This is a classic made even more so by this version. Emma Watson as Belle does well, and Dan Stevens as the beast, with his booming bass voice is stupendous. I don't like that they cut the songs of Gaston (Luke Evans) for the most part. Josh Gad played LeFou, and Kevin Kline plays Belle's father Maurice. Of the animated characters Ewan McGregor plays Lumiere, Ian McKellan portrays Cogsworth and Emma Thompson, Mrs. Potts. the part of the film that had me in tears was as Mrs. Potts sang the classic song "Beauty and the Beast." As the couple danced and Emma Thompson sang, it is one of those Disney moments to cherish. It seems there is at least one such moment in all the Disney musicals. Also of note is Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe. At the beginning of the movie, she intones a beautiful song. She is turned into the wardrobe. there are four original songs in the movie. Consequently the additional songs from the musical were left out. Alan Menken returned to write the additional music.
This is a must see. It seems they left out some of the Gaston stuff I would have liked to have seen. I think they didn't want his character to be lovable at all. In fact when he fell at the end of the movie, a child said "Ha ha" and people laughed. And yes, Emma Watson was beautiful as Belle. She had the touch of pizazz that this character needs.
