We already know that the new live-action Beauty and the Beast would be ~very~ similar to the original Disney version, it's obviously the same story and still made by Disney, BUT we saw it early (#advancedscreeninglife) and are here to tell you that there are some AMAZING differences...
First things first (I'm the realest) Belle is NOT a damsel in distress. Emma Watson's contributions to the script show Belle's feminist side right away. She's the inventor of the family not her dad (who is not a frail old man in this version but a savvy dad trying to protect his daughter). She's a fighter in this version and tries to escape from the Beast instead of crying on her bed. Hell, she grabs a weapon when she enters the castle and even tries to knock Lumiére out!
The other marked difference here is her relationship with Gaston. She tells him no straight away, unlike the Disney version where she never tells him to leave and says it's her not him. We all know by now that Le Fou is the first openly gay character.
On Gaston, obvs Luke Evans is easy on the eyes, but the new version of his character somehow feels more genuine. He truly seems to care about Belle and tries to help her fit in with the townspeople. Still ends up being a royal douche but hey, it's the little things.
Speaking of the town, Belle lives in it, not on the outskirts. The bookshop owner isn't old and their bond isn't as deep, more polite than anything. But her vibes with the other villagers are BAD. They actually mistreat her. Oh, and the trio of sisters have dark hair and it's super meh.
Now onto the Beast. They spent some time explaining how a young prince really came to be cursed by an enchantress (something fans have mentioned for years as being largely unfair for a small boy), and why no one remembers a huge castle is nearby. They justify why he deserved it and how his father contributed...
Another big change is that the Beast tells Belle AND her dad about his curse. He doesn't really keep it a secret and the relationship between Belle and her parents (the memory of her mother especially) and the Beast and his 'rents is a while new story line for the live-action version. We also learn why roses are important to Belle too and it's so, so sweet and heartbreaking.
Another big change is that the Beast tells Belle AND her dad about his curse. He doesn't really keep it a secret and the relationship between Belle and her parents (the memory of her mother especially) and the Beast and his 'rents is a while new story line for the live-action version. We also learn why roses are important to Belle too and it's so, so sweet and heartbreaking.
Our favourite change of the movie had to between Belle and the Beast. Their love story makes SENSE! Thanks to the longer run time (cartoons only go for an hour) we got to see them bonding over books, the loss of their respective mother's and how awful being an outsider feels. We also get to see how the castle servants like Mrs Potts feel about their Master and Belle is inspired by their devotion even after he got them all turned into objects. IT. IS. MAGICAL.
Beauty and the Beast hits cinemas nationwide on March 23, we HIGHLY recommend you see it!