Belle

This was quite a good adaptation of beauty and the beast. Now, if only Disney could adapt their films for adults like this, they might not lose their audience or have to adapt to taking other companies to be profitable. Though I guess it might be asking too much for Disney to grow up. P. S this is only my opinion, but the best thing about this movie is belle.

If there were adapting their movies for adults to live action like this, I might bother to go see them. I know Disney caters to children, but they have to realize at some point. Their audience will grow up. Their movies may need to as well. This movie was the perfect example to show that.

The film was quite beautiful. It transports you through the countryside of Iceland, which was magical in and of itself. The film overall is a well acted fairytale. The leads are real standouts, and the supporting cast is compromised of pros of Icelandic cinema. A bit of a slow burn, but definitely worth sticking around. There's an odd humor sprinkled throughout, which helps moves the film along. The score was also pretty magnificent and supported the "character," of the scenery quite nicely. The movie pairs well with a rainy day indoors, proceeding your trip abroad, with a glass of red wine in hand.

I've read this script dozens of times, been to all the filming locations in Iceland, met the director, cinematographer, editor, producer, and composer, and each time I've watched Belle in theaters and at home I've noticed something new and found myself falling in love with the story or the characters or the music or Iceland a little bit more. "Jeez," you might say, "does this guy just love the movie, or is he somewhere on the spectrum? Or was he maybe the Assistant Director?" And if I was in front of you when you asked those three questions, I would give an emphatic, "Yup" to each.

More seriously, I've never felt I fully believed Belle in any adaptation of the fairytale until this one. So thanks, Max and all for helping me finally get it.

Best experienced on a big TV with a great sound system, Belle will transport you to Iceland for an unexpected journey through the character's eyes. The original "Beauty and the Beast myth" kind of serves like a a lighthouse on a far shore in the background, while this darker, psychological take on it ventures out into the uncharted depths of Belle's unconscious. This is not a horror film; it's a story of Belle and the Beast navigating the territory that's most terrifying of all: falling in love.

Excellent and subtle performances by Ingi (the Beast), Andrea (Belle), Hana (The Witch), incredible cinematography by Nico Navia, resourceful and thoughtful production design by Susan Huyett, deliberate and sophisticated editing by Patrick Lawrence, and glorious score by Matt Orenstein.

An Icelandic version of the story of Beauty and the Beast. Belle lives with her father, who became very sick. Her blood on the rose that the Beast protects can cure her father, and she goes to the cave, gets her blood on the rose, and takes it to the enchantress who makes a drink from it. Her father drinks it, and is immediately well. But there is an 'unless'. The spell lasts until sunrise, unless she chooses to live with the Beast. She decides to go to the Beast, and find out what the rules are, and if there is another 'unless'. He doesn't have any food for her, so she seeks out the plants that are edible, and offers some to the Beast. Simple to say, he is not a vegetarian. And unless the Beast falls in love with her, he cannot change. But she won't leave him since then her father will die. The scenery is beautiful, but the movie is not really all that special to rate a high score.