It seems as though modern filmmakers are settling for vulgarity, poor humor and mediocre story lines at best. With films like Sausage Party, Dirty Grandpa, and endless sequels to movies that should have been laid to rest years ago, I was starting to think that Hollywood had reached rock bottom. Then, into this arena comes Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast.

Admittedly, I am a true Disney nerd. I have a soft, childlike heart for movies and often find myself frequenting old favorites and classics.

Unsurprisingly, within the first 30 seconds, as I watched the classic opening number “Belle,” I found myself riddled with nostalgia.

Mothers and daughters and granddaughters flooded the cinema. Young girls who sat alongside their mothers in 1991 when the original Beauty and the Beast debuted, were sitting beside their young daughters 25+ years later.

If Disney were to be remembered for only one thing, it would creating multigenerational storylines and films that teach, entertain and inspire young and old.

Hands down, one of my favorite parts of the newly remade film was the music. Something about the same lyrics and melodies sung in a new voice, a new light, made the movie all the more entertaining.

With any prequel, sequel, or remake comes the fear of disloyalty to the original plot and reputation. Beauty and the Beast, however, executed this perfectly. They were loyal to the integrity of the story, while throwing in new characters, relationships and details.

The most obvious of these was the story of Belle’s mother and her death and sacrifice. (I won’t give anymore away, promise!)

There were other additions like relationships between the characters in the castle to the townspeople who had forgotten them. There were more noticeable relationships between the members of the Prince’s court.

Prior to the release of the film, there was buzz surrounding Disney’s incorporation of a very clearly gay character. While many parents rushed to panic over this detail, incited boycotts, and insisted that Disney apologize (#eyeroll), I thought that the portrayal of LeFou was done with taste and there was nothing to get your panties in a wad over.

While there may have been a few scenes that LeFou’s sexuality was overt, it was nothing that I felt I would need to immediately shield or protect my children from, even as a conservative Christian. In fact, LeFou played a big role in the resolution of the story, and I would be glad for my children to learn that sometimes it is the normal, the average, the ordinary who become the heroes.

Another Facebook accusation was that Belle had clearly fallen under Stockholm Syndrome (#eyerollagain). Falling in love with a man who was selfish and greedy is so unrealistic, hardly ever portrayed in cinema…(Fifty Shades of Gray anyone?)

Does Beauty and the Beast teach children to fall in love with people who kidnap them and hold them hostage? Probably not. Does it teach children that selfishness and greed make you ugly? Yes. Does it teach children that actions of bravery and self-sacrifice will instill beauty in you? Yes. Does it teach children that there is more to love than appearances, romance and perfection? DEFINITELY.

While parental trolls and critics had a hard time seeing the true message of the film, as they were a little blind by their heads being completely up their tails, I found it to be an amazing movie. It was a modern twist on a classic tale and I would recommend it to anyone who has a Disney heart.