The tale as old as time is timeless, and so is its music. With the recent release of Disney’s smash success Beauty and the Beast, let’s unpack the music box that is the film’s soundtrack. With all of the original tunes from the 1991 film, as well as some new additions, this new version blends classic and contemporary almost seamlessly, with a few exceptions.

Here is my review of the soundtrack for the 2017 version of Beauty and the Beast.

After succeeding with Cinderella and hitting the jackpot with The Jungle Book, Disney’s live action lineup went with one it’s true classics. Back in 1991, Beauty and the Beast became the first animated film nominated for Best Picture, combining unbelievable new animation technology with maybe the greatest assortment of music and songs put to screen. The film won two Oscars, both for its music; Best Score and Best Original Song (Beauty and the Beast). It had 3 (!) song nominations. Disney’s new live action Beauty and the Beast is exactly what fans of the 1991 animated classic could hope for. The film directed by Bill Condon maintains all the magic and charm, while following very closely to the narrative of its Oscar winning forerunner.

It has been 26 years since Disney released their Oscar-winning animated hit Beauty and the Beast, and the film continues to resonate with its fans. These live-action remakes have given the studio the confidence it needs to open the vault and revisit which films deserve the same treatment. So it seems more than appropriate for Disney to release this new version with an all-star cast that includes of Emma Watson playing Belle.

The film has a special place in Watson’s heart as it not only inspired her to be an actress, but it has also shaped the person that she is today. We were invited to attend the film’s press conference along with our fellow journalists to talk to the actress about her approach to the role, accepting who you are, and discovering your place in the world as an outsider. Check out what she had to say and more below.

Disney adapting Beauty and the Beast from its animated format into live-action is a tall order considering the huge fan base the 1991 animated film has. But considering that Disney has found huge success in their live-action remakes, it comes as no surprise that the studio would give this one the same treatment. And like those previous films, they usually come with a huge ensemble. With Emma Watson and Dan Stevens playing the title characters, the film needed actors who could fill the roles of the massively muscular and massively egotistical Gaston and his adorably bumbling sidekick LeFou.

So Luke Evans and Josh Gad took on the roles, and did so beyond our expectations. The two have such great chemistry, and have a wonderful duet in the new rendition of “Gaston.” You can check out our video of the two singing the song alongside the film’s composer Alan Menken. Plus find out what they had to say during the film’s press junket about what it takes to be a villain and their experiences working with their horses.

Beauty and The Beast
Director: Bill Condon
Screenwriter: Stephen Chbosky, Evan Spiliotopoulos
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios
Rated PG | 129 Minutes
Release Date: March 17, 2017

Never let it be said that Walt Disney Studios does not put any effort into their live-action adaptations of their animated classics. It’s easy to assume that they are simply trying to milk a lucrative trend that they have created, especially with the success of films like Cinderella and The Jungle Book, and to a lesser extent Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland. So it only makes sense that Disney continue that tradition with a live-action adaptation of Beauty and The Beast. But unlike the aforementioned titles, Beauty and The Beast is so much closer to its animated counterpart that it feels like a rehash of it just with a few additional scenes for some extra exposition. Plus there are also some new songs from Alan Menken. So the film ends up being more like a musical than any of the other films that came before it.

The only problem is that it’s all those extra scenes act more like filler than actual exposition. All it really does is elongate the film to unnecessary lengths. But there is a very bright side to all of this. The new renditions of the songs are perfect, and even some of the new songs had me swooning for repeat listens. Check out my full review below.