I'm going to have to agree with the minority here who were underwhelmed by this version of Beauty & The Beast. It seems overrated to me. I found the Disney version far more magical and emotionally engaging. Best I can say about this one is...there were some cool visuals. But that's not enough for me.
Technical achievements can only elicit a detached sort of admiration. The story must have heart, and the execution must be so skillful that (at first) you don't even notice the techniques used to make you believe in the fairytale. I didn't believe in "La Belle et La Bête" or get swept away.
The acting was a little too exaggerated for my liking. The dialogue was awfully clunky. For instance, I'd really rather not hear The Beast come right out and tell Beauty, "I'm good on the inside". Y'know, SHOW, don't tell! Beauty then proceeds to tell him he has courage, but, once again, I'd rather *see* evidence of this. What did The Beast do to give her this opinion of him?
Main problem is the characters lack depth, and the developing relationship between Beauty & The Beast seems really forced. Not once did I believe they were falling in love - perhaps because they never really converse and get to know each other! In the Disney version you can clearly see why Belle's feelings for The Beast change...as his behaviour changes. Whereas the Beast in this film comes across as a sleazy seducer handing Beauty a line!
The transformation scene at the end is abrupt and laughable. Again I must compare it unfavourably to Disney's truly moving, tear-inducing finale. And I'm sorry to say that the actor (playing a dual role) does little to distinguish his mannerisms as the Prince Formerly Known As The Beast, from that of Beauty's other suitor, Avenant. Beauty's reaction at the end seems far too flippant and superficially flirtatious - I saw no depth of feeling on her part.
It's pretty sad when cartoon characters are more expressive and more convincing than real live actors, eh? Actually, what's sad is that animated movies still don't get much respect, while foreign films with fancy pedigrees get an automatic stamp of Critically Acclaimed Masterpiece! - whether they honestly deserve it or not.
Technical achievements can only elicit a detached sort of admiration. The story must have heart, and the execution must be so skillful that (at first) you don't even notice the techniques used to make you believe in the fairytale. I didn't believe in "La Belle et La Bête" or get swept away.
The acting was a little too exaggerated for my liking. The dialogue was awfully clunky. For instance, I'd really rather not hear The Beast come right out and tell Beauty, "I'm good on the inside". Y'know, SHOW, don't tell! Beauty then proceeds to tell him he has courage, but, once again, I'd rather *see* evidence of this. What did The Beast do to give her this opinion of him?
Main problem is the characters lack depth, and the developing relationship between Beauty & The Beast seems really forced. Not once did I believe they were falling in love - perhaps because they never really converse and get to know each other! In the Disney version you can clearly see why Belle's feelings for The Beast change...as his behaviour changes. Whereas the Beast in this film comes across as a sleazy seducer handing Beauty a line!
The transformation scene at the end is abrupt and laughable. Again I must compare it unfavourably to Disney's truly moving, tear-inducing finale. And I'm sorry to say that the actor (playing a dual role) does little to distinguish his mannerisms as the Prince Formerly Known As The Beast, from that of Beauty's other suitor, Avenant. Beauty's reaction at the end seems far too flippant and superficially flirtatious - I saw no depth of feeling on her part.
It's pretty sad when cartoon characters are more expressive and more convincing than real live actors, eh? Actually, what's sad is that animated movies still don't get much respect, while foreign films with fancy pedigrees get an automatic stamp of Critically Acclaimed Masterpiece! - whether they honestly deserve it or not.