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
