Beauty and the Beast

Name: Beauty and the Beast
Genre: Thriller, Fantasy, Romance
Released: September 23, 2016
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 39

2016

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Shout! Factory | Release Date: September 23, 2016 | PG-13

Summary: 1810. After losing his fortune at sea, a ruined merchant is forced to retire to the countryside with his six children. Among them is Belle (Léa Seydoux), his youngest daughter, who is full of joy and grace. On an arduous journey, the Merchant discovers the magical realm of the Beast (Vincent Cassel), who sentences him to death for stealing1810. After losing his fortune at sea, a ruined merchant is forced to retire to the countryside with his six children. Among them is Belle (Léa Seydoux), his youngest daughter, who is full of joy and grace. On an arduous journey, the Merchant discovers the magical realm of the Beast (Vincent Cassel), who sentences him to death for stealing a rose. Belle, who blames herself for her family’s terrible misfortune, decides to sacrifice her life in place of her father’s. However, it isn’t death that awaits Belle in the Beast’s castle, but rather a peculiar life of magic, joy and melancholy. … Expand

Director: Christophe Gans

Genre(s): Thriller, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 112 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Peter Sobczynski

Sep 23, 2016

The end result is a sturdy and frequently dazzling version of the material that should leave audiences swooning with delight. Read full review

Chuck Bowen

Sep 19, 2016

Christophe Gans’s telling of Beauty and the Beast abounds in impersonal and unsatisfying sumptuousness. Read full review

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

Sep 21, 2016

Without a poignant note or undercurrent of suggestion, it amounts to a world of effects, rather than a world of magic. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Sep 22, 2016

The film is most acceptable when it sticks to its beauty-and-beast dynamic. Even then it’s too dizzying and grandiose and the chemistry between the lead characters is pretty much nil. Read full review

Steve Davis

Oct 5, 2016

Cassel’s feline visage, covered in a velvety layer of fur for most of the movie, doesn’t fare much better. At times, he resembles an angry cast member from Cats rather than the tormented fiend trying to find his human self once again. It’s beastly. Read full review

Jordan Mintzer

Feb 20, 2014

Whenever the camera settles down to record a simple conversation between two characters, things suddenly feel stilted, as if the filmmakers cannot build the drama without flinging a hundred different things in front of the lens at the same time. Read full review

The Playlist Jessica Kiang

Feb 20, 2014

The choking pictorialism of the sets and CG backgrounds, coupled with the barely-there performances, contribute to an inescapable sense of lifelessness and sterility. Read full review

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User Reviews

tenmuter

Mar 19, 2017

I really enjoyed this movie! It is truly a wonderful reproduction of the original animated beauty and the beast movie by disney. The new producers of the movie also incorporated folklore from the original legend/story of the beauty and the beast to make it more interesting! Though the storyI really enjoyed this movie! It is truly a wonderful reproduction of the original animated beauty and the beast movie by disney. The new producers of the movie also incorporated folklore from the original legend/story of the beauty and the beast to make it more interesting! Though the story is 100% the same as before and the acting and cinematography may not necessarily be a home run oscar, I think this movie was well put together and it showed some real "disney magic." Go into this movie with a nostalgic or kid like sense of wonder and you will not be disappointed!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

AlexanderLuthor

Mar 18, 2017

Beauty and the Beast has found the magic once again. Emma Watson brings Belle to life and the all star voice cast do wonders with all the amazing characters from the castle. Your children will love it!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Rebecca31

Dec 18, 2016

Starring Vincent Cassel and Léa Seydoux this adaptation of Beauty and the Beast is breathtaking. This is closer to the original fairy tale than the Disney version but adds more depth and darkness. Every scene is full of fabulous colours and beautiful music. Loved it.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

LeZee

Sep 7, 2017

The French version of the famous fairy-tale.

I should have seen this before the latest Disney version of the tale. It came a couple of years ago, with a wonderful cast and visuals. French cinema is not a great vfx powerhouse. Unlike most of the famous Hollywood mythical and fairy talesThe French version of the famous fairy-tale.

I should have seen this before the latest Disney version of the tale. It came a couple of years ago, with a wonderful cast and visuals. French cinema is not a great vfx powerhouse. Unlike most of the famous Hollywood mythical and fairy tales originated from Europe, it's rare to see them converted to films in the similar fashion in its homeland. One of the reasons was the international market, to earn back everything they have spent for it, and more. When such projects do happen, sometimes the filmmakers tie up with Hollywood co-production to secure returns. Even if you take this film's worldwide box office, nothing overwhelming. But the challenge they had taken was truly appreciable.

