Immediate disclaimer: I tend to reveal a little too much, so expect to encounter some major spoiler alerts for a tale as old as time.
I've been preparing for this movie premiere for quite awhile; my inner childhood princess was giddy with anticipation. Everyone had raved about the movie, only increasing the expectations I held for Emma Watson's performance. Clearly, I was optimistic, but I also remained apprehensive because so many new live-action films have failed to capture the classical magic seen in our childhood fairy tales.
Desperately, I hoped to see the simple little details that truly made "Beauty and the Beast" unique. Expectations of a breath-taking library, quirky strolls through a small French town, and the most adorable teacup named Chip were awaiting as the opening credits rolled through.
As dramatic music set the scene, I continued to question whether "Beauty and the Beast" would satisfy my exceedingly high childhood expectations. Well, it did. In fact, more so than I even imagined. In moments that beautifully followed the storyline to little snippets of witty humor to add a sassy zing, Disney brought to life their fairy tale and truly let fans fall in love with Belle all over again.
Beginning with Emma Watson's stunning performance, the actress's audacious attitude and peculiar traits shape Belle into a unique lady that often shocks the town's norms. I've always admired Belle's passion for reading, her love for losing herself in the adventures and wild whirlwinds of a story. Clearly still holding this fiery passion for books in the film, Belle seems to carry a sense of passion for inventions, much like her father. Self-sustaining while her father is away, Belle invests in her inventing skills, which ultimately showcasing her independence. Unlike most women in the town, Belle held strong confidence in herself and often found it simplistic to fend on her own without the expectation of a helping hand. Rather, she expected to face any challenge with the uttermost dignity as she tackled it on her own, which led to her entrapment at the Beast's castle. Let's not forget the sass, keeping the Beast on his toes.
As the rickety gate opens to an eerie stairway crumbling with debris, we have a glance into the darkness of the castle. However, we also see an interesting twist as the film takes us into the darkness behind the castle. The darkness that plagues the Beast and the tragedy that so many people easily lost sight of when they fell victim to the Beast's selfishness. It's this story that makes your heart ache for the Beast; you know he isn't truly malicious and holds a heart of kindness. This film brought the Beast's story to light embellishing the overall feelings of the movie.
Through all these moments of sadness and love, the film still manages to find humor and happiness. A dreary dining room transformed into a Broadway showing followed by a delicious dinner; snippy comments from sarcastic characters and the vibrant spirit of Chip the teacup spreads throughout the castle merely contribute to the film's quirkiness.
From the breath-taking sunsets cascading over the lush daisy fields to the heart-wrenching moments that required Kleenex, Disney truly captured our hearts. Doing my childhood justice, Disney accurately portrayed the "Beauty and the Beast" while showcasing their message of inner beauty wins true love.