Anyone who's known me for more than 5 minutes or reads my blog, will know that I cry at everything.
And in typical Lucy fashion, I spent my Friday afternoon in a massive cinema screen, full of strangers, fighting back tears with every fibre of my being, until I simply couldn't take it anymore and just wept with pure joy.
I wish there had been a camera on my face throughout the whole film because I was positively beaming through the tears.
I have made no secret about being extremely concerned for this film, mainly due to Emma Watson's slightly wooden performances in everything else she's ever done, ever.
While that concern was not completely without justification, I can confirm that I couldn't give a shit. It just doesn't matter at all.
She is a tiny, but lovely, part of a massive production that I could only see as perfect, when I first saw it.
PERFECT.
This is a bold statement, usually only reserved for Deadpool, Logan and Hell or High Water, which I can't stand by on this occasion because I do have one or two teeny tiny complaints.
To avoid rambling, I will just list my complaints and then get back to the unashamed gushing over this near perfect, beaut of a film.
Emma Watson is very 'GCSE Drama Class' in her dialogue delivery and general demeanour.
Emma Watson is (to quote Jahannah James ) auto-tuned to shit.
Mrs Potts doesn't need to be doing a constant Peggy Mitchel impersonation.
The extra songs and sequences weren't necessary - although they were exceptionally well done - it gave it a bit too much of a West End feel and it was jarring to people of my generation that know the animated version inside out.
OK, back to adoring this masterpiece.
Luke Evans is hands down my favourite thing about this whole film, he is faultless and sings like a baritone angel of Pontypool.
I had no idea he could sing like that! He's completely self-depricating and totally committed to being a complete narcissistic arsehole and I love him for it. No one else could have been Gaston, what perfectly inspired casting.
The main cast is full of famous names and eventually faces, highlights being Kevin Kline as Maurice, and my beloved Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza.
I've always said that the live action Cinderella is, in the truest sense of the word, the most beautiful film I have ever seen and I stand by that, but Beauty and The Beast comes sooooo close to matching its breathtaking scenery, it blows my mind that even with virtually undetectable CGI being available, there are still people who can actually make such gob smacking, sets, props and costumes - absolute geniuses.
Speaking of CGI, the exterior shots of the castle and surrounding forests etc were beautifully done, just over the top enough to remind you that you're in a wonderful fairy story, but the motion capture on the beast is on a whole level of its own, he had such a human quality about him, I totally had a crush on him, more so than actual real live human, Prince Adam. I thought they captured Dan Steven's South London boy, down to earth personality perfectly, he practically pouted his way through 90% of that film and was very charismatic and actually laugh out loud funny at certain points. A job well done. BUT he didn't quite look the part as Prince Adam - again though, couldn't give a shit, because the film is out of this world.
When it comes to films like this, the script is usually a secondary entity for me but knowing the animation word for word and sound for sound, I actually did pay attention and to be honest, the extra dialogue wasn't bad, it was just enough and didn't strike me as lazy filler, if you see what I mean.
The extra dialogue also helped by filling a couple of gaping, grand canyon sized, plot holes in the animation - you'll know exactly what I mean when you see it.
I don't care who you are - a 7 stone woman, cannot lift a horned beast, onto a horse.
I actually watched it again yesterday and I literally got to '....there was no love in his heart' which is about the 5th line in the whole film, before the tears started again ha ha by the time I got to 'Be Our Guest' I was sobbing.
I will just point out that I have to pick films apart and analyse them, I am thorough and pick holes because that's my job, so despite my nit picking, this film will in no way shape or form be a disappointment to someone who can watch films like a normal person and regardless of any of my comments this should be watched by everyone, in all its breathtaking glory, on the big screen.
It's a total sensory delight with its dreamy score and witty dialogue. It's a colourful, magical, truly enchanting, piece of pure cinematic joy, that everyone needs in their lives.
And in typical Lucy fashion, I spent my Friday afternoon in a massive cinema screen, full of strangers, fighting back tears with every fibre of my being, until I simply couldn't take it anymore and just wept with pure joy.
I wish there had been a camera on my face throughout the whole film because I was positively beaming through the tears.
I have made no secret about being extremely concerned for this film, mainly due to Emma Watson's slightly wooden performances in everything else she's ever done, ever.
While that concern was not completely without justification, I can confirm that I couldn't give a shit. It just doesn't matter at all.
She is a tiny, but lovely, part of a massive production that I could only see as perfect, when I first saw it.
PERFECT.
This is a bold statement, usually only reserved for Deadpool, Logan and Hell or High Water, which I can't stand by on this occasion because I do have one or two teeny tiny complaints.
To avoid rambling, I will just list my complaints and then get back to the unashamed gushing over this near perfect, beaut of a film.
Emma Watson is very 'GCSE Drama Class' in her dialogue delivery and general demeanour.
Emma Watson is (to quote Jahannah James ) auto-tuned to shit.
Mrs Potts doesn't need to be doing a constant Peggy Mitchel impersonation.
The extra songs and sequences weren't necessary - although they were exceptionally well done - it gave it a bit too much of a West End feel and it was jarring to people of my generation that know the animated version inside out.
OK, back to adoring this masterpiece.
Luke Evans is hands down my favourite thing about this whole film, he is faultless and sings like a baritone angel of Pontypool.
I had no idea he could sing like that! He's completely self-depricating and totally committed to being a complete narcissistic arsehole and I love him for it. No one else could have been Gaston, what perfectly inspired casting.
The main cast is full of famous names and eventually faces, highlights being Kevin Kline as Maurice, and my beloved Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza.
I've always said that the live action Cinderella is, in the truest sense of the word, the most beautiful film I have ever seen and I stand by that, but Beauty and The Beast comes sooooo close to matching its breathtaking scenery, it blows my mind that even with virtually undetectable CGI being available, there are still people who can actually make such gob smacking, sets, props and costumes - absolute geniuses.
Speaking of CGI, the exterior shots of the castle and surrounding forests etc were beautifully done, just over the top enough to remind you that you're in a wonderful fairy story, but the motion capture on the beast is on a whole level of its own, he had such a human quality about him, I totally had a crush on him, more so than actual real live human, Prince Adam. I thought they captured Dan Steven's South London boy, down to earth personality perfectly, he practically pouted his way through 90% of that film and was very charismatic and actually laugh out loud funny at certain points. A job well done. BUT he didn't quite look the part as Prince Adam - again though, couldn't give a shit, because the film is out of this world.
When it comes to films like this, the script is usually a secondary entity for me but knowing the animation word for word and sound for sound, I actually did pay attention and to be honest, the extra dialogue wasn't bad, it was just enough and didn't strike me as lazy filler, if you see what I mean.
The extra dialogue also helped by filling a couple of gaping, grand canyon sized, plot holes in the animation - you'll know exactly what I mean when you see it.
I don't care who you are - a 7 stone woman, cannot lift a horned beast, onto a horse.
I actually watched it again yesterday and I literally got to '....there was no love in his heart' which is about the 5th line in the whole film, before the tears started again ha ha by the time I got to 'Be Our Guest' I was sobbing.
I will just point out that I have to pick films apart and analyse them, I am thorough and pick holes because that's my job, so despite my nit picking, this film will in no way shape or form be a disappointment to someone who can watch films like a normal person and regardless of any of my comments this should be watched by everyone, in all its breathtaking glory, on the big screen.
It's a total sensory delight with its dreamy score and witty dialogue. It's a colourful, magical, truly enchanting, piece of pure cinematic joy, that everyone needs in their lives.