Disney fans lined around the block, reserving seats, and stalking every new update for the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast, which opened in select theaters on Friday, March 17, 2017. All ages were present, from parents who gave their kids a piece of their childhood magic to teenagers excited to see their childhood resurrected right before their eyes. Little girls were dressed up in their Belle costumes and even parents were sporting merchandise from the cartoon Beauty and the Beast. You could tell that if Disney disappointed them in any way, shape, or form, they would riot: which luckily there was no reason for them to.

With the addition of a short prologue exploring the Prince’s origins in more depth than the original cartoon, Disney stayed true to the music and plot. Belle (Harry Potter’s own darling Emma Watson), who lives in “a small, provincial town” where she does not fit into the illiterate lives of her fellow townspeople, dodges the town’s prideful Captain Gaston (The Hobbit’s Luke Evans) who is trying to win her hand in marriage no matter how many times she turns him down. Of course, there is the original “Belle” piece with a few new lyrics and minor changes that make it that much better. Belle’s father travels to the market on business but runs into some trouble while in the woods and attempts to make a shortcut, finding himself at a necromantic castle where it snows in June. A Beast (Downtown Abbey’s Dan Stevens) imprisons him in a tower causing Belle to take his place once she finds him. While in the castle, Belle meets new inanimate friends: the classic Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson) and Chip, Cogsworth (Ian McKellen), and Lumiere (Ewan McGregor). Time goes on, and Belle discovers that there may be something in her captor that wasn’t there before.

Let’s start with the beautiful casting job by the directors. Frozen’s Josh Gad played LeFou, Gaston’s sidekick, and there was no one else better for the role. “Gaston”, a classic favorite from the original cartoon, was perfectly performed by both Josh Gad and Luke Evans along with the entire ensemble. Emma Watson, in her amazing intellectual way, practically is Belle in the first place so who other than her could portray the loveable Disney princess? Every single character’s appearance was spot on from the feather dusters to the Beast himself. Since there is nothing to complain about, I’ll leave you to form your own opinion on the casting choices.

Now to address common issues that seem to have somehow just now come into light. First things first, people are appalled by the fact that LeFou is being portrayed as a gay character but was that not implied in the cartoon? I mean who could be that obsessed with the town’s stud and not be in love with them? Multiple jokes were thrown the audience’s way about his sexuality by the character himself so there should be no reason to make such a big deal about it. Next on the list is people complaining about the implied bestiality between Belle and the Beast since the Beast’s appearance is a mixture of multiple wild animals. Thing is, the Beast was human before he was cursed and nothing really happens anyway. Plus, I would be more concerned about the potential Stockholm Syndrome than the implied bestiality. If you are protesting the movie because either of these reasons, then joke’s on you; you missed out.