Writer: Cinnamon Lion

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Watch this if you liked: 1991’s “Beauty and the Beast”, 2011’s “Beastly”, any adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast”

The Good, the Bad and the Belle:

• An interesting take on the classic tale, "Beauty and the Beast", where the Beast has a different backstory and Belle too comes from a large family that has fallen from riches to rags.

• There is, however, very little chemistry between Belle and the Beast. One would really have to suspend disbelief to buy the story that Belle could easily fall for the Beast when she spent most of her time hating him and he did not do anything particularly touching or impressive to change her mind about him (other than forcefully saying that he would).

• However, the movie more than makes up for its weakness with its arresting visuals. The costumes and makeup design are beautiful, so are the sweeping panoramic shots.

Trivia:

• One of Belle's sisters is named Clotilde, it is also the name of the character Lea Seydoux (Belle) plays in 2014's "The Grand Budapest Hotel".

Cinema Online, 26 May 2015