JeanGreyForever wrote:The Enchanted Christmas was supposed to be a direct sequel but Disney felt that viewers wouldn't be interested in a non-Beast Prince or the human versions of the objects. The plotline was supposed to involve Gaston's younger brother, Avenant (inspired from the Cocteau film), coming to take revenge for Gaston's death.
Oh, I didn't know. Thanks. But why not having the Prince being changed into a Beast in that storyline, instead of writing a entirely new midquel which has little continuity with the plot?
Either way, I've seen the movie trice now and I loved it! It was enchanting, delightful and truly once another winning streak of the successful live action remakes. Though it's not a surprise, this remake was more a carbon copy of it's animated predecessor than the other live action versions were (counting
101 Dalmatians, which had it's twists of it's own). Though of course some changes were made, the film still followed the animated counterpart quite closely.
Though to take a literal comparison, some scenes have been placed differently. As Gaston's proposal and the reprise of Belle taking place before Maurice entering the castle. And Philippe running for Belle right after Maurice being caught.
It's true that this version is definitively a smarter take on the story and some points were actually enhanced, as Belle being labeled as ahead of her era and fixing some plot holes which fans have been whining about.
As the curse affecting the village and making them forget about their ruler and the change of the "ten years we've been rusting". But it's intelligence is further enhanced in other ways, as Belle wanting to break the curse and promising her father to escape.
But it's also notable how all the objects "dies", just as Beast does, before the transformation. And how the Enchantress appears just before turning him to a Prince again. But it's remarkable that the Enchantress happens to live at the town of Belle and how a little fleshed out character she is
While that being said, it's notable how Beast remains unseen until Belle finally sees him (and how the film never shows an interaction between Maurice and the Beast). And how she literally takes her father's place in a clever way. It's also notable that Belle actually kisses the Beast before him being transformed. But the scene where Belle sees right into the Prince's eyes was more or less just as it was in it's animated counterpart. But it's notable how the Prince growled like a Beast after being transformed (wasn't that supposed to be an original ending to the animated version?). I also liked how LeFou and Cogsworth got a closure in the end. It's also notable that the Bimbettes are given less screentime on this film. I also liked that Monsieur Jean was redeemed and became a sympathetic character, unlike the rest of the villagers.
What I did find strange that this film took place in June, while the animated version took place at the fall/winter. At least the 1991 version justified it's winter setting, whereas the winter aspect here felt like a part of the curse. But I guess they were inspired too much by Frozen
However, I thought the songs actually flowed well with the movie. They never felt out of place and the musical never felt corny (as they were in
La La Land, yes, I'll dare to take that comparison). The only duds were the two new songs,
Days in the Sun and
How Does a Moment Last Forever. But that's that.
Everyone knows what I feel about Emma Watson as the choice, so I won't repeat myself. Other than she was just as expected It was basically as watching Hermoine again. Dan Stevens as the Beast was actually better than expected. He managed to give the Beast a gentle side and truly pull it off successfully. Luke Evans was effective enough as Gaston, looking great in the part and even more handsome than ever. As LeFou, Josh Gad was charming, but perhaps not as strong to steal the entire show (and yes, he sounded like Olaf). I feared that the enchanted objects would be less dynamic than their animated versions and though they were, they were still better than expected. Cadenza's part was endearing, though, perhaps taking a cue from the midquel with Maestrol?

Perhaps what surprised me was Emma Thompson's acting, which was underwhelming. Her voice was generic. I usually love Thompson, but her acting was underwhelming. Kevin Kline was lowkey, but still effective in his part.
And a question; Was the enchanted book that took Belle to Paris just supposed to work one time?
It's notable that the King Arthur-scene was in the movie. Also, it's notable how Beast was labeling Belle's favorite books as too serious. And besides, if Gaston was French, why didn't he understand what LeFou said to him in French in their first scene together?
It's notable how Gaston actually decided to help Maurice to find Belle in the first place, instead of just throwing him out in the snow. I think it was a nice change from the animated version and could perhaps enhance Gaston as a character, instead of making him a one-dimensional villain. But at the end Gaston just served his villain part.
While that being said, there were some scenes with felt rushed. As Belle's entrance to the West Wing and her flight into the woods. Also the transformation scene and first interaction of Belle and the Prince right after the transformation.
I liked how LeFou was being enhanced as a character and given an arc quite similar to Nathaniel in
Enchanted. It was a conventional, but still satisfying arc.
But the gay moments were innocent, harmless and nothing to make a fuzz about. Besides, the guy that LeFou danced with at the end seemed quite surprised over the switch.. And the transformation scene, though being quite close to it's animated counterpart, gave me literally goosebumps.
I saw the 3D version and the 3D was brilliant. The 3D effect was good and all the confetti and the things had a good effect. When Beast launched the snowball, it was like seeing the actual ball coming right towards ya.
Otherwise, a great movie who deserved it's success. Though I'm not usually against sequels, I simply can't see a sequel work within this premise.