Disney has released on January 30 a 155-second brand new trailer for the live-action film “Beauty and the Beast” and both fans and critics are one in saying that it is absolutely stunning.
It was clear from the new trailer, which happens to be the final one for “Beauty and the Beast” before it hits the theaters on March 17 that the film did not actually deviate from its animated movie source material, shown in 1991.
But the visuals and the computer-generated graphics are certainly gorgeous, especially in the enchanted castle where the Beast resides and all the other talking characters in there including Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, and a few more.
What makes the live-action film quite different from the animated movie is the soundtrack, which is also remarkable as the theme was sung by pop princess Ariana Grande and John Legend, reports Just Jared.
The trailer also gave fans a good dose of Emma Watson as Belle and those who have seen the animated movie could really see that the “Harry Potter” actress was a perfect fit for the role.
Just like in the animated movie, Belle was seen ending up in the castle after she agreed to replace her father in captivity where she was able to meet the Beast in person and for some reason, they fell in love with one another.
A magical moment for fans
The Bill Condon-directed musical, which stars Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, and Josh Gad as Le Fou with Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, and Ian McKellen voicing Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, and Cogsworth, respectively, is certainly a magical moment for fans, both young and old.
The trailer debuted during the January 30 episode of “The Bachelor” on ABC. It showed a young Belle reading books in her village as Kevin Kline, who plays her father, Maurice, says that she is so ahead of her time for someone who lives in a small village.
Chief among the village’s small-minded residents is Gaston, who is shown complimenting himself in the mirror, dancing on a table in the tavern, and rallying a torch-carrying mob to kill the Beast.
The trailer also shows Belle wearing her iconic yellow ballgown as she dances with the Beast to Ariana Grande and John Legend’s duet of “Beauty and the Beast.” Also featured are the castle’s enchanted residents, who welcome Belle after she takes her father’s place as the Beast’s captive.
Not enough singing
Ian McKellen said that when the castle and the Prince go into perpetual winter he becomes a rather officious clock, who is a rather small object in describing his character Cogsworth
He said that Cogsworth is reduced considerably in scale and probably doesn’t much enjoy that. The British actor’s only regret about the production of the live-action film is that there wasn’t enough singing.
He recalled in jest that when they were in the studio, he kept singing what he thought should be a rather good addition to the score about Cogsworth but the producers did not include his song.
“Beauty and the Beast,” the animated movie was shown in theaters in 1991 and it has since become one of the best Disney adaptations of a tale as old as time itself. Any Disney fans know that “Beauty and the Beast” is one of its great classics.
Following the initiatives of Disney to turn its classic animated movies into live-action beginning with “Alice in Wonderland,” then “Maleficent,” which is an alternate version of “Sleeping Beauty,” followed by “Cinderella” in 2015, and then “The Jungle Book” early last year, “Beauty and the Beast” live-action remake will be the fifth classic to do so.
Although it could be considered six technically since “Alice in Wonderland” already had a sequel just a few months ago entitled “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”
“Beauty and the Beast” live-action will be hitting global theaters in March and with the typical Disney hype that comes with its promotions, it is also expected to be a blockbuster success.