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Critics Consensus: With an enchanting cast, beautifully crafted songs, and a painterly eye for detail, Beauty and the Beast offers a faithful yet fresh retelling that honors its beloved source material.
Critic Consensus: With an enchanting cast, beautifully crafted songs, and a painterly eye for detail, Beauty and the Beast offers a faithful yet fresh retelling that honors its beloved source material.
All Critics (342) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (245) | Rotten (97)
But the film is so good, so magical, and so well-directed that a lot of those problems felt like minor nitpicks by the time its two-and-a-half-hour runtime had completed.
The sheer dexterity is overwhelming, and only the sternest viewer will be able to resist the onslaught of such thoroughly marketed magic.
Disney has ripped a jewel out of its casing and set it in something far more elaborate; the effect is garish rather than nostalgic, frustrating rather than memorable.
There's a complicated jumble of gender politics at hand, and any attempt at modernizing the dynamic is more of a random piling on rather than a thoughtful incorporation.
Ian McKellan makes a fine, melancholy Cogsworth the clock, but the rest of the enchanted servants come off hammy and campy, while Kevin Kline seems lost as Belle's father and Luke Evans turns alpha male Gaston into a bigger cartoon than the original.
All the hit numbers... Emma Watson is charming as Belle; and the enchanted servants are voiced by the likes of Ian McKellan, Emma Thompson, and Ewan McGregor. But seeing it will probably send you back to the original animated movie for refreshment.
Beauty and the Beast is a classic for a reason, and while this remake might not achieve the same beloved heights as its predecessor, it's still a lovely film that will doubtless enchant and captivate a whole new generation.
Despite some small missteps along the way, though, the bottom line is the new Beauty and the Beast is still magical.
The tale as old as time is enchanting as ever.
While there is no real need to retell one of Disney's best animated features, this version was intriguing enough to warrant the visit.
There's a freshness to this version and through the newfound darkness and shadows, the movie is feel-good and you'll leave humming the iconic songs once more.
A wonderful compliment to all that preceded it, fleshing out the story and connecting plotpoints that were overlooked before.
Chock full of the Disney magic we've all come to expect and then some, this work is infused with nearly an in-your-face undertone: "magic suckers!", that almost feels desperate. As well, there are politically correct minor cast substitutions that felt forced. Still, the Mouse is nobody's fool.
Super Reviewer
One cannot help but to compare this "Beauty And The Beast" with the Disney cartoon, given that it hews so closely to the original cartoon version. At times in the beginning, the films seemed shot-for-shot duplicates. In that light, the live-action music, characters and singing just aren't as "big" as those in the animated film. However, making such a comparison, is not fair to this live-action version, which itself is very fine. The sets and costumes are spectacular. The CGI is (mostly) impressive. (Just avoid looking at the Beast's face throughout the film and you'll think it was faultless.) The music is marvelous on its own, even if most of the new numbers are lackluster. This version is a definite five-star film on its own, which would be clearly evident it it didn't have to measure up to its predecessor.
It is hard sometimes to shake the feeling that this live-action Disney adaptation is relying too much on the 1991 animation, to the point that it almost feels like an extended version of that film; but even so, it offers a fresh and modern look at the classic story that makes it worth it.
Beauty and the Beast is a production designer's dream. The sets, locations, graphics, props, lighting, and costumes are beyond compare. In particular, there's a physicality to these locales that make you believe that these places do indeed exist. The town is a quaint fairy tale community and the majestic castle has an impressive gothic air. The overall look is so fully realized, you'll forgive that the plot holds no surprises. Yes for all its charm, this merely remains a beautifully realized imitation of its predecessor. The accomplishment is undeniably gorgeous but not visionary. If the very idea of a live-action reimagining of Beauty and the Beast offends you, then this picture will not change your perceptions. On the other hand, if you're intrigued by the idea, then the movie will be a delight. I'm pleased to say I was thoroughly entertained. fastfilmreviews.com
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