Let’s talk about this movie for a sec.

First of all, I am a HUGE fan of Disney movies, especially when there are princesses involved. When the live action Cinderella movie came out, I loved it so much that I felt so floaty and happy after I came out of the theater. The casting was perfect. The story was perfect. Even the twists that weren’t in the animated film were perfect. So it makes me disappointed to say that I definitely did not have these same thoughts and reactions to Beauty and the Beast live action. Why?

1. Emma Watson

Don’t get me wrong, I think she’s a great actress. I loved all the Harry Potter movies and even Perks of Being a Wallflower. But as Belle? I was very skeptical about her as Belle but I gave the movie a chance, anyway. Unfortunately, I really didn’t think she fit the role. To me, it seemed as if the producers were just trying to find a big name actress just because they could. With the animated movie, I felt such a strong connection to the entire story, but the live action… There was no connection.

2. Racial Diversity

Okay, this one might trigger some people, but I hope not. I’m all for racial diversity in movies. I encourage it. I love it. But ONLY when it fits. For example, you’re not going to go visit an exotic African tribe and find a white person ruling over all the blacks. It just doesn’t fit. But if a white adventurer happens to visit, then great! It FITS.

However, in Beauty and the Beast, it did NOT fit. Many of the couples were in interracial romances in France back in the day, and there were plenty of other colored people that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. Obviously, this was a movie for Hollywood to either pat themselves on the back or to cater to a specific community.

Again, I’m all for interracial relationships and colored people in movies. But this went overboard in trying TOO HARD so it was awkward! It was too forced and that’s why I didn’t like it.

3. The Beast Was Too Tame

Maybe this was intended, but in the animated film, the beast was terrifying! Belle didn’t seem hardly terrified at all in the live action movie. Sure, she’s brave. But is anyone ever THAT brave? Especially when face to face with a beast for the first time? Sure, CGI may have had a hand in that. In reality, we couldn’t see what Emma Watson was seeing. Maybe she was trying not to laugh the whole time.

This movie does have merit, I’ll admit that. Especially with building up the relationship between Belle and Beast. But if I wanted to see Beauty and the Beast, I’d just watch the original animated film. After all, they’re practically the same, right? Except the animated film is WAY better. I’d watch Cinderella live action over the animated film any day, so that’s saying something.