I know what you're thinking. A remake? Better than the original? Don't get me wrong: the original "Beauty and the Beast" has been and always will be my favorite Disney movie, BUT, there are several new additions to the remake that, in my opinion, enhance the story, making it more relevant and authentic than before. So before you click out of the article in anger, hear me out.
1. It's inclusive.
One of the first things I noticed when watching the movie was how diverse the cast was. In the original, most if not all the characters are white. In the remake, people of different colors and sizes are showcased from the very first scene, and this trend continues throughout the movie. (Remember the elderly white bookstore owner? Now he is a young and outspoken black man.) We’ve all heard about the controversy surrounding the sexuality of Lefou. Lefou, just like in the original, clearly admires Gaston. (He dedicates an entire song to how accomplished and strong Gaston is in the original as well; this is nothing new). In a later scene, we also see another presumably gay character. This inclusivity of people of color and people of different sexual orientations is just one improvement made upon the original that makes the classic tale even more relevant and timeless.
2. Belle is the inventor.
In the original, Belle’s father is the charmingly eccentric inventor. In the remake, Belle is the inventor, while Maurice is an artist. Belle’s preliminary scenes show her helping her father fix a device, and they show her fashion an invention that washes her clothes for her so that she can squeeze some more reading in. It’s important to note that later in the movie when Belle and Maurice are trapped while Gaston and the townspeople are raiding the castle, instead of Chip having to rescue them, the two work together to free themselves using Belle’s knack for inventing.
3. Belle has more of a backstory.
Belle is painted as a bit of an outsider in both the original and the remake, however, the remake goes a step further and paints more of a detailed picture of her past. In the remake, Belle asks her father to tell her ‘just one more thing’ about her mother, to which her father replies “She was fearless”. There was no mention of Belle’s mother in the original film, and in the remake, the loss of her mother and the mystery behind it is an integral part of why Belle wants to escape from her ‘provincial life’.
4. Belle actively tries to escape.
Belle actively tries to escape once she has been imprisoned. Instead of dramatically throwing herself onto the bed and sobbing after taking her father’s place as the Beast’s prisoner, she immediately looks around for a way to escape and begins using fabric from the wardrobe to tie together and use as a rope. This small addition shows Belle as more of a fighter, rather than a damsel in distress.
5. The Beast also has a backstory.
In the original, Prince Adam is cursed to become a beast because of his cruelty towards a beggar woman because of her haggard appearance. The remake elaborates upon that in a few key ways. The opening scene is an elaborate party in the Beast’s castle, the castle which the narrator describes as having the finest things and the party which the narrator describes as being populated by the finest people as well, all at the Prince’s request. Later, after Belle rescues the beast after he saves her from a pack of wolves, Belle asks the rest of the household, (Lumiere, Ms. Potts, Coggsworth… the whole gang), why they continue to care for the Beast even when he is so harsh and cruel. Ms. Potts then informs Belle that the Beast used to be a kind boy, and after the death of his mother, his cruel and selfish father raised his son to be exactly the same way. This allows the audience to feel more empathy for the Beast and makes Belle’s growing affection for him more understandable.
6. More time is spent on the development of their relationship.
In contrast to the original’s one or two scenes focused on Belle and the Beast getting to know each other and develop feelings for each other, the remake expands on that, including scenes of the two sharing their feelings of not belonging, and their shared love of literature. These additions make their relationship more authentic and realistic.
7. Gaston is crueler.
We all know Gaston to be a self-absorbed, shallow buffoon, but in the remake, he is even crueler than before. Not only does Gaston treat Belle as if she is a prize to be one, and not only does he chastise her father in front of the whole town… he also ties poor Maurice to a tree so that he will be eaten by wolves because he denied Gaston his blessing for him to marry Belle. This important new feature makes it even easier to hate him for the villain he is.
8. "Can anyone be happy if they aren't free?
This simple question asked by Belle further solidifies her as a strong and courageous woman. After the iconic dancing scene between her and the Beast, when the pair is on the balcony, seemingly blissful, the Beast states that he hopes Belle can share his affection and be happy in the castle with him. Although it is clear she does share his affection, she gives him a surprising response. She replies, “Can anyone be happy if they aren’t free?” It is with this question, that the Beast is suddenly reminded that he is Belle’s captor, and he realizes that he loves her too much to not allow her to be free, and to love him freely if she so chooses, so he releases her. *Cue tears*
9. New songs!
If you’re anything like me, when new songs are added to a new edition of a film, you’re a bit skeptical. The live-action version of Beauty and the Beast includes four brand new songs, and they fit in seamlessly. Much like the other additions to the movie, they add more depth to the characters and the plotline overall. Two songs are about the household reflecting on their past lives as humans, which makes it easier for the audience to see them as complex people who have also been trapped by the curse. Also included is a solo song by the Beast himself. He sings this new song after he has released Belle, and in the song, he talks about how she has changed him for the better, and no matter where she goes, she will always be with him. If you aren’t convinced of his love by this point, the song solidifies how real his feelings for Belle are.
10. The ending.
Everything is more dramatic and elaborate. From the detailed action sequences of the battle between the villagers and the household to the final scene between Gaston and the Beast, it is difficult to not bite your nails, (even though you totally know how everything ends). After Gaston has shot the Beast, and the Beast heartbreakingly reveals his true feelings for Belle, we see him take his last breath, and we also see all of the other characters say their final goodbyes to each other as they lose their last bit if humanity and truly turn into simple household items. (I can’t be the only one that cried at Coggsworth and Lumiere’s friendly and heartfelt farewell, right?)
As the Beast dies, the very enchantress who cursed the castle and has been masquerading as a poor woman in Belle’s village for all this time returns. After witnessing Belle’s heart-wrenching profession of love to the Beast, she renews the rose and everything comes back to life. The household is reunited with their loved ones from the village, and the Beast transforms back into Prince Adam, followed shortly by the true love’s kiss that Disney is famous for.
