"Beauty and the Beast" (2017): Movie Review (Grade: +B)

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Visually beautiful... Emotionally deficient. It was a sad realization when I left the movie theater, but this is the great truth about this long-awaited live action which caused so much expectation. From the moment I knew the command of the movie would be in the hands of the director Bill Condon ("The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 & 2") I was apprehensive about what could be the end result, and that's exactly what happened. He is a very weak director (and his filmography only confirms this) and I think it was a considerable mistake for Disney to leave the responsibility of reliving this classic through his hands. Although he has managed to be virtually faithful to the original movie (which brings a huge nostalgia for those who have watched the original one) he can't go beyond the visual part. The script (written by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos) is very simple and fragile, any mistake that happens makes the movie get off the rails (and unfortunately this happens several times over the projection). Of course there are beautiful and great moments along the way, but they live bumping into mistakes (it's quite annoying). I think the worst of mistakes is precisely not having the depth in the drama that history needs (it gets even a bit difficult to create some connection to the plot). The cast is very good (each person in their respective roles performs well their functions... But no one in the cast has a very good voice to sing) and the obvious highlight should go to Emma Watson, but that's who comes to the big disappointment of the movie... She creates a very apathetic Belle. Her semblance during practically the entire movie is of a "silly girl" who never matures. She seems lost and can't grasp the essence of the character completely. My final impression about her acting was that she wasn't too comfortable in the role. The highlights of the films are the aspects (as I expected): the special effects are visually jaw-dropping (frankly, it was one of the most beautiful works coming from Disney) because the richness of detail is incredible... Everything was done in the smallest details; The soundtrack is so well made and fits perfectly (even in the more boring parts of the movie) and the original songs are great too; The editing (despite one mistake or another... but nothing serious) is very good too and photography is extremely competent. I wished - very much - to say that the movie is perfect, but unfortunately... It's just an extremely beautiful object on the outside, but rather hollow inside. However, Surely deserves to be seen in theaters because it is a true spectacle for the eyes and ears. P.S: For anyone who is possibly worried about the "controversy" of the first gay character of Disney... Well, you can rest easy because the character doesn't do anything at all (besides being very funny). You can take your kids to the movies without the slightest problem.