Disney's live action remake of the first animated film to be ever nominated for the Best Picture Oscar back in 1991 stays faithful to the original material and yet still comes off as fresh, thanks to an amazing cast anchored by the fully grown (from her Hermione days in the Harry Potter series) and beautiful Emma Watson and Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens, hidden 95% in the movie in prosthetics makeup as the Beast. The two leads can also carry a tune!!
Whatever the animated movie lacked, this Bill Condon directed film made it up by adding some new songs also composed by its original songwriter Alan Menken which further enhances the characters feelings. In my opinion, the showstopping "Be Our Guest", sung by Ewan McGregor channeling his Moulin Rouge character Christian, outdid the original one and the iconic dance number with Emma Thompson being a worthy successor to Angela Lansbury's Mrs. Potts singing the title song was beautifully shot and gracefully choreographed.
Luke Evans was born to play Gaston. He showed off his vocal chops that was well known in his stint on the West End stage and Josh Gad provides comic relief with some innuendos as his sidekick Le Fou. The film also stars the great Ian McKellen as Cogsworth and for diversity Broadway's sweet voice Audra McDonald as the new character Garderobe and the ravishing Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette.
The film bridges the gap between those who first saw the first animated film and their kids that they are bringing in watching this new version.
No comments:
Post a Comment