to see this movie on the big screen and I thought it was fantastic.
Beauty and the Beast was not the first live-action remake, but it is easily my favorite. I have seen most, but I found pretty much all of them to be either a bitter disappointment or a complete bust. That was not the case with this one. The music was just as fun as the cartoon, the performances and casting were wonderful, the special effects were top-notch, and it was clear to see that there was a lot of passion and fun that went into the making.
I have to admit, the cartoon was not my favorite Disney film. I enjoyed it, but it was not one that I watched with the same frequency as several of the others. The live-action Beauty and the Beast is my favorite remake. When you look beyond the performances, the special effects, the finished product, etc., you can see and feel what I thought was the most important aspect of the movie.
Beauty and the Beast, for me, was the result of a group of people that came together with a risky idea. A group of people that loved what they do, were in love with the industry, and took their responsibility to the audience and the original source material seriously and with great care. It shows in the final product and it gave me a feeling of wonder and possibility.
Journeyman's Legacy 