Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Beauty and the Beast (2017)... Beauty is Found Within.

Beauty and the Beast (2017):

            The 2017 Beauty and the Beast movie has garnered a lot of attention. From the very first announcement, teaser poster, and teaser trailer, the hype has been massive. Most viewers of the movie in theatres seem to enjoy the movie greatly... myself being one of them. Some are upset that it isn't the same as the animated Disney classic, while others complain that it is too much like that one. However, that is neither here nor there, as the movie will be viewed differently by everyone who watches it.

            I first saw the 2017 live action version of the ever popular Beauty and the Beast on the evening of my birthday, March 16th. For me it was magical. It was fun, beautiful, and made my birthday feel as if it were right out of a classic fairy-tale. Imagine, getting to see one of your all time favorite fairy-tales on your birthday with your mother and sister being dragged along for good measure... and let us not forget the free birthday popcorn the theatre's free membership allowed me. Yet, the most magical thing about seeing the movie was the reaction of those in the theatre--specifically, the young twenty-something autistic man sitting to the right of my mother. He felt the movie more and in such a way that no one else in the theatre could, not even me on my magical day. He laughed, he cried, and bounced his way through the movie. He was in every way overcome with the film, and the magical tale it told. His eyes lit up, he was grinning ear to ear, and when the credits began to run he could do nothing but speak of the movie he had just viewed. It was as if the story touched his very soul, and the telling of it inspired truer feelings within him than I thought was possible for a 'mere film' to do. I wanted to hug him and share in his joy, but all I could do as he gleefully went on about how deserving the movie was of awards and how much he enjoyed the film was to simply say as I looked at the rolling credits, "It was beautiful."

            The movie was beautiful indeed, and I enjoyed it so much that within a week I went to see the movie again, and will definitely be purchasing the DVD when it comes out. Yet, the most beautiful thing about the movie was not even the stunning visuals, the classic rose and sweeping music, or even the tale as old as time... it was a young man that I didn't know, watching the film in a theatre during the first showing, and being moved by what he experienced. Yes, he may have been a distraction to those around him, with his weeping uncontrollably or hearty laughter, but to those who had the eyes to see, that is and was the beauty. It is taking in something which overpowers you to the point of feeling so deeply that you aren't ashamed to show your feelings, your love of something. Surely, if the creators, actors, and all those involved in this movie only knew the extent that this one person was moved by their creation, they would feel that they had completed a goal far beyond mere entertainment and money.


            We never know what can or will touch someone's life. What some people are touting as imperfect was beyond perfect to this young man in a packed theatre. Our creations, our words and actions, they can touch others, and that is the greatest gift and greatest legacy we can leave. So, whatever YOU do, whatever is your 'calling' or 'gift...' there is more power in it to change the world or at least one life than we realize. Sometimes the impact lasts a moment. Others a lifetime.

Beauty and the Beast -- Hebrew Poster

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