When he saw that she was beautiful he wanted only to cage her, but when he understood her true eternal beauty, he set her free.

She truly saw him; he had transformed from a beast who loved only beauty, into a beautiful beast, full of love.

The tale of Beauty and The Beast has always been my favorite,

for as long as I’ve been able to have favorites. I have read a ton of variations/ adaptations, and watched quite a lot as well. I had to pay homage to Beauty and The Beast today because tonight is the big premier of the live action Disney adaptation, and I am ecstatic!
This is such a beautiful story and I love finding and reading stories with it’s endearing theme; true beauty, real love, sacrifice, compassion, and acceptance. I also feel like Belle is a kindred spirit, my alter ego in a way; her passionate love of books, and her adventurous and compassionate spirit are all things I aspire to.

Here are some lovely book/film adaptation that I feel are worthwhile:

Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. Its first published version was written by French author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in the middle 18th century. It was a novel-length story intended for adult readers and addressing the issues of the marriage system of the day in which women had no right to choose their husband or to refuse to marry.

Fun Fact: The best-known version of the tale appeared sixteen years later. Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont simplified and shortened the Villeneuve’s work and published it in a magazine for young ladies. The new abridged version became more successful, and Madame de Beaumont is regarded now as the author of the classic story.

The visually new and unabridged edition of the classic. MinaLima, an award-winning design studio (Jungle Book, Peter Pan, etc.) re-imagined the beloved tale in this deluxe unabridged edition. It is illustrated with stunning full-color artwork and nine 3-D interactive features.

 

This is a gorgeous coloring book I found that has a unique Beauty and the Beast story and art. A coloring book romance that features over seventy pages of evocative artwork, ready to be brought to life by your coloring skills and imagination. I love it. It is by artist Jae-Eun Lee.

The movie that started it all for me. I fell in love with this movie when I was a kid, and as a grown woman it is still my favorite, I adore it. The story is full of so much wit, fun, and humor, and yet it is beautiful, deep, and enchanting.

 The music is beyond amazing as well, and I am not ashamed to say that I can verbatim quote the entire movie while watching it… Overall this movie is for everyone; a rich experience. Truly a charming and beautiful re-telling.

If you haven’t guessed here is my favorite scene from the movie 😉

“With a dreamy far of look, and her nose stuck in a book.”

This is probably my favorite novel adaptation. Robin McKinley’s beloved telling illuminates the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple: Beauty and the Beast.
Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the pretty ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage.

“As I have said, you have no reason to trust me, and an excellent reason not to.”

Yes I watched it, and I loved it 🙂 

Ron Koslow updates a classic fairy tale and places it in a modern and urban environment. Assistant District Attorney Catherine Chandler learns she has a protector watching out for her as she sets out to clear the New York City streets of its dangerous criminals. Turns out her “guardian angel” is a kind-hearted beast named Vincent, who lives in labyrinthine tunnels beneath the city.

Alex Flinn’s contemporary retelling.

I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore.
I am a monster.

“Just because something is beautiful doesn´t mean it´s good.”

Now if you haven’t heard of Faerie Tale Theatre, check it out, because it’s amazing. It had the charm and richness of seeing a play, but with the uninterrupted smoothness of television. I grew up watching this show, and I LOVED the Beauty and the Beast act, staring Susan Sarandon, it was fantastic. Seriously if you haven’t seen these, you should. Deep, fun, dark, corny, classic!

 

An inventive and funny mystery with a dynamic lead, which will make you want to pick up the next book in the series.

This one is definitely a re-imagining and takes much more liberties, but that is the fun of it. I love it when authors get creative like this.

Personally I was a bit 60/40 on the Disney Broadway musical of Beauty and the Beast. Mainly because it was SO close to the original that it made hearing the songs a little difficult. I think that’s why I like it when there are variations that make it unique to the artistic abilities and strengths of a given writer/director etc. However, it was very well done, I just had to avoid parts of the soundtrack. I did see a performance of this, and it was fantastic live.

Here are a few fun new ones I will be reading ASAP:

An original addition to the beloved Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, Lost in a Book follows the lonely, bookish Belle as she finds an enchanted book in the Beast’s library called Nevermore that carries her into a glittering new world. Intrigued? I am, can’t wait.

 

Disney’s Belle is one of the best fictional bookworms around. But what exactly is on her reading list? In this unique literary journal, enjoy inspiring quotes from some of Belle’s favorite books, as well as her insightful notes and colorful drawings. I am in love with this idea, can’t wait to get my copy.

 

How about a little dark twist?
As Old as Time is the third book in a new YA line that re-imagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways.
When Belle touches the Beast’s enchanted rose, memories flood through Belle’s mind-memories of a mother she thought she would never see again. And, stranger still…

 

So that is my tribute to an amazing classic and all the amazing artists and writers that have re-told and re-imagined this truly beautiful tale.

I am almost certain I will be adding Disney’s live action version to my list of favorites. There is so much talent invested in the project and so far it looks phenomenal. Thank you disney for taking the time to really put what it takes into this movie; I mean Emma Thompson! Ian McKellen! Emma Watson, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Kline, the list goes on! So tonight I will be dressed up and fully giddy as I watch this, and I will be sure to update anyone interested as to my end thoughts on the production.

What are your favorite adaptation?

So I felt compelled to do an update now that I’ve seen the movie. 

I have to say it was a truly magical experience! I saw it in XD 3D and I Highly recommend that, as it adds to the richness and depth of experience during the movie. This Beauty and The Beast was hands down the best movie I’ve ever seen. Everything about it; the cast, the score! the emotion, the cinemotagraphy, everything was gorgeous and enchanting. I am in eternal love with it, and can’t wait to see it again! I hope everyone will share their thoughts once they’ve experience it’s beauty 🙂