Tale as Old as Time. a Quick Review of The Live Action Beauty and the Beast.

I don't claim to be much of a movie expert.  I have a degree in theatre, but that's about it.  I know what I like about movies and what I how I want them effect me, and I cannot claim that the things that move my emotions will move everyone the same way.  We are all individuals and our past perceptions will affect how we see the world.  Now, All that being said, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about Beauty and the Beast.

I was not a child when I saw the animated version of the film. I was a full grown adult and had kids of my own when the animated version debuted 1991. The animated Beauty and the Beast came out during what I consider the  second Golden Age of Disney film making.  This delightful movie came out during the same era as the Little Mermaid, The Lion king and Aladdin. All of these films are, in my eyes, some of the best animation available.  So, it was with a great deal of enthusiasm and no little trepidation came over me when I heard that Disney was making a live action version of this classic tale.  When the movie came out the reviews were good, but not spectacular like I had expected.  Instead of having my expectations ruined by a sub par movie. I chose to wait until we could get the movie from our local Library.  (My wife is the Tech Team Leader there and we get the Blu-rays very soon after they come out).  While I'm sure most of you have already seen the live action Beauty and the Beast, I saw the movie last night.

I will start by saying that I entered into my viewing experience with a much more open mind having had a few more months to consider the movie.  I did my best to try to accept the move for what it was and not  prejudge it Agaist the animated version.  This was an almost impossible tasks.  Yet, within minutes of starting the film, I was feeling the same emotions I felt with the animated film.  The Beasts back story was better in the live action film and to my pleasant surprise Emma Watson can sing.  I teared up with the first notes of Bon Jour and almost sang out loud the words to Be Our Guest both beautifully rendered by the Live Action Cast.  The new songs were also delightful making the music one of the Highlights of the movie.

I was also very fond of how beautiful everything in the move was.  The sets were spectacular and perfectly provided a place and time for the magic of the movie.  The CG characters were wonderful. Cogsworth and Lumiere were gorgeous and I was especially taken with the interplay between Lumiere and his Feather duster.  It was wonderful stuff. All the occupents of the castle where wonderfully rendered and fit in with the story.  They all looked like the belonged in the world that the director was creating for us.

I don't know if anyone noticed but The Beast and Belles lives where very much in parallel.  Both lost their mothers at an early age, and both were products of their surviving parents. Belle was compassionate and Inquisitive like her father.  The Beast was arrogant and quick to anger like his father.  I love that the live action movie spent time talking about the influence of the Beasts mother and how she had sewn the seeds of goodness in the beasts heart. Even though the Beast only spent a few years with his mother, I believe she was mostly responsible for the Beast finding love and compassion enough to let Belle go back to his father.  Speaking of Belles Father, My son said, and I might have to agree with him, that Keven Kline was too good for this movie.  I thought he played belles father perfectly.

I did have a minor issue with the film.  The Black Death was during 14th Century.  Shakespeare wrote his stuff in the 17th century.  Belle's Mother died of the Plague and later Belle and the beast both quote Romeo and Juliette. Hmmmm.  Oh well, its a minor thing and that I can forgive.

At the end of the day, I don't think live action movie was quite as good as the animated movie.  I freely admit that I could be a little prejudiced against the live action move from the outset. But I still enjoyed it.  I felt in many ways the live action movie explored the characters to greater depth.  The animated Beauty and the Beast was such a wonderful magical surprise that the Live action movie couldn't compete against.  If you haven't seen it. Get the blu ray however you can.  Buy it. Rent it or borrow it from your local library.  It is well worth seeing.

Answering the Eternal Question - Why Do I Go?

Me at EPCOT in May.

I've been back to Disney World Many times.  I never miss a chance to go to Disney World anytime I'm in Central Florida or to Disneyland when I'm near Los Angeles.  I think of Disney Vacations past and future all the time.  Sometimes I wonder if I'm obsessed or weird or just plane crazy in a small way. Perhaps its all of these things. I can never be quite sure of why I am so attracted to Walt Disney World.  My family enjoys Walt Disney World so, for the most part, they are tolerant of my obsession. But even so, while most dream of cars and homes and retirement if they were to win the lottery, I dream of finding ways to go more often to the most magical place on earth.  We spend a lot of Money and time on my obsession and while I intellectually won't allow it to damage our financial situation, nor will I allow it to prevent me from going on other vacations, one of the motivations behind going somewhere other than Disney World on vacation or preventing financial ruin by constant visits to WDW is the hope that sometime in the near future, I can connive my way back to Disney World.

Obligatory "Welcome to the World" Picture

But, why do I always want to go back so much?  What attracts me time and time again to Disney world.  What makes this place better than any of the other wonderful places I have been lucky enough to visit.   My career has taken me over much of North and South America.  I have visited Istanbul and loved it.  I plan on going to Europe next spring on a true once in a lifetime adventure through the Mediterranean sea.  I really can't wait to go.  But in spite of my self, I still mourned the death of my planned solo trip to Walt Disney World for Christmas this year.  How can this be?  What is it that drives me to such thoughts.

Superficially, I can make a long list of reasons why I love Disney World.  The attractions are so much fun.  The food is really great.  The immersive experience is incredible.  In what might be a bit less superficial, the cast members always do their best to make visitors feel the magic of Walt Disney World.  One time, without us asking, a cast member spend an hour trying to get us a better rate on our room.  Other members cast as servers make the theme of restaurants come to life. Yeah, the mechanics, technology and logistics of Disney World are amazing.  The shows and spectaculars are awesome. But, without the people that work there, Disney World would not be the place it is.  It would be Diminished and not as much fun.

Epcot Spaceship Earth

The rides and the restaurants and the hotels are just a part of what keeps me coming back again and again.  What makes me spend the money and makes me return to Walt Disney theme parks whenever I can resides deeper in what the parks do for me.  I can leave this world of stress and pressure and enter the timeless world that Walt created beginning in Disneyland.  I go because I don't have to be as much of an adult.  In Disney World I can take a break from my Job and embrace feelings and emotions that watching the fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom draw from me.  I can, for a short time be a Pirate on the Caribbean or Fly over London like Peter Pan.  I can soar over the World and see and smell many of the amazing places that I might never get to visit.  I can test a race car of my own design.  Wonders, to many to count, make me long for my next visit and new wonders to be experienced keep me motivated to come back again and again.  I can't wait to see Pandora. The new Star Wars land and Toy Story land really need me to come down to Florida and test the attractions before they open. I am just waiting for the invitation.  Am I a bit jealous of the people that live down in Florida, that have annual passes and go to Walt Disney World  all the time?  Yeah, I'm a little jealous of them.  I am, however grateful for the posts that people like Mark, Ronnie, Arthur, Randy and other annual pass holders put on Facebook. The posts take me to the World for a brief time.   Many vloggers help let me escape to Walt Disney World for 10 minutes through their eyes of their cameras.  I am grateful for the books, like Bill's "Mouse Junkies" that allow me to read and plan and find the best way to spend my precious Disney time.  These guys and gals keep me sane or, at the very least, help me control my special kind of insanity.

The Spire at Hollywood Studios

So what does all of this mean?  I'm not sure I know really.  I'm not entirely sure I want to know exactly what keeps me coming to Disney.  I've loved Disney since My parents dropped me off at the local Theater to watch Snow White. I have said in past blogs that Disney World keeps me young, allowing the 10 year boy in the 58 year old man to go outside and play.  That, while important, is only a part of why I go.  I was raised on Disney.  I fed my kids imagination on Disney. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that I have a love for Disney and his parks. I know for sure that I am not the only one.