Masterful horror science fiction that takes time to build everything up and then the tension builds and builds. Fantastic production design and a great cast that make it all very believable and relatable. It's interesting to me how far away the other films in the series got from the way this film works so well.
With amazing production design and a willingness to embrace the darkness of the fairy tale, this adaptation of Beauty and the Beast is visually stunning and it zips along through the story. The surreal elements really make the film stand out as faces are scattered throughout the castle along with arms holding candelabras and pouring wine for guests.
A coming of age story about a young woman with an imaginative visual style that offsets the harshness of the situations. With stop-motion animations and time lapse photography serving as a metaphorical counterpoint and echo of the naturalistic real-world portions of the film, it strikes a balance between the world of the imagination and the daily life of the main character.
Really great to go into the film knowing as little as possible. Starting out funny and warm as a quirky comedy but then slowly changing into something much darker. It's filled with great comedic moments and some elaborate set pieces with all of the parts working together in a great way by the time it all emerges as a complex and unpredictable look at family, class, and work.
