About two weeks ago I was able to catch the new chick flick, Beastly, a screen version of the Alex Flynn novel of the same name, and I must say it was a good hour and a half of fairytale fun.
Beastly, starring, High School Musical's Vanessa Hudgens, and I am Number Four's breakthrough heartthrob, Alex Pettyfer, is a modern take on the old classic, Beauty and the Beast. The twist is that it is from the Beast's point of view rather than Beauty's.
Pettyfer, plays, Kyle Kingson, a selfish, self-centered and very vain, teen "hottie," who in an act of total stupidity invites a goth girl, (Mary-Kate Olsen), to a dance as a joke. After humiliating the girl, Kyle finds out that nothing is what is seems. The girl, a witch, transforms Kyle into a freaky looking "beast" complete with graphic scars, a bald head and magical tattoos.
Now, Kyle must find someone who can love him despite his looks or be cursed to remain this way forever.
Sadly, the movie does not stray too far from the original story, making it a good, but not great adaptation. Let's face it, if I wanted to see a really fantastic version of B&B, I'd just rent Disney's.
It is however a very well made movie, with the very sweet classic storyline of the jerk changing because of the love of a good woman. A good movie to watch with a couple of girlfriends.
On a happier note, I was very impressed, with the acting in the movie. Mary-Kate, really shined without her twin by her side, showing that she can play a creepy goth chick with the best of them. The movie also starred a "blind" Peter Krause, who added a comical element to the story, and Lisa Gay Hamilton.
When watching the movie, look for the amazing artistic points in the Beast's tattoos. With everything from a magical bush on his arm to the word "ugly" written in the vines on his back, the make-up artists did a fantastic job on him. I spent most of the movie picking out all the little hidden massages in the tattoos and scars.
All in all, a great movie for girls, ages 10-40, and just something fun for a girls-night-out.
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