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Beastly – A Review of the Modern Adaptation on Beauty and the Beast
Who doesn’t love a good fairy tale adaptation? And when it comes to Beauty and the Beast, there have been countless retellings over the years. One of the more recent ones is Beastly, a 2011 movie directed by Daniel Barnz. As someone who grew up watching Disney’s version of the story, I was excited to see what this modern take had in store. Here’s what I thought:
The Storyline of Beastly
Like in most incarnations of Beauty and the Beast, we have a vain and arrogant protagonist who is cursed by a witch. In this case, it’s Kyle Kingson (played by Alex Pettyfer), a wealthy high school student who treats everyone around him poorly. The curse turns him into a monster-like creature, with scars all over his face and body. The only way to break the curse is for someone to love him for who he is on the inside.
The Plot: A Modern Twist on an Old Tale
One thing that I appreciated about Beastly was how it updated certain elements of the original story for contemporary audiences. For example, instead of Belle being held captive in a castle, we have Lindy (played by Vanessa Hudgens), a fellow student whom Kyle has always been somewhat infatuated with. When Kyle’s father sends him away to live in an isolated mansion, he tries to reach out to Lindy through their shared tutor Will (played by Neil Patrick Harris). However, things get complicated when Kyle starts to develop real feelings for her, and it becomes clear that breaking the curse won’t be as simple as he originally thought.
The Cast of Characters: Hit or Miss?
Let’s start with Alex Pettyfer as Kyle/Beast. While he certainly looks the part of a pretty boy turned monster, his acting left something to be desired. There were times when his line delivery felt wooden, and I had a hard time seeing him as anything other than a spoiled rich kid. Vanessa Hudgens did a better job as Lindy, bringing warmth and vulnerability to the role. Neil Patrick Harris was a bright spot in the movie as Will, providing some much-needed comic relief.
The History Behind Beastly
Beastly is based on the young adult novel of the same name by Alex Flinn. The book was first published in 2007 and became a bestseller. The movie adaptation came out four years later and received mixed reviews from critics.
The Score and Popularity: A Look at the Soundtrack
One aspect of Beastly that stood out to me was the soundtrack. There were some great songs on there, including “Good Girls Go Bad” by Cobra Starship and “Broken Arrow” by Pixie Lott. However, it felt a bit disjointed at times, like they were trying to fit too many different genres into one movie.
Evaluation: Does Beastly Live Up to the Hype?
All in all, I thought Beastly was a decent adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. While it didn’t quite hit all the marks for me, I appreciated its attempts at updating certain elements of the story and making it more relevant for modern audiences. The acting could have been better in some places, but I still found myself invested in Kyle and Lindy’s relationship. If you’re a fan of fairy tale retellings or just looking for a romantic drama with some supernatural elements thrown in, give Beastly a watch.
The Cinematography: A Look at the Visuals
One thing that struck me about this movie was how visually interesting it was. From the dark, foreboding mansion where Kyle lives to the glittering party scenes at his school, there was always something eye-catching on screen. The makeup and special effects used to create Kyle’s beastly appearance were also impressive.
The Opinion: What Resonated with Me
As someone who has always been a sucker for the Beauty and the Beast story, I appreciated how Beastly tried to put a new spin on it. While it wasn’t perfect, I thought it was an interesting exploration of what it means to truly see someone for who they are, beyond their physical appearance. It made me think about my own preconceptions and biases, and how easy it is to judge people based on surface-level traits.
The Scenes That Stood Out
One of my favorite scenes in the movie was when Kyle takes Lindy to a rooftop garden he’s created for her. It’s a moment of vulnerability for him, as he opens up about his fears and insecurities. We also get to see them connect on a deeper level than just physical attraction. Another standout scene is when Lindy meets Kyle’s father (played by Peter Krause) for the first time. It’s tense and uncomfortable, as she realizes just how different their worlds are.
The Gossip: What People Were Saying
While Beastly received mixed reviews from critics, audiences seemed to enjoy it more. It currently has a 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but a 66% audience score. Some people praised the movie for taking risks and trying something new with an old story, while others found it too melodramatic or cheesy.
The Soundtracks That Made an Impact
As mentioned earlier, I thought the soundtrack to Beastly was one of its strongest points. “Good Girls Go Bad” by Cobra Starship was probably the most memorable track, as it was used in the trailer and featured prominently in the movie. Other standout songs include “Be Still” by Kelly Clarkson and “Transatlanticism” by Death Cab for Cutie.
The Analysis: What Worked and What Didn’t
One criticism that’s often leveled at Beastly is that it’s too focused on the romance between Kyle and Lindy, to the detriment of other aspects of the story. While I can see where people are coming from with that, I also think that for a movie like this, the central relationship is what drives everything else forward. It might not be perfect, but I thought it was an engaging and heartfelt take on a classic tale.
The Special Effects: From Beastly to Beauteous
One thing that impressed me about Beastly was how well they were able to translate Kyle’s beastly appearance from page to screen. The design was unique and detailed, with scars all over his face and even tattoos running down his arms. It could have easily looked cheesy or overdone, but I thought they struck just the right balance.
The Dialogue That Hit or Missed
This is one area where I think Beastly struggled a bit. There were times when the dialogue felt clunky or overly melodramatic, and some of the characters (particularly Kyle) didn’t always feel like they were speaking in a natural way. That being said, there were also some really lovely moments of dialogue that stood out to me.
The Crews Behind the Scenes
Beastly was directed by Daniel Barnz, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Alex Flinn. The movie was produced by Susan Cartsonis and Roz Weisberg, with cinematography by Mandy Walker. The music was supervised by Madonna’s longtime collaborator Mirwais Ahmadzaï.
The Criticism: What People Were Saying
Some critics felt that Beastly didn’t do enough to differentiate itself from other Beauty and the Beast adaptations, or that it was too reliant on cliches and predictable plot points. Others praised it for its themes of acceptance and self-discovery. Ultimately, like with any movie, it comes down to personal taste.
The Production: Behind the Scenes on Beastly
According to interviews with cast and crew members, Beastly was filmed over a period of around two months in Montreal, Canada. The mansion where much of the action takes place is actually a real location called Chateau Dufresne. To create Kyle’s beastly appearance, prosthetics and makeup were used instead of CGI.
The Editing: A Closer Look
One thing that stood out to me about Beastly was how well-paced it was. The movie never felt like it was dragging or moving too quickly, and the editing kept everything flowing smoothly. There were some moments where I wished they’d lingered a bit longer on certain scenes or shots, but overall I thought it was solid.
The Conclusion: My Final Thoughts on Beastly
Overall, I enjoyed watching Beastly. It’s not a perfect movie by any means, and there are certainly areas where it could have improved. However, I thought it was an engaging and heartfelt adaptation of Beauty and the Beast that had some really lovely moments. If you’re a fan of the original story or just looking for a romantic drama with some supernatural elements thrown in, give Beastly a watch.