This Friday will see the release of Disney's live-action adaptation of the 1991 Best Picture nominee 'Beauty & The Beast'. The original animated film is my favorite of the Disney library and I can not tell you how excited I am for this new adaptation and what they'll do. I wanted to take this time to show off the many adaptations that the French fairy tale has gotten in film over the many years. It is a 'tale as old as time' after all, so of course there would be a lot of films based upon the story. Here are the most well known and some of my personal recommendations.
La Belle Et La Bete (1946)
Our Score: (A+)
Tomatometer Score: (95%)
One of the earliest adaptations and also one of the most stylish, the black and white French language film from 1946 gets the Gothic visuals down but even at its age, it holds up for most modern audiences as long as you don't mind subtitles. Check it out when you get a chance, particularly the Criterion release.
La Bete (1975)
Our Score: (C-)
Tomatometer Score: (60%)
Now this one is not for the kids, trust me on that. Only loosely based on the story, this 1975 pornographic film takes the film into a very twisted bestiality angle with extremely graphic sexual content and it's far too focused on being artsy rather than making a film that people would want to watch let alone follow the plot. Unless you like bestiality, stay away.
Beauty & The Beast (1986) (Television)
Our Score: (B)
No Tomatometer Score
A fantasy drama series starring Linda Hamilton (Terminator 2) and again only vaguely based upon the story telling the story of Hamilton as a lawyer who meets the mysterious Vincent and from there it's usual dark romance novel material. The series has become a cult hit, with some great visuals, music, and for late 80's television some fairly good performances. Strangely, the show has a 'Phantom of the Opera' feel going on which gives it a plus in my book. Check it out if you're interested, it's pretty good.
Beauty & The Beast (1991)
Our Score: (A+)
Tomatometer Score: 93%
This is the best adaptation yet, with some of my earliest memories being both scared and charmed by everything happening on the screen. It's such a beautifully animated film that holds up today and remains one of the biggest highlights of the Disney Renaissance. I'm sure you've heard of this adaptation right?
BEASTLY (2010)
Our Score: (F)
Tomatometer Score: 21%
A good example of 'missing the point', 'Beastly' takes the tale and renders its message and stronger materials completely useless. Alex Pettyfer's character is still just an underwear model underneath all that makeup. He hardly looks bad enough for anyone to think of him as a beast or even that ugly. He looks like a roadie at a Marylin Manson concert. The way to show he has beauty on the inside is to barely try and give him beauty on the outside. I'm sure the film's source novel adapts the tale better, but man this film pisses me off.
Beauty & The Beast (2012) (Television)
Our Score: (F)
No Tomatometer Score
This adaptation is even more infuriating folks. Look at this man above and tell me how that man is a 'Beast'? The eyes? Is it that one scar? Ooooh, he's so ugly no one would ever love him! On top of the fact that the series rips off another piece of shit called MTV's 'Teen Wolf' and you have a big shit sandwich no one should have to take a bite of.
Beauty & The Beast (2016)
Our Score: N/A
Tomatometer Score: 37%
Christophe Gans is a talented director, but it seems over the years he's had a lot of misses in his filmography. I think it's strange when a director such as Gans gets negative reactions when he focuses primarily on the visuals but not a director such as Tim Burton, which is all he does (sorry folks, but it's the truth). Anyway, I haven't seen his newest film but it is now available from Shout! Factory and from what I've seen it looks fairly decent. The reviews seem mixed, but I do like the direction it seems to go in.
Be sure to check out 'Beauty & The Beast' this Friday, March 17th in theaters everywhere.
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