They were no longer cartoon damsels in distress.
Belle even read books!
Its all about baby steps in the Magic Kingdom.
The new films were faithful to the predecessors, but not slavish.
There is an innocence and intelligence to her that fits the character perfectly.
She also, it turns out, can sing.
They feel like they could have been conceived and performed 50 years ago.
I wish Condon had taken more license and given them more life.
He has to earn someones love to get to be transformed back into Dan Stevens fromDownton Abbey.
Josh Gad minces and mugs as his Smithers-like gay sidekick.
(What would Walt say?)
I wish that detail was as edgy and funny as the film thinks it is.
Like so much about Condons film, the new songs are perfectly fine, but theyre just not transporting.
More than movies or theme parks, Disney has always been in the business of selling magic.
I wish there was just a little bit more of it in thisBeauty and the Beast.B
