I really REALLY liked this film

When I saw the trailer and read some of people's comments about the film, I decided I did want to watch it, but I was sure I would either dislike it, or at least be "meh" about it. I love Disney's version of the fairy-tale, I grew up with it. It's one of those adaptions where you doubt anyone could do better in bringing the story to life.

But while watching this I was very impressed. The atmosphere is beautiful. I love the music, and the colors, and the sets. I love the rhythm and some of the cinematography. The backstory given to the Beast really helps one get a better grasp of the character. This is one thing that this movie did way better than the Disney version - I love the opening narration in the animated film, but you have to admit it makes it seem like Prince Adam was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and didn't really deserve what he got. Whereas here, his punishment is well-deserved. Also, a difference to note is the "villain". It's nice for him and his "mob" to actually want something palpable and not "a beautiful wife" and to "kill the person who's different from us". In the Disney version, the Mob Song was a great scene and it did show the difference between tolerant, emphatic Belle and the rest of the world which was cruel and unforgiving. But here I see it speaking more about destructive, ignorant greed vs. cultured sensitive appreciation of beauty. Because hey, even though he was a beast and ate raw meat, he wasn't the one breaking apart old, priceless sculptures to tear sparkling rocks out of the artworks in the castle.

Two of my main complaints, though, are Vincent Cassel and the relationship between Belle and the Beast. I can't stand Cassel and it bothers me that the "prince" form is and LOOKS to be, 20 years older than Belle. I know that 20 years was a normal age difference back in those times, and this is mainly a superficial, subjective complaint, but I think they should've at least gone with someone who doesn't look like a bad-natured drunk. I mean, I sympathize with him more when he's fluffy, so that should say something :)). But then again... if he was a lovely human being he wouldn't've ended up fluffy in the first place so... fine, movie. Do your thing.

As for the Belle-Beast relationship, I get what the makers were going for. Belle dreams about his former life through his wife's perspective and that helps in her falling in love with him. You can clearly see when they're dancing that she mentally goes back into her dream and rests her head gently on his chest. But this is one thing that did not come out very convincing. And all that was needed was some extra time for them to spend together. The Disney version didn't take more than a few minutes of montage to show them growing together, but you know (or feel like) the ballroom dance scene takes place many weeks after the night when he rescues her from the wolves. You see them playing in the snow, and eating together and doing little things for each other - so basically, bonding. All this film needed was to expand the 2-3 days that Belle spent at the castle. Make it a few weeks. A month. More months. Make them talk and bond even a little bit. It's a pity that this part was handed so poorly...

But all in all, I feel like this is a really good fairy-tale adaption. It has a certain "magic" and "honesty" in it that many Hollywood high-budget blockbusters these days lack. Hollywood tries too hard to be edgy and original and dark and brooding (or on the contrary, annoyingly comedic) that it often forgets to just give you an honest, pretty, atmospheric fairy-tale. I know some people don't like the CGI but to me it doesn't look bad at all. On the contrary, I feel like someone on that team has a very good instinct regarding colors and lighting, and those are the strongest visual cues for me. While watching I just kept thinking how much I would've loved this as a child (back in the early 90s when a drop of blood wasn't cause for parental heart-attack?).

So... yeah. It's not a perfect movie. But it does have many good parts and feels the way a fairy-tale should (unlike many of the disasters put out recently: Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror Mirror, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters... heck, even Maleficent feels incomplete and disjointed!). That's my opinion of it, at least. I know the critics tore this movie to shreds but I have little respect for critics so... I don't really care what they think :)

Elegant and ferocious neither good nor bad. Full of beautiful things. Unspeakable things