BEAUTY & THE BEAST Does the Animated Classic Justice

Director Bill Condon’s film – let’s call it “Beauty and the Beast 2.0” – often feels in search of a objective beyond the all-but-certain dollar signs. One day, while traveling home from a trip, Maurice, Belle’s father, takes a wrong turn and is imprisoned by the Beast for stealing a rose for his daughter. Kids will see a boorish aristocrat transform into a beast.

Disney made it clear that they consider removal of the scene to be unacceptable and have announced that they will not be showing a cut version in Malaysia, meaning that the release of the movie in the country has been indefinitely postponed. Whether a younger viewer could pick up on this in the film and if it’s something they should see will be up to the parent’s discretion. A spoiled prince (Stevens, allowed for a minute to show his Downton Abbey handsomeness) gets zapped into a beast for being an arrogant prick; his curse can only be lifted if the egomaniac learns to love and be loved in return. My [6-year-old] twins are the same.

For some watchers, these glamorous updates may spoil what was once an elegant, refined classic and the story may seem too close to the original. Even big names Ian McKellen (Cogsworth), Emma Thompson (Mrs Potts) and Ewan McGregor (Lumière) can’t quite humanise the objects they play. They would request that I would put them in and freak their friends out.

At first, yes, absolutely. I’m proud and psyched to be associated with a movie that celebrates diversity and celebrates love in all its forms to reflect the world we live in today. It was such an iconic moment, still is and will be for the rest of my life.

And yet, Watson’s salary for “Beauty and the Beast” can’t hold a candle ―Lumière or otherwise ― to the $60 million she reportedly earned over eight “Harry Potter” films. I felt this way when I saw the live-action version of Cinderella a few years ago.

As I briefly mentioned, Beast’s conflicted motivations were handled really nicely with this remake.

I could have carried in a couple two-by-fours, I guess, but for the most part, I was in a T-shirt and jeans, which was great.

Take us back to the mindset you were in when you recorded the original song, compared to now. Through nostalgic costuming, cutting-edge special effects and inspired musical direction, “Beauty and the Beast” truly is a story that lasts a lifetime. There are also several new songs as well. Life changes-you grow, you get older, you get more mature. Mind you, much is the same.

In the song “Belle Reprise”, we see Belle taking a tour of the village, talking about how fervently she wishes she could visit the world that lies outside it. What’s your favorite ride?

You can ask any Tom, Dick or Stanley – Gaston is one of the highlights from the animation.