Beauty and the Beast

SONY DADC, Rs 599

Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Grad, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson.
Director: Bill Condon

“Tale as old as time, True as it can be, Barely even friends, Then somebody bends, Unexpectedly, Just a little change, Small to say the least, Both a little scared, Neither one prepared…” go the lyrics of the famous title track from Beauty and the Beast, a song that has been played and replayed by fans who love the movie. Originally sung for the 1991 animated film by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson, the 2017 version is sung by Emma Thompson who plays Mrs Potts in the film. There’s also a duet version of this wonderful ballad by Ariana Grande and John Legend that comes on during the end credits.

As for the plot, everyone who loves Disney would know it by now. For those who really don’t know the story, the film opens with a beautiful castle where a self-centred and judgmental prince turns away a beggar woman from his castle, little knowing that she is a sorceress in disguise. She places him under a spell which turns him into a grotesque beast, a spell that can only be broken when he begins to love someone and be loved in return.

Years later, we have Belle (Emma Watson) a village girl living with her widowed father Maurice (Kevin Kline). One day while returning from the market, he accidentaly trespasses onto the property owned by the beast (Dan Stevens). Maurice is taken prisoner. Belle pleads with the Beast to keep her instead of her father. With the help of the Beast’s staff who have been turned into a talking clock, candlestick and teacups, a friendship begins to bloom between Belle and the Beast. But Gaston (Luke Evans), the village hero who is in love with Belle, threatens Belle’s father that he’ll kill the Beast and Belle if he doesn’t get her hand in marriage.

The film is very enjoyable for people of all ages with several catchy songs. It’s a pleasure to watch live actors playing the role of Belle and the Beast. This probably is a dream come true for many fans of the story. What is nice is how the love story develops, the brilliant music score and of course the final transformation of the Beast. Disney films are mainly aimed at youngsters with a moral that teaches them life lessons, and this movie teaches them to ‘Never judge a book by its cover’.

Sadly we get only the Beauty and the Beast music video by Arianna Grande and John Legend as bonus features on this DVD.

WIN a DVD of Beauty And The Beast sponsored by Sony DADC!
Email your answers to these questions to theteenagermag@gmail.com before October 5, 2017. Please include your name, address and contact number in your email.

1) The title track of the 2017 film version of Beauty and the Beast is sung by _____.
a. Emma Thompson
b. Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson

2) How does Belle secure her father’s release?
a. She takes his place as the Beast’s prisoner
b. She pays a fine
c. She offers the Beast her hand in marriage

3) _____ threatens Bell’s father that he’ll kill Belle if he doesn’t get her hand in marriage.
a. Gaston
b. The Beast