Disney's Remake of Beauty and the Beast

Love the video, the sorely needed input on Disney live-action work, and the "thanks I hate it" format. Great work.

EFF.ORG

Silly question: what was the font you used at 0:37 with the long t crossbars and y extenders?

Cormac Mor

I hear a lot of these remakes are designed for the Chinese and Russian markets, since they didn't have the opportunity to see these in the theatre, but they'll be DAMNED if they don't see it in full HD!! <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/08/23/why-film-studios-really-like-movie-remakes/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.d42fa47e29e2" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/08/23/why-film-studios-really-like-movie-remakes/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.d42fa47e29e2</a>

Derrick Jones

I like how, even when you're really down on the thing you're reviewing, your video essays aren't a negativity fest. You're not inviting us to revel in how bad the movie is just to guffaw--it's actually really obvious you had an emotional stake in the film &amp; wanted it to be better. It's just really nice and I wish more internet critics looked at movies the way you do.

A disappointing videos, too much like the old NC ones. You have the producer looking at the camera, having performative anger about how she hates the movie and how it hurts her. The objections about the movie are brought to the extreme and they seem more personal than analytical. Even worse, Lindsay makes some mistakes and misunderstandings about the movie, which is something she usually doesn’t. It’s a pity, because I agree on the basic fault of the movie, explaining too much the alleged plot-holes. I am sure the next video analysis will be a return to form.

Ettore

Congrats for once again being feature by avclub.com! They say your videos are "killin it" and I could not agree more.

Scott Greene

Now that you got audible as a sponsor, when are you going to get the Cheesecake Factory as a sponsor?

Adequately Sized Dog

Great video!

DaNerdJones

TWO VIDEOS IN A MONTH!

Josh Clark

Thanks, I love it

I hate it

Lurve this. Also, you got a corporate sponsor! Congrats!

Bin Lee

I gotta ask... what did you think of the Cinderella live action? I’ve heard good things; my older sister loved it, to her complete and total surprise.

Elizabeth M Hyde

Yay I love Lindsay hating stuff. That makes good videos. Also I literally lol-ed at the trolley problem stuff. Thanks!

Tamar Kalir

I remember seeing this in theaters. it was SOLD OUT. and while everyone "enjoyed" it, i was just sitting there waiting for either Belle or Beast to say the name "Martha" once we learned they both had dead moms.

Peter McDevitt

Belle's invention subplot that goes nowhere was a request from Emma Watson, herself. They weren't going make her father an inventor like in the animated, so she asked if they could make that Belle's thing instead. Apparently, the writers thought it was a good idea, but not good enough that they would bother to explore it further than throwing in a couple scenes and going "Hey, Look!"

Otherwise yeah making me see it in a new way as usual. :)

Alex Wright

In the spirit of nitpicking, I think you said the original DVD release of Beauty &amp; the Beast was in 1991, just in case you have time to dub or put a subtitle over that part. Edit: Oh I see that was mentioned above.

Alex Wright

Sooooo good. As always.

Lisa Medin

That about covers all our complaints with it as well! My only real bit of feedback is that considering Disney doesn’t have anything close to actual trans characters, I think showing Terk for that joke wasn’t really appropriate. It kind of perpetuates some harmful ideas, especially the very common one that trans=drag. A group shot of Gay Days or a stock photo might've been safer. I know it was in jest, but it came across as more flippant than I think you intended. No need for an apology, maybe just something to keep in mind next time.

The Princess and the Scrivener

Loved the video. As always you rock and I hope you write a book someday! You give me hope for the future of film criticism as both entertainment and as an artform.

Andrew Lewis

Awesome video!! Just wanted to mention one little that wasn't really mentioned..this movie was ugly. Very ugly &amp; everything looked dark &amp; busy. I noticed this with the other live action versions too, there is something missing in translation where for despite throwing more money at these films, they feel empty &amp; have less visual impact than their animated originals (at least for me). thanks for all the lovely work you do!!!!

Arrogant cum trucks

Isn't it supposed to be set in the mid-18th century? Definitely Ancien Régime, since the Beast is an actual ruler. I'm no expert, but the furniture looks like Louis XV to me.

Dag-Erling Smørgrav

Love the essay Lindsay. This movie always bothered me, but I could never articulate the reasons why. I always end up getting frustrated with people that think it's the greatest thing ever. I think you pretty much nailed all my reasons for disliking it. Question about those post credit ads. Are you giving plugs to people or just getting sponsors now. I'm not going to drop my patronage as a result of this (you have every right to seek additional financial support - I don't know your personal situation), but I am curious.

Cosmic Frog

I'm not sure if Lindsay reads these comments before posting to Youtube, but at 8:15, "Positivity" is misspelled "Positivty".

SEAN BADGER

The American Dad! episode "Minstrel Krampus" did a much better job in remaking Beauty and the Beast than this drivel. Krampus is a huge jerk at first, his animate object servants are charming, he and Steve bond over a musical number, and his death brings Steve to tears.

Thank you so much for this! Oh my goodness I've been trying to explain to my family why I really don't like this movie and now I'm just going to send them your video.

