JeanGreyForever wrote:You're right, Austrian curtains look just like Belle's dress. I thought he meant there was a type of Austrian dress referred to as a curtain dress so I was looking that up. I love Belle's dress too so I don't mind either that it's not historically accurate. Especially since the castle has been isolated for 10 years so Belle was likely wearing a dress that someone in the castle wore generations ago like maybe the prince's mother or an ancestor of his. In that case, it makes sense that the dress wouldn't fit the exact time period of the film. It could even be a costume worn by Wardrobe from her opera days. I just looked up the Cinderella movie you mentioned and her dress looks really similar to Belle's so you're right that maybe that style of dress was popular in the 1700s. Either that, or people have mistakenly begun to attribute it to that era now, but either way I agree that the live-action dress should have looked more like that.
Oh good, I'm glad we agree so much! I agree a lot with what you said, except that I feel Belle's dress could look that way just because she lived in an enchanted castle. That or, I dunno, some tailor or seamstress just sought to make a dress that didn't look that much like other dresses of the time, lol. So, just personally wondering, what do you think is the best Disney dress? Do you even like Cinderella's ball one?
Well the castle was only enchanted from the spell otherwise it was normal before that. I doubt the Enchantress provided magical dresses too for the Beast in the off-chance he does fall in love. But I can see your theory that maybe it was designed purposely to look different from other dresses of the time. Like I said, we know that the Wardrobe was an opera singer so maybe the dress was one of hers created for an opera or performance and designed to look different but enchanting. If not Wardrobe, because I doubt she could fit into the dress, maybe it was just a relic from the castle that was custom made once by whoever originally commissioned it.
As for my favorite dress, it would definitely have to be Cinderella's silvery white ballgown, but I'm a tad bit biased because my favorite color is white. I love Belle's dress too, but I prefer sleeker gowns like Aurora's, with sleeves and a tighter fit, although I love how the pleats of her skirt allow the dress to "expand" and become more ballgown style while dancing and twirling.
Disney Duster wrote:
JeanGreyForever wrote:
Perhaps they'll screen together. Russia can be a huge market so this will definitely hurt the movie's total box office.
What do you mean they'll screen together?
Russia is planning on screening the movie so they can inspect and see if there is any content in there that they find to be immoral (the gay scene), so I mentioned that as Trump and Putin are such BFFs, they ought to screen together. They both have the same ways on homosexuality anyway.
We’re a dyad in the Force. Two that are one. "I offered you my hand once. You wanted to take it." - Kylo Ren "I did want to take your hand. Ben's hand." - Rey
I’m surprised Russia-Trump wouldn’t have already been planning to ban the film because of its portrayal of a woman as more than an object and a narcissistic white male fearmonger as the evil monster he is. After all, Russia did recently legalize domestic violence and Trump’s cronies just defunded the Violence Against Women Act.
Listening to most often lately:
Taylor Swift ~ ~ "The Fate of Ophelia"
Taylor Swift ~ "Eldest Daughter"
Taylor Swift ~ "CANCELLED!"
Although Trump has been buddy with Putin, they don't actually have the same views. For one thing, Trump actually came in support of gay marriage in the 2000's and even though he can be petty this really is of no interest to him. Trump is bad, but you still have to get your facts right on his stances, because even he would think it's stupid to ban this. Also Trump and Putin seem to be ending their BFF relationship.
jazzflower92 wrote:but you still have to get your facts right on his stances
I have all the facts I need on the traitor's stances, and none of them are LGBT-friendly. And that's as far as I'm going with that. I thought it was clear everything was a joke; I'm sure he's too busy destabilizing our country from within to worry about banning a Disney movie right now.
I went ahead and listened to Josh Groban's performance of "Forevermore" and, I don't know, I might need a few more listens to get into it. I wonder if Stevens will sound completely different from Groban?
Listening to most often lately:
Taylor Swift ~ ~ "The Fate of Ophelia"
Taylor Swift ~ "Eldest Daughter"
Taylor Swift ~ "CANCELLED!"
I saw the movie a few hours ago! I saw it in IMAX. Before the movie, there was a live Q&A with Bill Condon, Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and Josh Gad. It was really cool seeing them in person! After the Q&A, the movie began.
SPOILERS!!!!
Overall, I thought it was a good movie! I see this getting an Oscar nomination for Best Production Design and maybe Best Original Song for Evermore. Most of the makeup and hairstyles were on point. The costumes weren't that great. The only scenes the costumes stood out were during the prologue, transformation, and the last scene. The sets, however, were beautiful!
