MOVIE REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast

Once upon a time, in 1991, a movie came out that enchanted the world. It was called Beauty and the Beast. It was adored by critics everywhere, and even became the first animated film ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture (it didn't win—but still!). Even today, some say it's the greatest animated film of all time.

If you haven't seen it, here's the trailer with a little taste of the original magic.

Also, you should probably see it. Just saying.

Staying true to the original

Belle (Emma Watson) turns down Gaston (Luke Evans) once again. They probably couldn't have recreated these characters any better if they tried! (© 2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Now, a live-action version of Beauty and the Beast is here. And we're so happy it is!

If you've seen the original animated movie, you'll notice all the basics of the plot are the same. An enchantress transforms an unkind prince into an ugly beast, and puts a spell on his castle and everyone who lives there (turning them into household objects). To break the spell, the prince must learn to love another, and earn that love back, before the last petal on a magic rose falls to the ground. Fast forward many years later, and when a young woman named Belle (who loves to read and wants adventure far away from her small French town) finds herself imprisoned by the Beast, the enchanted castle objects work together to make the couple fall in love and break the wicked spell.

The enchanted household objects include these guys! Meet the mantel clock Cogsworth, the teapot Mrs. Potts, Lumiere the candelabra, and the feather duster Plumette. (© 2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Fans of the original will also recognize the musical numbers. All the favourites, from "Belle" and "Gaston" to "Be Our Guest" and "Something There", are performed in all their wonderful glory. It truly is the music that makes this movie so special.

But better?

Part of the amazingly-talented cast pose together at the US premiere in LA. (2017 Getty Images)

Like most movie remakes, there are some additions to the plot, plus a few new musical numbers. Did we love every single one? Maybe not. But overall, they added to the story and helped us learn more about the characters we love. For example, we find out what happened to both Belle's and the Beast's mothers when they are young (you may want to grab the tissues for those parts).

We are also big fans of the cast. Emma Watson as Belle, Luke Evans as Gaston, and Josh Gad as Lefou, were personal favourites. But really, everyone was perfect. And we love that Disney made the classic fairy tale feel fresh and new, while still staying true to the big messages behind the original movie. Important life lessons like, dare to be different, true beauty comes from within, and love is stronger than hate.

Beauty and the Beast opens today!

Want to see this movie? You're in luck because it opens in theatres today, Friday, March 17.