For better or worse, the Disney live action adaptations are here to stay. We bemoan the risk of bastardizing our classics, but it is easy to forget that some of these stories have a long history of screen iterations from their fairy tale roots. Beauty and the Beast has been seen as legendary Cocteau classic and 80s TV cheese before Disney musicalized the legend into its most popular version. Naturally, Disney has another one on deck.
While the quality of these reboot/rehashes has ranged from the unexpected delights (Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella) to the outright nightmares (Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland), the predictably high box office returns of each guarantees that your personal favorite will eventually get the live action treatment if it hasn't already. The just released teaser for Bill Condon's hints at a very literal take on the musical, but is that a good thing or bad?
YES
- Starting off with the musical's prologue score is a great way to earn some evocative good will. One of the best and most transportive parts of the score that's too easily forgotten!
- Those voices you hear: Ewan McGregor and Ian McKellen. Yes please!
- This brief first look is selling more of the mysterious and dark sides of the story. That's a very welcome introduction after the candy confections of Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland.
- The imagery recalls the mood of the original, but doesn't carbon copy. That final shot of the rose is just lovely!
- With the other cast members like Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Kevin Kline, Luke Evans, and Josh Gad, could there be a performance as fun as Cate Blanchett's evil stepmother?
NO
- The supporting cast may be enticing, but Emma Watson and Dan Stevens together doesn't promise romantic fireworks. Are they even individually right for their roles?
- How much will be borrowed from the musical? Our only scrap of dialogue here is a direct lift.
- More CGI set enhancements or full environments. Beauty and the Beast calls for massive sets that can be lived in, swelling budgets be damned!
- No character designs yet. They could be hiding something treacherous...
MAYBE SO
- Typical opulence in the set design, but at least this castle isn't hideous to look at.
- If Bill Condon is returning to populist fare, at least it isn't a franchise like Twilight.
- Alan Menken has sole composer credit. Is his previous work being lifted, or will he have new pieces threaded into his best work?
Surprised to say, but I'm leaning YES. How do you feel about this first look? Has it changed your mind on this particular adaptation?