As for the performances, everyone did a good job. I've never really been a Harry Potter fan, so I don't know much about Emma Watson's acting given that I've only seen 5 of the HP movies and did not pay particular attention to her. However, I watched The Bling Ring back in December and she was not good in that movie. Therefore, I was skeptical about this. After today, I can say she did okay. Emma is not a belter and doesn't have a voice of Broadway caliber, but she was still sweet and had a good enough voice to sustain. I don't know much about auto tuning, so I can't speak about that. She sounded good enough, but I wondered what a Broadway caliber voice could have really done with the role. I think she sang the best during How Does a Moment Last Forever (Montemere), perhaps because the song was written with her range in mind? As for her acting, she overacted. It was just too strong or too forced. Lily James felt like Cinderella. Emma Watson was Emma Watson playing Belle, if that makes sense? It was just too much. There were scene where she had tears in her eyes and I was like "Why is Belle crying during this?" However, she did have her moments, and her scenes with Dan were cute (after the wolf chase, of course).
Dan Stevens is an awesome singer! His Evermore was glorious! I did not know he had quite a voice! I was a fan of Downton Abbey, and watching this made me appreciate him more. The only place I was put off by his acting was the prologue. I felt the spoiled prince was too much of a farce to be believable. Besides that, he was great and could really dance! His transformation back into the prince was done well!
I think the stand out for everyone in the audience was Josh Gad! Of course he sounded like Olaf, but you tend to get over that quickly. Luke Evans was great as Gaston. He can really sing! The cast is really large, but basically everyone did a good job. Since I've seen all the trailers and whatnot, I've gotten used to Ewan's French accent, so that did not bother me. Of the supporting characters, people clapped hardest for Emma Thompson, Josh Gad, and Ian at the end of the picture.
The songs we love were done well. The best number was Be Our Guest. In that song, they changed the "10 years" lyric to "So long", if I can recall correctly. New lyrics also appeared during Gaston, The Mob Song, and Beauty and the Beast Reprise/Finale. Of the new songs, Evermore was the highlight for me. The second best one was Days in the Sun (btw, it is not Chip singing the boy's part). I think How Does a Moment Last Forever was my least favorite of the new songs. Maybe when I listen to it over and over again, I'll like it. I liked the Belle version of that song better than the Maurice version. Speaking of Maurice, it's kind of sad Maurice cannot be given a decent song. No Matter What and How Does a Moment Last Forever are both not that good compared to the rest of the score. The Aria Audra sings is really short, so I can't judge it. Also, there were two scenes where you heard Home in the score. It was a cool throwback! A lot of the lines and score were lifted from the animated movie. Even the transformation scene had the exact same score as the original movie.
As for what I didn't like. I think it was too fast-paced for me. I don't know if it was the editing or the script, but things kept happening rapidly. Another problem was the score was too loud and I couldn't hear some of the lyrics and dialogue. A final issue was that a lot of the scenery looked obviously CG, especially Belle reprise. That scene and song showed me how The Sound of Music would've looked if it came out today instead of 1965.
There were two interracial kisses, which was really cool. If you know the characters, then you know who the couples were. I thought it was odd we found out Cogsworth's first name, but not the prince's. As for the gay thing, I'm actually upset Disney revealed it because I kept looking for gay tendencies in LeFou throughout. I think if Disney didn't say it, I wouldn't have thought anything. Also, I totally figured out very early the guy who LeFou ends up with in the final scene. If you've paid attention to the clips that have been released and also pictures from screenings and premieres, you've seen the guy! There were two big "gay moments" and we all cheered during those scenes. But trust me, it's not a big deal at all! People are boycotting for dumb reasons. You will laugh and be like "Uhhh people are stupid for boycotting because of that little thing."
Overall, I think it was a good movie. Not perfect, but good. The people behind me (three guys, one girl, all in their 20s) thought the new songs sucked and one of them said they liked the movie but didn't love it (but tbh I heard their conversation before the movie and you would swear they thought they were Ebert and Roeper....eye roll), so I don't know if I would go by what they said. Personally, I thought Cinderella was better, but this was still a good film. I almost teared up at the end and I never cry at movies, so there's that. I'm attending another screening this weekend and will definitely see it again in 3D once it premieres next week. Just like the Rotten Tomatoes ratings, I would say it's way better than Maleficent, but a little bit lower than Cinderella (Cinderella had better costumes and a better lead actress). On a RT scale, I would give it an 80 out of 100. I haven't seen Jungle Book yet. Furthermore, this made me excited to think what Disney could do with The Little Mermaid!
Last edited by tsom on Tue Mar 07, 2017 1:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
The final reprise of Beauty and the Beast was performed by a choir, like in the animated movie?
You're welcome! The final reprise begins with an Audra solo, then an Emma Thompson solo, and then an offscreen choir. The odd thing is that the final shot of the movie before the end credits was of Audra. I don't think I liked that. It should have been Emma Watson and Dan, or at least the waltzing couples.
JeanGreyForever wrote:Well the castle was only enchanted from the spell otherwise it was normal before that. I doubt the Enchantress provided magical dresses too for the Beast in the off-chance he does fall in love. But I can see your theory that maybe it was designed purposely to look different from other dresses of the time. Like I said, we know that the Wardrobe was an opera singer so maybe the dress was one of hers created for an opera or performance and designed to look different but enchanting. If not Wardrobe, because I doubt she could fit into the dress, maybe it was just a relic from the castle that was custom made once by whoever originally commissioned it.
