#Fairy tail virtual piano movie#

Best known as Matthew Crawley in PBS’ “Downton Abbey,” Stevens uses motion-capture technology to show actual facial expressions beneath his furry CGI exterior, which comes complete with horns, claws and teeth. Not to worry, the autotune Belle isn’t too distracting, thanks in part to Watson’s genuine chemistry with The Beast, played impressively by Dan Stevens, who can really belt to the rafters. Like the sage advice goes: Don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Unless, of course, you’re Paige O’Hara, whose voice was pitch-perfect as Belle in 1991 (Check out our chat with O’Hara here).

Did the filmmakers try a little “Disney magic” with digital enhancements? It sounds even more odd after the other Emma - Emma Stone - sang with a raw vulnerability in “La La Land” and was rewarded with a Best Actress Oscar just weeks ago. However, Watson’s singing voice sounds a little too perfect, boasting an artificial, autotune sheen that sounds noticeably different from the rest of the cast.

As Belle, she looks the part and acts it quite well, mining father-daughter emotion with the stellar Kevin Kline. Emma Watson is a no-brainer for this demographic, earning a special affection with audiences after watching her grow up before our eyes as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” series. In 2017, the story means new things to new people, so it’s time for a new generation to explore it. In truth, the fairy tale is old as time - or at least 1740 when it was first published by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. If you’re a Disney purist who opposes such amendments, try to remember that the 1991 version was itself a remake of Jean Cocteau’s French film masterpiece “Beauty and the Beast” (1946), which turned teardrops into diamonds and Gaston into a Beast. It’s smart enough to never stray too far from our beloved elements, while taking occasional risks to provide “something there that wasn’t there before.” For instance, it answers a question that’s plagued fans for years: How did Belle become an only child living with her father? While it’s impossible to match the 1991 animated classic, this loving live-action tribute at least does the film justice. Can Belle and the Beast fall in love in time to break the spell before the last petal falls? Dodging the unwanted advances of the town brute Gaston (Luke Evans), Belle escapes her provincial life in a Gothic castle, where she selflessly swaps places with her father to become captive to a gruff Beast (Dan Stevens).Īs we all know, the Beast was once a handsome prince before a secret enchantress punished him for his vanity, cursing him to remain transformed - along with his house servants - until he can achieve true love. Once again, we meet Belle (Emma Watson), a book-loving dreamer living with her father Maurice (Kevin Kline) in the French countryside (“Little town, it’s a quiet village”).

#Fairy tail virtual piano movie#

Now, Disney attempts its toughest task yet by reviving the greatest animated musical ever created: “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), the Golden Globe winner for Best Picture: Comedy/Musical and the only animated movie ever nominated for a Best Picture Oscar in an elite field of just five nominees.

Instead, the annual spring rollout has become one of the most pleasantly reliable trends out of Hollywood, from Angelina Jolie in Robert Stromberg’s “Maleficent” (2014) to Cate Blanchett in Kenneth Branagh’s “Cinderella” (2015) to Idris Elba in Jon Favreau’s “The Jungle Book” (2016). WASHINGTON - When Disney first announced the plan to remake its animated classics as live-action flicks, many folks were initially (understandably) skeptical. Septem| WTOP's Jason Fraley reviews the live-action 'Beauty & The Beast' ( Jason Fraley) Business & Finance Click to expand menu.