Beauty and the Beast

My View:  Beauty and the Beast  (2017)   PG  Disney tale of the monstrous beast (Dan Stevens) and Belle (Emma Watson), the young woman who commits to live in the castle to save her father. When you remake a classic animated film into a live-action CGI-filled movie, you have to ask if it’s worth it?  I am going to say yes because of two reasons: some huge plot holes were fixed from the original film and Emma Watson, who is a delight to watch and has a tremendous singing voice. She is the perfect live-action Belle, a blend of spunky defiance and curiosity, that is a perfect match for the Beast. I will say that I was disappointed in the ballroom scene. In this film, it just doesn’t have the impact of the original. There are five new songs which add to the running time of 2 hours and 9 minutes - maybe a little too long for young kids. The Beast isn't too scary although there are some wolves that may give the very young a bit of fright. The film wasn't shot in 3D, so save the bucks. Much has been made of the gay character in the movie, but it’s such a minor detail in the film, that most won’t even notice.   My Rating:  Full Price   Beauty and the Beast Website

Indiefest:  The Sense of an Ending  (2017)  PG-13  A semi-retired divorced man (Jim Broadbent) receives notice that he has inherited an item from the mother of an old flame. His attempt to retrieve the item causes him to relive his past, a past full of friends and lovers of his school years.  Part mystery, part love story, this film is an interesting take on lost loves and how one wrong decision can change the direction of the rest of your life. Broadbent gives one of his better performances as a man who is haunted by his past and is desperately trying to make amends. The story is full of really cool plot twists, some of which I didn’t see coming.   My Rating:  Full Price    The Sense of an Ending Website

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  Passengers  (2016) PG-13   A spacecraft is traveling to a distant colony planet with thousands of people, all of whom are in a state of suspended animation.  There is a malfunction of the sleep chambers for two of its passengers (Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt) who have been awakened 90 years early.  I enjoyed the first 40 minutes of the film, which reminded me of an excellent 70s Sci-Fi movie called, Silent Running. The art direction is fantastic, and the set design is brilliant, making this a film a wonder to watch. Unfortunately, the film goes downhill quickly, with a plot that takes forever to get going.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Passengers Website 

Forgotten Film:  Peter’s Friends  (1992)  Ten years ago a group of friends were part of a comedy troupe, but in the years since, they have scattered around the world. Peter has inherited an estate and invites the troupe members for a New Year’s Eve celebration. The friends gather once again to see if fences can be mended, loves rekindled and new friendships started. The cast is the reason to see this movie, and both Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson standout in a very memorable ensemble. I consider this a much funnier and enjoyable film than other films in this genre including, The Big Chill (1983).   My Rating: Full Price    Peter's Friends Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Beauty and the Beast:  Dental FX Design and Manufacture

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Ghost in the Shell  (2017)  This live-action film, based on a beloved animated movie and series, could go either way.  Since Scarlett Johansson is the lead, I am going to give it the benefit of the doubt.    Ghost in the Shell Website

Until Next Time!