Beauty and the Beast Review

Introduction:

I couldn’t wait to see the new Beauty and the Beast movie. I had watched the animated version over and over again and absolutely loved it. It is one of my favourite Disney films, so I was really excited to see how they would bring the story to life as a live-action movie.

I thought this was a fantastic live-action remake of the original. I liked it so much that my husband bought me the Blu-ray as an anniversary present. I have since bought the CD for my daughter Scarlett, as she loves the music just as much as I do.

I loved watching this movie with my family. My Mum is also a big fan of Disney, just like me, so it was lovely to enjoy it together.

Tagline: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Physical Release Details:

Format: Blu-ray
Language: English
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: 17 July 2017
Run Time: 129 minutes
Classification: To be announced

Price:

I had to ask my hubby how much he paid for this one. He bought it from Amazon for £9.99.

Plot:

The story follows a prince who has been cursed by an enchantress because of his actions.

He is cursed to remain a beast unless a woman falls in love with him. If someone doesn’t fall in love with him before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose given to him by the enchantress, he will remain a beast forever.

The Beast’s staff have also been caught in the curse, with each of them transformed into talking pieces of antique furniture. If the spell isn’t broken, they will eventually become ordinary antiques forever.

The enchantress’s curse also erased the memories of the villagers, meaning they could no longer remember the castle or its inhabitants.

Director:

• Bill Condon

Main Cast:

• Emma Watson - Belle
• Dan Stevens - Beast
• Luke Evans - Gaston
• Josh Gad - LeFou
• Kevin Kline - Maurice
• Hattie Morahan - Agathe / Enchantress
• Haydn Gwynne - Clothilde
• Gerard Horan - Jean the Potter
• Ray Fearon - Père Robert
• Ewan McGregor - Lumière
• Ian McKellen - Cogsworth
• Emma Thompson - Mrs. Potts
• Nathan Mack - Chip
• Audra McDonald - Madame Garderobe
• Stanley Tucci - Maestro Cadenza

Favourite Songs:

Be Our Guest

This song is very catchy and definitely one of those that get stuck in your head.

Lumière, played by Ewan McGregor, is my favourite part of the song. He puts so much heart and soul into his singing that it makes you want to jump up and start singing and dancing with him.

Gaston

Another one of my favourites.

The cast put so much time and enthusiasm into this song. The scene took five months to film, and you can really see the effort that went into it.

Gaston, played by Luke Evans, and LeFou, played by Josh Gad, really shine in this scene. Their personalities come through brilliantly, and they have such good chemistry together. Their energy just bounces off each other.

I have a few other favourite songs, but I don’t want to give too much away!

Favourite Characters:

Gaston - Luke Evans

Some actors can seem very wooden when they perform, whereas Luke Evans plays Gaston down to a fine tea.

He is outstanding in this role. He completely becomes the character and, for me, is perfection personified.

Lumière - Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor puts so much warmth and enthusiasm into Lumière. He is so funny that you can’t help but love his character.

He also does a very convincing French accent, which adds even more charm to the character.

There are plenty of other memorable characters and performances, but these were the two who stood out the most for me.

Blu-ray - Review:

The movie looks absolutely amazing on Blu-ray. It really is a masterpiece.

All of the background scenery stands out and looks stunning. The special effects jump out at you through the TV, and the colours are so vibrant, especially during the Be Our Guest scene.

Of course, the music is crystal clear and sounds amazing when you have a surround sound system. A soundbar does the job for me!

If you have a Blu-ray player, I would definitely suggest buying this version rather than the DVD.

I also watched all of the special features, and I found the making of the movie very interesting. It was fascinating to see how much work went into bringing this beloved animated classic into live action.

Blu-ray - Special Features:

All of the special features are included on one disc.

Enchanted Table Read - Join the cast for the movie’s elaborately staged table read, complete with singing, dancing, live music, set pieces and more.

A Beauty of a Tale - Explore the process of transforming a beloved animated film into a new live-action classic.

The Women Behind “Beauty and the Beast” - Emma Watson introduces several of the talented women involved in all aspects of production who helped bring this enchanted tale to life.

Making a Moment with Celine Dion - Celine Dion shares what it is like to sing “How Does a Moment Last Forever” and be part of the legacy of Beauty and the Beast.

From Song to Screen: Making the Musical Sequences - See what went into creating some of the best-known musical moments from Beauty and the Beast.

Extended Song: “Days in the Sun” - Learn more about Beast’s childhood in an alternate version of this beautiful song, introduced by director Bill Condon.

“Beauty and the Beast” Music Video - Ariana Grande and John Legend perform a moving version of this iconic song.

Making the Music Video - Go behind the scenes and see how Ariana Grande and John Legend’s Beauty and the Beast music video was created.

Disney Song Selection - Jump directly to all your favourite songs and sing along with the movie.

Movie Summary:

This movie answers many of the unanswered questions from the original animation while still keeping the magic and heart of the story that made me love it so much.

A must-see for all Beauty and the Beast fans, even if you have never watched either version before.

I know the movie received some negative reviews when it was released, but if you ignore all of that and give it a whirl for yourself, like I did, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

For me, this is great family entertainment, or even something for us adults who are still big kids at heart and love a good fairytale.

Verdict:

I absolutely loved this live-action version of Beauty and the Beast. It keeps everything I loved about the original while adding new details and giving us more of the story.

The performances are fantastic, the music is beautiful, the scenery is stunning, and the special effects look incredible on Blu-ray.

Beauty and the Beast is one of those films that I can happily watch again and again, especially with my family.

If you’re a Disney fan, a Beauty and the Beast fan, or simply someone who loves a good fairytale, I would definitely recommend giving this one a watch.

Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (5/5)

“This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly believe in.”