Reo Scrolls

Really loved this video! And, very few people mention how (sadly) influential Neil Strauss's book, "The Game" actually is. That book presents the most toxic version of masculinity as the only possible choice for straight men, and because that vision has been accepted we get a beast with no "best self." Hell, there's an entire franchise dedicated to popularizing Neil Strauss's vision of masculinity. Hmm...I think somebody did a whole series of videos touching on that topic :-)

Eric Mulder

I guess I made the right decision to not watch it

Will Park

Thanks you for this. My 90s and early 00s nostalgia was so triggered with the opening clips.

Cal O'Boyle

Paige O Hara was at Supercon and a lot of people asked her on her thoughts on the remake. I think she is obligated by Disney to say she liked it but subtly added her real thoughts and I quote, "I think the first one is more magical" .

YAAAAAAAAAY!! I'm so glad you finally tackled this (though I am sorry you had to watch this abomination so many times.) My friends and family know that I am a massive BatB fan so when the 2017 remarke came out, they would all run up to me with these eager, overexcited faces and be like "WELL??? ISN"T IT AMAZING?? DIDN'T YOU LOVE IT??? WASN'T IT SOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER?" and be absolutely astounded by my intense loathing for it. lol. Love your work so much!

Cavedaddy killed me, I'm dead now.

God I freaking hated this movie. I haven't really been a fan of any of this wave of live-action Disney remakes, but I didn't think any of them were *bad.* This one was, though. The moment that broke me was the freaking library scene. They took one of the strongest character-growth moments from the original and twisted and contorted it into an act of insult on Belle's taste in literature. I had seen a lot of negative criticism before watching this movie, but I really tried to give it the benefit of the doubt. I desperately wanted to enjoy this movie. But once the library scene happened, that was the point when the movie became irredeemable.

Eric Lundquist

The problem is that he also condemns all the other inhabitants of the castle to death. It becomes a trolley problem because now the curse not only transformed them, but also kills them when the time is up

There's an actually good remake hiding inside this movie somewhere, which is to say I kind of enjoyed the hell out of it but it is flawwwwwwwwwed.

THANK YOU for pointing out the fact that this movie leans REALLY DARN HARD into placing it into a specific time in France. I really honestly think a big strength of the animated films is that they AREN'T set in particular clearly identifiable time periods, because I studied history and to be completely honest, it really just pulls me out of the fantasy because I know shit about it. Specifically, the choice to do the powdered wigs and the big skirts and the little napoleonic schoolboys kinda drove me crazy, because that preeeeetty much implies this takes place just prior to or just post Napoleon (esp because there's paired dancing which wasn't really popularized until then)....and then there's that damn plague doctor mask and the black boils. Like, I don't want to give a shit about historical accuracy in this movie but like you were clearly aiming for a time period there and then just didn't bother to google when the black plague was actually in paris? all the historical detail does is make the baffling choices of this movie worse.

Your objection to the change to letting Belle go sort of... makes it sound more appealing? It's not a trolley problem, it's him giving up on Belle and accepting death, justified as altruism. That's kind of deliciously fucked-up, although if the movie still thinks that's him being genuinely good-hearted that's a problem.

Matt Cramp

Obligatory 'hah you said dvd release in 1991', but otherwise "Thanks, I love it!"

I thought there was a lot of chemistry between Belle and the Beast in the scene where the Beast says "Save Martha." It worked for me.

Huh... I had no clue Aida was a Disney musical. But hey I saw it in high school and the soundtrack is actually pretty dope, aside from a few songs being Tim Rice writing from the perspective of an enslaved African people. Elton John did a bang up job though.

thefifthmatt

Hoping this comes across as a positive question, but does the Audible plug at the end indicate you getting more opportunities to grow an even wider audience? Cos yay/well done if that’s the case!

David Loring

Ah yes, let me just soak in this actual critical discussion of this film. yeeeeeessss

Tennelle Flowers

*points to the actual deleted scene where Stephen Merchant plays a toilet....yes I have the deluxe edition* toiletdaddy

OMG This just made my week!! Btw, where can I find that remix from the credits? I need to torture my friends with it! &gt;:D

I love these graphics and feel so validated by the use of dogespeak so this was pretty much perfect

Adelaide Ivy

that was all Angelina

Lindsay Ellis

YESZZS been waiting for this

Heartlessfang

Great video. Also: How do you manage to find all these awful techno remixes of Disney songs?

Mar MB

the accurate phrase would be "original dvd release from 2002" but I figured that would be even more confusing - the commentary is from 2002, the movie is from 1991

Lindsay Ellis

Thanks! I love it!

The original Disney movie or the original story?

Callen

It was one of the most financially successful movies ever made, and I never had any interest in seeing it at all. Now I feel like I have to before watching your video.

Jeff

God damn it, the one time I check an email notification in bed, it turns out to be a half hour of you ripping into one of my favorite hot garbage piles. FINE. Who even sleeps anymore anyway

Adelaide Ivy

Nitpicky flub at 10:00 or so where Lindsay says "original dvd release in 1991" referring to the dvd commentary. Not sure if worth fixing, but felt I'd be remiss not to mention it. sorrynotsorry. Awesome so far

Heyooo. This movie was hot garbage. I was actually astonished by how bad it was.

William Gross

OH BOY

Ezra Curry

I was just about to go to bed.... I mean like getting up out of the chair going to bed. I have no will power in certain regards.

De

THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE IM HYPERVENTILATING RIGHT NOW

Maeghan

IT'S FINALLY HERE