Disney has done it again! I saw Beauty and the Beast this weekend, and it was just as incredible as everyone anticipated and more. The detail put into every second of CGI is breathtaking, and the costumes definitely make the tale as old as time even more real. I think it’s pretty safe to say that all the twenty- and early thirty-somethings out there are quite happy with this new adaptation, especially since some of those people now have small children of their own that can share this new Disney magic with.
What Emma Watson has done with Belle’s character is also refreshing. Belle is not as passive and proper compared to her 1991 animated counterpart. Instead Belle is a young woman who is sure of who she is. She is smart (demonstrated through her literacy and engineering abilities), as well as courageous-- she sees no fault in trying to teach a young girl in trying to read, nor does she really care what all the village people think about her oddness. She is cunning in taking her father’s place as prisoner-- also demonstrating her same commitment to family.
The movie also features all of the old classic tunes-- Belle, Be Our Guest, Tale as Old as Time, Something There, and Beauty and the Beast. Each actor gave their own song a personal touch. Emma Watson had the perfect mixture of sweet and confident, Dan Stevens definitely added some heartbreaking notes to a new song to this classic tale. Luke Evans, our hero from The Hobbit, was cruelly in tune for his rendition of ‘Gaston’; very hard to hate the evil man when he can hold a note so well!
In addition to all this glory, Disney also confirmed that LeFou was their first gay character! This is a huge step forward for Disney, and I can’t wait for more. Slowly, I think Disney is realizing how important it is to have representation for all types of people, especially as a major company that almost all kids look to for entertainment. MINOR SPOILER ALERT: That said, I think the film did a great job by having LeFou switch sides during the major mob scene. I believe he has a moment of realization that Gaston really is pure evil and only out to help himself when he leaves LeFou trapped underneath Cadenza (the harpsichord). Therefore, LeFou is a gay character who can be a role model to children about realizing toxic people should not be in your life, no matter how much they mean/ meant to you.
Overall, Disney has once again outdone themselves in remaking one of their own classics, and the suspense for upcoming live action films, such as Mulan, which is scheduled for next year.
