Today, I took my lovely wife to see Beauty and the Beast and we were not disappointed.
Apparently, I’m a rare breed, liking both athletics and sports stuff AND musicals because I loved this movie! It said relatively true to the animated movie, with a couple of different songs and a couple of plot wrinkles. But when Lefou began to sing about “Gaston”, Lumiere present “Your dinner”, and when Mrs. Potts sand about “Beauty and the Beast”, how could you not be hooked??
But as I’m watching, I’m drawn to that opening song where Belle sings about her books and everyone else sings about how different she is. How many of our students feel this way, like they don’t fit at all and that everyone is looking at them because *gasp* they are smart?? It stuck me for the first time today, that Belle is every person in our class who’s called a “try hard”, who values their education, who doesn’t relent when it gets hard. They keep going, they keep their head up, and eventually they find their way.
I’m sure I’ll go see this movie again. My youngest daughter will be ticked off that we saw it without her.
And I’ll see it with a new appreciate of Belle’s ability to keep her head up, and the ability of Cogsworth, Mrs. Potter, and the whole group to keep Belle from giving up on herself and love! 🙂
#sapatheart
March 18, 2017 at 11:05 pm
I have always appreciated Belle’s book love and her determination to stay true to her brainy and curious self. A great role model and “mirror” for so many kids.
March 19, 2017 at 2:46 pm
It makes me happy to have finally realized this, and to be able to pull this into the classroom!
March 19, 2017 at 4:11 am
I never thought about how Belle represented all of the kids that are made fun of for being a good student, enjoying reading, etc. Now I am trying to figure out how to use this in my classroom.
March 19, 2017 at 2:46 pm
I know, right?? It was just shocking to me, having seen the animated movie how many times that the light bulb just went off now?? 🙂
March 19, 2017 at 4:27 am
Apparently, I will not get to see this movie in Malaysia- banned because two characters are gay- how sad that this means it is banned here. I like your analysis and have heard great things about it.
March 19, 2017 at 2:45 pm
Well, that just stinks! It’s a great movie all the same! Will you travel anywhere you can see it in the near future?
March 26, 2017 at 5:11 pm
I really liked this movie, as well. Belle is my favorite character because she’s a bookworm and stands up for herself despite the fact that hardly anyone understands her.