(B)adaptations Script - Beauty and the Beast 1991 vs 2017
Koby Han & Vinathi Prasad
VINATHI
For many millennials around the world, watching Disney films like The Lion King and Aladdin are cherished memories that had a profound impact on our lives as we grew up. These films were released during Disney’s “Renaissance” period, which began with the release of The Little Mermaid in 1989 and ended after the release of Tarzan in 1999.
KOBY
This is largely considered the era in which the best Disney animated films were released, so it makes sense that lately, Disney has begun producing live-action remakes of the same films, intended for the now grown children-at-heart who enjoyed the originals decades ago. The latest of these live-action remakes was this Spring’s Beauty and the Beast, based on the 1991 original, which was the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. When I first watched the original Beauty and the Beast as a young boy, I perceived it to be “girly” (quotation gesture) and did not pay much attention. However, having rewatched the film as a college junior, I then realized how craftful and soulful the movie actually is.
VINATHI
On this episode of (B)adaptations, we’ll be talking about Beauty and the Beast, specifically the 1991 original Disney film, and it’s 2017 live-action adaptation.
[THEME SONG]
VINATHI
It seems there were few aspects of the original that were left unchanged. Although the costumes and settings were designed to look similar to the original, they did get a few updates. For example, Belle ditched the off-shoulder straps in her iconic yellow ball-gown, and went for a cap-sleeved look instead. We still hear the original songs in the remake, with the addition of three new songs, including Evermore, the Beast’s solo. Some of the memorable shots of the original film were replicated in the remake as well, but besides those few details, the filmmakers of the remake decided to take many creative liberties.
KOBY
In general, the 2017 remake tried fill a lot of the plot holes that the 1991 original left unanswered. For example, because of the remake, we now know what happened to Belle’s mom. As it turns out, Belle lived during the time the Black Plague struck Europe, and her mother was one of the victims. Maurice fled Paris with infant Belle in order to keep her safe, but he had to leave his dying wife behind. That’s how they ended up in the “provincial town” Belle comes to despise. We learn this because the Beast’s mirror also has teleportation and time travel powers, which is another change the filmmakers of the remake made.
VINATHI
Another question the remake answered was why nobody in the town remembered they had a Prince, and why nobody remembered the workers inside the castle either. The enchantress’s spell erased those affected from the minds of the people who knew them before. At the end of the remake, we get a heartwarming reunion scene after the spell is broken, and the villagers who previously sought to kill the enchanted houseware remembered that they were actually friends and family.
KOBY
In the remake, we saw changes to the characters as well. There was the addition of the character Cadenza, played by Stanley Tucci, who was in a relationship with Madame Garderobe.
VINATHI
They also changed smaller aspects of the original characters to affect the story in the remake. For example, In the original, Maurice was the inventor, and Belle just supported his pursuits. In the remake, Belle’s an inventor, and Maurice is a painter.
KOBY
In the original, we only knew that Gaston was a huge jerk, but thanks to the remake, we get a little backstory, revealing that he actually fought in some unnamed war.
VINATHI
In the original, Belle is more accepting of the prisoner situation she got herself into, whereas in the remake, she plots escape attempts.
KOBY
In the original, we don’t know anything about who the Prince was before he became the Beast, other than the fact that he was vain. In the remake, we learn about the Beast’s daddy issues.
VINATHI
In the original, LeFou blindly supports Gaston, doing whatever he wants, but in the remake, he ends up one of the good guys by betraying Gaston when he realizes how dangerous and flawed he is.
KOBY
You get the idea.
VINATHI
However, what is probably the most significant change, which caused some controversy before the remake’s release, was that LeFou, played by Josh Gad, would be gay. The announcement of this change led to some public backlash amongst some conservatives, who claimed they would boycott the film. However, upon seeing the film, I noticed they didn’t draw any attention to it. If somebody saw the film without hearing about the filmmaker’s intentions, I don’t think it would be obvious to them that LeFou was gay. It seems to me like they just made that claim to get some buzz in the media, and claim inclusivity without putting in the full effort to truly be inclusive.
KOBY
Finally, the remake changed the ending of the original. Whereas at first, Belle managed to declare her love for the Beast just before the last rose petal fell, in the remake, she declared her love too late, and the curse started to become permanent. However, the enchantress came back, and seeing Belle’s love for the Beast, she decided to reverse the curse herself, giving us the happy ending we all wanted. I actually do have a question about the movies Vinathi.
VINATHI
Yeah what about it?
KOBY
After all these talks about the difference between the original and live-action, I feel like the 2017 live-action movie was actually trying to answer the missing plots and the unexplained portions in the original
movie you know? It’s like the live-action movie was trying to explain the expand the missing story in 1991..and whether that’s a badaptation or goodapation is detabable. Is filling up the missing gap an improvement or nah? Perhaps it’s the missing plots in the original movie that created a fog of mystery that actually lingers in everyone’s heart. We quickly lose interest in something we know everything about. A little bit of mystery is enticing and attractive isn’t it?
VINATHI
Hmm you have a point. Explanation alone doesn’t necessarily mean an improvement. But since this is a remake, I feel that such changes and explanation were necessary in reflecting the viewer’s need you know. Avid lovers of Beauty and the Beast have been desiring for these answers in the past 20 years and perhaps it was right of the producers to answer them!
KOBY
Was this a badaptation, or a goodaptation? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
VINATHI
And, as always, if you liked this video, be sure to give it a thumbs up, and subscribe to see more of our content.
KOBY
Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you all in the next video!
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