That's not it, this is the most redesigned versions of them all I've seen so far. Because I haven't seen any other than Disney's, excluding the modern timeline adaptation like 'Beastly', 'I' et cetera. Yeah, even the Disney's live-action retained original from their animated version, but visually extraordinary. And in here, the story was same, thought told in a different way. The graphics too were very nice, I did not expect that. Despite it is being a fantasy and a children's tale, the contents were more serious. That reveals they were very keen to bring the adults to the screens than the kids. Yet nothing too seriously targeted the grownups like 'Tale of Tales'.

Everyone knows the basic storyline of this tale. A recently lost their fortune, a family of six siblings with their father relocates to a small farmhouse. No one other than the youngest daughter, Belle, was happy to be in such nature surrounded place. But one day when her father got into a big trouble, she takes his position and becomes a prisoner in an abandoned castle. Since then she begins to learn about the mystery man of the castle, particularly his past, reason to be ended like that. And following, a twist in the narration leading to the finale, everyone's fate will be revealed.

❝Remember... A life for a rose.❞

The film was two hours long and well filled with the scenes in it all over. It doesn't feel like we're watching a fantasy film. The colours, costumes, medieval story, misty mountain, all is the major reminder that you are watching a fairy-tale. Though you won't get anything magical from the story right away. Not until the third act. As for the story, from such vastly known tale, you can't expect any major surprise. As I said, some minor changes can be witnessed throughout. But such kind of scale the flick has in all the department, that too coming from Europe makes it a very special.

Definitely no to comparison with the Disney's. Both of them were fine products on their own way. But people would compare and pick one when they are based on the same source. That can't be stopped. Disney had created their own brand, aiming for kids. You can find the people who liked both the live-actions. I never knew the original tale, I mean from the original source/text. Those who are familiar with are saying, this is most closest one. But something I did not understand was the Beast was cute furry Beast, just like Disney's. I anticipated something tough physique, hard character, I mean Beast as a real Beastly.

Excluding that slight displeasure, I have had no other complaints with the film. I enjoyed it, yet there's another thing which is actually a question rather than a disagreement. The actors did their parts, though I felt the Beast character should have been played by a younger one. Vincent Cassel is a brilliant French actor and he did his best for it. Lea Seydoux as Beauty surely an excellent pick. The direction was good. Cautiously spent for everything in the film. So they have got a fine final product. Most of the people going for it, only keeping in mind Disney. You won't get that Disney's singing, dancing, overall appeal. One must clear off his mind from any great ideas and then only give it a try. Remember, it is not a very good film, but simply a good film.

7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jess_Hill

Mar 23, 2017

I was thoroughly dubious about this remake, as the original film was my childhood favourite. Thankfully, this is a charming experience with enough wit and considered alterations to bring a fresh interpretation to the beastiality-cum-Stockholm syndrome laden plot. Disappointingly, theI was thoroughly dubious about this remake, as the original film was my childhood favourite. Thankfully, this is a charming experience with enough wit and considered alterations to bring a fresh interpretation to the beastiality-cum-Stockholm syndrome laden plot. Disappointingly, the cinematography is woeful, with the stunning set design frequently eviscerated by poor frame rates and shoddy camera work. I suspect that this may work better visually in 3D. The costumes are wonderful, and the performances are hammy but generally endearing. Whilst lacking subtlety, the storyline is nicely paced, and this is a solid film overall. 7.82/10… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

papadrew7

Apr 1, 2017

I am giving this movie a 6/10 simply because it is gliding on the coat tails of the original animated masterpiece. Watching this movie I had the impression the director was just checking off a list of each scene of the original only doing it in a much poorer way. I mean one time the beastI am giving this movie a 6/10 simply because it is gliding on the coat tails of the original animated masterpiece. Watching this movie I had the impression the director was just checking off a list of each scene of the original only doing it in a much poorer way. I mean one time the beast gets pissed and instead of raging like a beast does he starts singing! I can't think of a single scene that was done better in this movie then the original. Oh and the soundtrack is just awful compared to the original as well. Just watch the original over again and save your money.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cecevasquez

May 27, 2017

hated this movie. It is not at all like the original film. Emma Watson shows no emotion. The beast turns into an okay looking guy who no one has even heard of. Why not use Chris hemsworth for the role? or someone better looking. Gustavo is not charming nor well humored. Disney did an amazinghated this movie. It is not at all like the original film. Emma Watson shows no emotion. The beast turns into an okay looking guy who no one has even heard of. Why not use Chris hemsworth for the role? or someone better looking. Gustavo is not charming nor well humored. Disney did an amazing job on Cinderella, what happened to Beauty and the beast? I saw a beauty and the beast play at a local high school and it was ten times better than the film! Shame on Disney and a waste of money.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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