Change Back!

[kiffie]

I just watched the Hallmark "Beauty and the Beast," courtesy of the Tube of You.

It was a wonderfully-made film, and I'm surprised I'd never managed to see it before now. It's one of the few that managed to both stick to the plot of the original tale and give a good, engaging story. Still, at the end, we come to that common problem -- the Beast is dying, Belle offers him her love, and then...

Change back.

Seriously.

Eugh.

Why is the Prince always so... *makes hand motions* ...yech? And it's not like there was even much of a costume change, here, only the removal of a mask and some gloves. But there was a huge change in his demeanor, speech pattern, and carriage. And not in a good way. It all suddenly became very, very offputting and, even, outright unappealing.

Humph.

I could do without the tusks, pal, but I'd like the polite, gentle woobie back, if you don't mind.

Comments

[lilblueunicorn.livejournal.com]

You know... this makes me want to do a version of Beauty and the Beast that makes Beast LOOK RIGHT after his transformation!! Lordy!!!

(Also, link me? I want to see fail!transformation!)

-§parky

[kiffie.livejournal.com]

Part one is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_7Q97BcapM

Or skip ahead to the end of the last part:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mE2pFhriWs

[lilblueunicorn.livejournal.com]

OH GOD SAVE ME FROM SCARY SOAP OPERA CHARACTERS!!!!!!

Baaaaaaaad 70's soaps.

BAD 70'S SOAPS.

I'm disturbed by this... I don't know which form is WORSE. I mean, the Beast is ugly and hognosed and ick, but the guy underneath is like... Benjamin Franklin after a few rounds of scotch. O_o Dear GOD. DX

-§parky

[kiffie.livejournal.com]

Mind, he's not a prince, but a king, so he'd have to be old enough to have ruled sufficiently-long to have pissed off a sorceress/fairy/what-have-you by his crappy decisions. So.

I actually like the boar-face, design-wise. The makeup isn't overdone, nor is it so simple as to be corny. And, I think, it's an interesting change from the more common lion.

[cyloran.livejournal.com]

SOOOO much better if the man remained the beast.

Fortunately, some book versions of the tale spare the audience from such jarring transformations, because it leaves so much to the imagination. Robin McKinley's "Beauty," for instance, is may absolute favorite retelling of the tale (that isn't visual).

[kiffie.livejournal.com]

Robin McKinley's "Beauty," for instance, is may absolute favorite retelling of the tale (that isn't visual).

Having only read "Beast," by Donna Jo Napoli, as far as modern interpretations go, I am intrigued! Do tell. :3

[ja-bucc.livejournal.com]

Er... yeah... he's kinda....

And her face when he does his little speech about "a beautiful woman consenting to marry him" is all "Um, no, I don't remember consenting to marry *you*...." and then I love her reply, "There is a difference between what I like and what is true...."

That whole scene doesn't strike me as very romantic. :P

[kiffie.livejournal.com]

It was certainly not a happy ending.

I fairly cringed when she got uneasy, and it didn't get any better. But, I suppose, they did intend it that way.

None the less, the rest of the movie is pleasant, if low-budget, and a nice testament to good cinematography and good acting making a movie. It's certainly more engaging than most of the other made-for-tv versions I've seen.