It's a tale as old as time, and one that has warmed the hearts of all ages for over 20 years. Beauty and the Beast is one of those staple Disney classics that will never grow old despite the dozens of times we've popped open the VHS as a kid. But could Disney successfully translate this magic and wonder into a live action remake?
Definitely.
First and foremost, the casting is perfect. Emma Watson stars as Belle, and is simply adorable in the role. She is everything we loved about her Harry Potter persona, Hermione - she's independent, intellectual, and unconcerned about fitting the status quo. Emma's new role comes with a twist that never graced the Hogwarts halls...she can sing, and really well too!
Dan Stevens plays the fearsome yet loveable softy that is the Beast, and the two radiate chemistry on screen, despite his paws, fur and horns. The ballroom dance scene is simply perfect as the two sway to Mrs. Potts singing "Beauty and the Beast." This is the moment that everyone associates with the original, and it is surreal to see the golden dress and blossoming love between the two come to life.
Despite Emma and Dan's outstanding performances, the enchanted objects steal the show. Lumiére (voiced by Ewan McGregor) and Cogsworth (Ian McKellen) are like a minuscule married couple, and I never thought it possible to feel so strongly towards a friendship between a candelabra and clock. Lumiére is the unsung hero of this tale, who sets off from the start to unite Belle and the Beast to break the curse.
As soon as the movie ended, I already wanted to see it again. From the flashy "Be Our Guest" number to the epic ending fight scene, every second of the movie is captivating. This live version brings a whole new life to the animated classic, with little twists for the modern era (LeFou gets a dude!). Beauty and the Beast shows us that beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder, and is never just skin-deep. Belle also teaches us that there is always something new out there to learn and explore, and we should never settle for a "provincial" commoner's life, pining after jerks like Gaston.
This week, I ignored my inner old lady who despises public places packed with kids. Instead, I embraced my inner five-year-old and saw Sing, which was one of the cutest, most inspirational animated films I've seen in a while. The movie follows the determined little koala, Buster Moon, as he attempts to save his theater from closing with one last production - a singing competition.
Sing is exciting, comedic, and tugs at your heartstrings no matter what age you are. Below are five reasons to get your butt to the movies ASAP to see the cutest movie of 2017:
1. ACTION
For an animated film, there is no shortage of adventure. From car chases to robberies, you will find yourself fearing for the lives of those cuddly animals. Mike, played by Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane, gets mixed up with some tough grizzly bears despite his tiny size and soothing Frank Sinatra-inspired voice. The mouse narrowly escapes capture and being eaten alive several times, speeding away in a sleek, red convertible with his new girlfriend by his side.
2. ACCENTS
Ever hear of an Australian gorilla? You have now. Johnny has the sweetest accent ever, not to mention the voice of an angel and insane piano playing skills. Unfortunately, he has no choice but to get caught up in his dad's gang of robbers, all of whom have beautiful accents as well, despite their criminal backgrounds.
3. LOVE Sing captures love in every shape and form, from caring for family members to romantic love. Rosita, voiced by Reese Witherspoon, wants to audition for Buster's new theater production, but is hesitant to put herself before her family of 25 adorable piglets. Even after Buster's warning that all participants need rest to prepare for rehearsal, Rosita pulls an all-nighter and fashions a machine that makes breakfast, does laundry, and gets her kids ready and out the door for school. She is able to go for her dream while making sure her family is still well-cared for.
On the other hand we have Ash, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, who is the definition of girl power and revenge packed into a tiny hedgehog body. Ash and her boyfriend audition together for Buster's production, but only she makes it through to the next round. After discovering the boyfriend with another hedgehog, she calls it quits, and releases all of her hurt and anger into her first solo track. Ash finally realizes her full potential and is able to love herself and recognize her own talent.
4. MUSIC
As the title of the film suggests, Sing is full of amazing songs and vocals. The standout performance comes from Meena the elephant, played by the amazing Tori Kelly. Meena has a beautiful voice, and is constantly told this by her family. However, she suffers from stage fright and extreme shyness, which makes it almost impossible for her to perform in Buster's production. After the koala gives her some words of wisdom, Meena is able to gain confidence and ultimately steal the show.
5. HOPE
If you've ever had a dream that seemed downright impossible, you can relate to Buster Moon. When he was young, he fell in love with the atmosphere of the theater and knew he wanted to open one of his own someday. With help and encouragement from his father, his dream came true. However, none of his productions were successful and his theater was under severe threat of being shut down. Buster's determination, drive, and support from Meena, Johnny, Rosita and the rest of the performers allowed him to make his theater better than ever, and keep his dream and passion alive.
Bottom line, if you believe in something and work hard enough for it, anything is possible.
Whenever people used to mention "Star Wars," I automatically went "OH the movie with the little green guy right??" *insert shocked/judgmental face here*
I have to admit, I never understood the hype. Friends always had to explain the difference between Star Wars vs Star Trek, and I used to look at the light saber club on my college's campus like they were aliens from a strange planet.
But when "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was released, I decided to suck it up and watch the first six movies. As I currently sit here next to my stuffed Yoda and C3-PO pen, it's safe to say I've had a change of heart.
I started out with the original trilogy after wrapping my head around how Episode 4 was technically the first movie. I absolutely loved C3-PO and R2D2 from the start. Through the more complicated plots in the storyline, they provide some comic relief and interact like an old, robotic married couple.
The original trilogy was enjoyable - Luke's obsession with Princess Leia, the sarcasm of Han Solo, and the many intelligent words of Chewbacca. However, I enjoyed the prequels (Episodes 1-3) MUCH better.
First off, I am absolutely obsessed with Yoda. He's such a little bad*ss for being only 2 feet tall! In one scene, he comes swooping in with an entire army of stormtroopers behind him and it is the most epic thing in the whole series. He's also full of words of wisdom, and I've become a fan of the quote "Do or do not, there is no try."
I also enjoyed the main characters in the prequels. Feel free to judge, but Anakin Skywalker aka pre-Darth Vader is pretty darn attractive.
It was also interesting to see how everything from Episodes 4-6 came to be. Spoiler alert - we see how Anakin becomes Darth Vader to protect the love of his life, we have some context as to why Yoda is in exile in a hidden forest, and we gain some insight into the situation that Luke and Leia were born into.
I have to admit - I never understood Star Wars, and thought it was about robots and space battles. And while this is true, it's more so about family, love, support, and adventure.
