Beauty and the Beast

French beauty Léa Seydoux stars as Belle, the youngest daughter of a once-prosperous merchant (André Dussollier) who is ruined after the wreck of his ships, and Vincent Cassel costars as the hirsute Beast whose magical kingdom becomes Belle's prison after her father takes a forbidden rose. Director Christophe Gans frames this lavish and colorful French adaptation of the classic tale as a bedtime story told by a mother to her young children. The enchanted kingdom magically hidden in the forest is beautifully designed and grandly presented, and Belle takes it all in with a sense of wonder and delight even as she glowers at the gruff but gentlemanly Beast. There are cute magical puppies, giant enchanted statues, and an epic battle with a brutal human villain (Eduardo Noriega) who invades the kingdom with his gang of thieves. What's missing, however, is any romantic attraction or bond of friendship between Belle and the Beast. Seydoux brings passion and courage to her role but the CGI-enhanced face of Cassel's Beast costume is flat and inexpressive, leaving him with little dimension or emotional life. Still, fans of fantasy and lavish period spectacles may appreciate (and there may be interest thanks to the new Disney version of the story), making this a strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)