This weekend I went to see the new live-action adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and it was magical! Now, I will admit that I am a little biased because this was my absolute favorite movie growing up. I played and replayed the VHS tape so many times that it was beginning to develop stress lines on the film. All of those childhood memories came flooding back and I was crying/singing along to “A Tale as Old as Time” like I was 1o years old again. Belle is definitely my kind of fairytale princess. She is smart, kind and fearless. Her love for books and reading really registered with me, and as I got older, I also admired her steadfast confidence in turning down the handsome Gaston. While my girlfriends were concerned with finding the other glass slipper, waking up from a nap, or making a man fall in love with her because she is silent and naive to the world, I was taking trips with Belle to far off lands and fighting for what I believed in.

Emma Watson is fantastic and she is a wonderful role model for young people both on and off the screen. She has responsibly used her platform as a successful actress to campaign for gender equality. Her speech, “Gender Equality is Your Issue Too,” delivered a powerful message to the UN and the world. Her grace and wit sets her apart and adds authenticity to the role.

I was also pleased with the Director’s and Producer’s choice to fill the many plot holes presented in the first film.

WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS BELOW

 

1. It never really made sense to me in the original film that the enchantress would punish a 10-year-old boy and all of his servants. This is cleverly updated by making Dan Stevens (The Beast) a grown man when he refuses to provide shelter for the old hag. It is additionally explained by the lovely Mrs. Potts that the Beast’s father turned him into a heartless and cruel man after the death of his mother, and the servants just stood by and did nothing.
2. Belle is the witty inventor! I love this addition so much. Not only is she the only girl in her village who can read, but she uses her intelligence to create and engineer machines.
3. The Beast is also well read and intelligent. It always bothered me that the Beast struggled with reading and Belle had to teach him. I understand that it functions as a bonding agent for the couple, but I think it matches Belle’s personality more to find a partner that shares her love for the written word. It makes more sense that she finally has someone, besides her father, to talk to about Shakespeare and King Arthur.
4. I was also pleased that they decided to add in the story of what happens to Belle’s mother and that the Beast helps her find and mourn her loss. This works well with the storyline because this gracious act helps to soften the Beast’s personality and adds credibility to her growing adoration for him.

My niece is almost a year old and I really hope this ends up being her favorite Disney movie too!