As for my favorite dress, it would definitely have to be Cinderella's silvery white ballgown, but I'm a tad bit biased because my favorite color is white. I love Belle's dress too, but I prefer sleeker gowns like Aurora's, with sleeves and a tighter fit, although I love how the pleats of her skirt allow the dress to "expand" and become more ballgown style while dancing and twirling.
About the castle being enchanted, I meant maybe the enchantress made magical dresses for the one fated to love the prince. But yea I guess what makes the most sense is the dress already existed, and for some reason it (and I think the green one, too, actually) were just designed different than the usual dresses of the time. I'm glad you like Cinderella's silver/white ballgown the best! I never knew anyone who's favorite color was white before! Cool! Interesting! And did you mean Aurora's or Belle's pleats expand to look more like a ball gown? I'm guessing Aurora's but just checking.
JeanGreyForever wrote:Russia is planning on screening the movie so they can inspect and see if there is any content in there that they find to be immoral (the gay scene), so I mentioned that as Trump and Putin are such BFFs, they ought to screen together. They both have the same ways on homosexuality anyway.
Sicoe Vlad wrote:Cool! I'm very much looking forward to seeing it.
I agree with you, it seems kinda weird they didn't have Emma and Dan in the final shot, but, who knows, maybe I'll still like it.
Just one more question, did they keep the same score for the West Wing sequence?
Yeah, it's a good movie! I think most will enjoy it, but of course there will be nitpickers and those who hate sweet, sugary tales. Of course there are dark elements, but it's mostly a sweet story.
Happy to answer any questions you have! As for the West Wing sequence, I really am not sure if it was the same score as the animated film. The transformation, for sure, but not sure about the West Wing scene. If I remember, I'll let you know after I see it again on Saturday!
Ugh... so I just caught a video on youtube, where Alan Menken, Josh Gad and Luke Evans sing "Gaston" live... and I am sad to say they have reinstated the original ending to the song. Which I never quite liked.
If you all recall, in the original soundtrack to the animated film, "Gaston" ends a little differently... with LeFou trying to spell his name... and that was changed for the original film. Seems it's back for this one. Damn.
Ah I must not have ever heard the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack because that's how the live-action Gaston ends -- with LeFou trying to spell his name and failing miserably, so I thought those were new lyrics. Also, the lyric about Gaston's chest hair was not in the live-action movie either.
Ah, I had heard about the line about the chest hair being removed. And I get it... it would be a little awkward in a live action movie. That doesn't bother me at all.
As far as the original ending of the song... yes. If you have the original 1991 soundtrack, it's there. Not sure if it was there for the other soundtrack releases... anyone?
Okay, I have always, even as a kid, never got how Belle exchanging places with her father made any sense. She didn’t do what her father did. It was him. Why would she be lead to believe anyone would take her instead when she didn’t do anything? She didn’t know the Beast would want her. How could she ever? The original fairy tale actually made more sense. In that tale, the Beast lets the father go for a while and says either Belle’s father or one of his daughters must come back to live with him. And Belle chooses to go to save her father because she knows the Beast wants her and it will work. And now, this live-action film is going even further backwards than the animated 1991 one. In the 1991 film as soon as Belle says she will take her father’s place, the Beast figures she could be the girl to break the spell. In this one, it doesn’t dawn on him until Lumiere suggests it. Am I right? So why does the Beast take her then?! It’s just…not a very smart move by the filmakers...
By the way, I was thinking about how weird it is Beauty and the Beast was getting remade when the original was so perfect and nominated for Best Picture. And I wonder…did they make this because they thought, “Ok, this time, we will win Best Picture!”?
Nah.... I don't think anyone here is expecting to win a best picture Oscar. These types of movies never do. But, same was said back in 1991.
I REALLY don't think they are expecting that now... a remake of a film made as recent as BATB will be fun to watch, but will lack impact because of the original being so fresh in everyone's mind. I think the main point here is to rake in A LOT OF MONEY. Which they will. THis isn't me being jaded... but this movie came to be after Alice and Maleficent made very good profits...
As far as the thing about Belle taking her father's place... I remember thinking when I saw the original film "well... why doesn't the beast keep them BOTH as prisoners? It's not like either of them can overpower him". But the point back then was that Belle was willing to sacrifice herself for her father, and that she was courageous enough to stay there with the "scary" beast. I havent seen the new movie, but from the trailers, it looks like it's the beast who suggests she might stay in her father's place, which I assume is cause he thought she could be the one to break the spell on some level. But I haven't seen the new movie yet, so this is just what I imagine it to be, based on trailers.
Apparently there's an anti-princess dig in the movie, sort of like as in Moana. Wardrobe tells Belle she'll give her a dress that's "fit for a princess" and Belle disapproves of this phrasing.
We’re a dyad in the Force. Two that are one. "I offered you my hand once. You wanted to take it." - Kylo Ren "I did want to take your hand. Ben's hand." - Rey
Russia can be a huge market so this will definitely hurt the movie's total box office.
