Remaking a classic film near and dear to the hearts of countless is a tricky business, and it’s a business that Walt Disney Pictures has partaken in many times over the recent years.

Films such as Alice in Wonderland (2010) Maleficent (2014), Cinderella (2015), and The Jungle Book (2016) are live-action remakes that haven’t quite charmed audiences with the changes they’ve offered on the classic animated films they were based on, but have featured enough in the way of excellent production values and nostalgia to bring home box office gold.

With Beauty and the Beast, Disney opts for fan service instead. Rather than offer a new take, this live-action remake is incredibly faithful, for the most part being a pitch-perfect scene-by-scene reimagining of the animated film that happened to be the 1992 Academy Awards Best Picture nominee.

From the excellent performances to the sweeping music to the incredible CGI, Beauty and the Beast both enchants and thrills. I usually don’t like 3D effects but some of them are spectacular here, including a sequence where you feel a saucer is about to hit you right between the eyes. What’s more, it offers a stirring homage to the classic, with some iconic moments — such as Belle examining her love’s eyes to make sure it’s really him — recreated skilfully by director Bill Condon.

Beauty and the Beast is the best remake Disney has produced

The story is largely unchanged, with just a few additions that largely complement the film. When Beauty and the Beast begins, we are introduced to a cruel young prince (Dan Stevens) somewhere in France, enjoying an exorbitant debutante ball at his palace. Here, the party is interrupted by a misshapen beggar looking for some sympathy. Outraged at the interruption, the prince mocks the beggar, who in turn stuns everyone by transforming into a glowing enchantress. In order to teach him a lesson, she puts a spell on the young man, transforming him into a beast and those around him into household living objects.

Years later we meet Belle (Emma Watson), a young woman well ahead of her times. Belle loves to read in a period where educated women are severely frowned upon. Pining after her is the self-involved war hero, Gaston, who is hilariously played by Luke Evans in what is perfect casting. Here, Gaston is just as amusingly despicable as you remember him from the cartoon, doting after himself constantly. He has excellent chemistry with his sidekick LeFou (Josh Gad) who, unlike the cartoon, is actually quite clever here — well, at least more than Gaston, which admittedly isn’t a very high bar. But LeFou has some of the funniest lines in the film, taking aim at a friend who lacks any self-awareness whatsoever.

Aside from the characterisation of LeFou, the other major changes here are a few new musical numbers, and scenes that explore the childhoods of both of our heroes. This helps us understand why Beast was such a brat, and are a welcome addition.

Of course, the heart of the film is the thoroughly touching romance between Belle and the Beast, with only a few moments of excessive cheesiness. Where Beauty and the Beast falters a little is in its ending, concentrating so hard on the amusing fight sequences that it loses the impact of what was a powerful finale in the animated film.

Ultimately, Beauty and the Beast is the best remake Disney has produced so far, but it is still a remake. The first thing I did after returning from the cinema was watch the ending of the ’92 animation. While we may see another live-action remake a decade from now, only one will remain a timeless classic.

Rated PG for frightening images, peril and action violence

Published in Dawn, ICON, April 2nd, 2017