by Breia Brissey
Once upon a time (a.k.a. now), in a faraway land (a.k.a. Hollywood) fairy-tale movies were all the rage. The kings and queens of Tinseltown (a.k.a. studio execs) issued a decree that some of my childhood favorites should be re-hashed. Enter "Beastly": a modern-day retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" starring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens, which hits theaters tomorrow. It’s a tale as old as time that apparently stands the test of time, too. "Beastly" comes 20 years after the release of the original Disney classic, and it's one of many animated stories to become a live-action feature film.
Don’t believe me? There are currently three (yes, three!) iterations of "Snow White" in the works, including one with Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen. And Amanda Seyfried stars in the updated "Red Riding Hood" (out March 11) directed by Catherine Hardwicke of "Twilight" fame. Interestingly, in addition to their modern adjustments, these films are being marketed to an older audience. Both "Beastly" and "Red Riding Hood" nabbed a PG-13 rating. And thus, my childhood collides with my adult life.
With all these remakes landing in theaters, I started to think about what other animated classics from my kiddie years should get the live-action treatment. Although new movies will probably never replace my love of the originals (and the accompanying Disney songs that go along with them), I’m open to seeing more of my favorite stories retold in a more grown-up way. So, without further ado, I present my No. 1 choice: "The Little Mermaid."
Obviously, a story that takes place largely underwater and features talking sea creatures presents many logistical problems. But hey, movie magic also brought the worlds of "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" to life. So I’m a believer in the power of special effects. Additionally, the villainous Ursula is such a dark character, the role would easily lend itself to a more grown-up version of the story. (Ursula terrified me, and honestly, she still does. I always feared her boobs might eat me should we ever meet.)
Can you imagine live-action versions of your favorite childhood tales? If you had a choice, what stories would you want to see remade? And, more importantly, will you be giving "Beastly" a chance this weekend? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!
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