100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 74: La Belle et la Bête

Director: Christophe Gans

Genre: Romance/ Drama/ Fantasy

Runtime: 108 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Vincent Cassel, Léa Seydoux, André Dussollier, Eduardo Noriega, Myriam Charleins, Audrey Lamy, Sara Giraudeau, Jonathan Demurger, Nicolas Gob, Louka Meliava, Yvonne Catterfeld, Dejan Bucin, Wolfgang Menardi, Mickey Hardt, Arthur Doppler, Elisabeth Bogdan, Marie Gruber, Gotthard Lange, Max Volkert Martens, Richard Sammel, Nora Huetz

Description: An unexpected romance blooms after the youngest daughter (Léa Seydoux) of a merchant who has fallen on hard times offers herself to the mysterious beast (Vincent Cassel) to which her father has become indebted.

Review: Fairytales are hip today. Hollywood has done different fairytales, with twists, like “Snow White and the Huntsman”, “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” and “Red Riding Hood”. The TV show “Once Upon a Time” also shows the popularity of fairytales. French director Christophe Gans decided to make a live action version of “Beauty and the Beast”.

France in the 19th century: a merchant lives in a little town with his six children. They have money trouble. When the father decides to pick a rose for his youngest daughter Belle, he makes a big mistake. The flower belongs to a mysterious Beast. This Beast wants to kill the man. In exchange for his freedom, Belle takes his place. Along the way, Belle learns more about the Beast’s mysterious past.

The movie is visual and has many colorful and dreamy scenes. The décor is beautiful. The CGO is sometimes not that great, but manages to convince most of the time. The action scenes are spectacular. Director Gans managed to create a fairytale like atmosphere. Every shot looks like a painting.

With that Léa Seygoux and Vincent Cassel are excellent leads. Seydoux is very strong as Belle, she knows what she wants and is a strong female lead. Cassel portrays the Beast with mystery and a bit of curiosity. The supporting cast is not that important and pretty forgettable. The focus is on Belle and the Beast and the love developing between them.

The movie is dark, but never scary. It has fantasy elements and is sometimes unpredictable even though everyone knows the story. People who like fantasy and adventure, will like this movie.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

DVD Collection Update (20)

Another update, some really cool movies and series to add to my collection. Here they are!

Off course I had to get "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1". I can't wait for the final movie. This movie I really liked, but I think the bigger audience will appreciate it more when the last chapter comes out.

This season was the final chapter of the series. I really hated "Sons of Anarchy" ending, but it was time. I think that it had to end. Lots of people died in this last season, some characters we really come to love over the years.

"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" was really criticized, but I don't understand. It was a good movie. Okay, it was the least one in the series, but it was very enjoyable and beautifully made! Screw those people, I love it.

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" was on of my favorite 2014 movies. This is just awesome, so it had to be in my collection!

Oh how I love "Intouchables". Such a beautiful movie, it makes me happy!

"Cloud Atlas" was a pretty confusing movie, so time to rewatch it. And I also bought it because I can add another Tom Hanks movie to my collection.

"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is also favorite of 2014. I slightly prefered it too the first movie. It just shows how amazing this superhero is, he is actually my favorite superhero. And Chris Evans is just amazing as Cap.

Haven't seen "Chef" yet, but I already know I'm going to love this film. I just love these tyes of movies. And it has a great cast. And I love food.

"Whiplash" is a movie I had to have in my collection. When I first saw it, I wanted to get up in cheer, that's how good it was!

 

I'm a big fan of the Disney cartoon "Beauty and the Beast" and I can't wait to see the live action version it. Untill then I have to do it with the French "La Belle et La Bête". I haven't seen it yet, but it looks like a darker version of the fairytale.