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What A Beast!

Happy Wednesday All,

I know, I'm posting later in the day than I normally do. I was having trouble coming up with a topic when I would've normally posted.

Most of you all know I'm a huge fairy tale fan. I've read a bunch of them, I've read a ton of re-tellings and I've got fantasy and paranormal elements in my own stories.

Recently I saw the movie Beastly. I had first heard of this re-telling some time ago when I found it in the library (find out more about the book here). I liked it so much I ended up getting my own copy. I've read it more than once. Then I found out it was going to be a movie. The author, Alex Flinn, saw the movie and liked it and I decided to go with a friend of mine. We really enjoyed the movie.

Now, of course several things were changed (minor) because it's hard to compact about 300 page book into an hour 1/2 to 2 hour movie. Let's face it, for the sake of condensing things will get changed or dropped. However, that didn't affect how much I like the movie. I could really see the spirit of the book there. The story was still a re-telling of Beauty And The Beast and it was still Alex's re-telling. The elements were there, and particular aspects were there in some form or another. Of course, I still like the book best (and I'm re-reading it for that reason) but I can honestly say the movie can hold its own right beside the book.

A little trivia about Beauty And The Beast. It's originally a French fairytale. I've read versions where Beauty (or Belle) has 2 sisters and ones where she has more than two. Robin McKinley has a retelling called:  Beauty: A Retelling Of Beauty And The Beast.

Another favorite version of mine is Cameron Dokey's Belle. That retelling was wonderful and I've read it over and over.

Of course, we all know Disney's translation.  (Which, I do like, by the way--it's fairly close to the storyline).

In any case, I believe fairy tales have a place in our lives.

What fairy tales (aside from Beauty And The Beast) are you fond of?

Have A Wondrous Wednesday!

Comments

jeff7salter said…
This is also one of my favorites.
A couple of months ago, I was composing a column for the group blog I joined (before I learned we'd have weekly themes). I was making a particular point about Belle's relationship with the Beast, both while he was Beast and later, after the spell was broken and he became Prince again.
What I couldn't remember -- and it became a moot point for the column, since there's no place to schedule it in my group blog -- is: what was the 'key' to fixing the spell? I have a mental picture of the Beast actually in the process of dying before Belle figures it out.
Bethany said…
Jeff,

Good to "see" you on here.

Belle had to say she loved him :-)
Tonette Joyce said…
I think my favorite fairy tale, besides
B & the B, has to be The Ugly Duckling. So many of the original fairy tales are truly sad,(like the Little Mermaid,which ends nowhere near like the Disney version, which I do like). The 'and they lived happily ever after'stories are appealing, too,I have to admit. "La Cenerentola" is an opera version of Cinderella,without the magic, but is quite enjoyable.
I am glad you let us know that the movie is enjoyable;I wil see it.
Bethany said…
Tonette,

Thanks for dropping by. Don't forget to read the book. Alex Flinn has a real gift for re-telling fairytales. I read "A Kiss In Time" by her and it's lovely and "Cloaked" is another good one :-)
Anonymous said…
B&B is my fav, but I also like Cinderella! The dancing, the fairy godmother, the wicked step mother and sisters, the mice turning into horses! Yep, I'm a huge fan of that one too!
Bethany said…
Tessy,

"Cinderella" is one of my favorites, too :-)

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