I generally have low expectations for movie remakes, but “Beauty and the Beast” turned out to be an enchanting, live-action revision of the 1991 animated classic. With a staggering budget of $160 million, the film appeals to young adults who grew up with the film as well as the next generation of young Disney fans.

The creative team behind this movie agonized over every detail, resulting in a refreshed, not remade, version of the celebrated original film. I was glad to see that Alan Menken, who created music for the animated film, was in charge of music for the new version as well. His choice to combine original songs with a few new pieces from the Broadway musical added new elements to the story.

Emma Watson and Dan Stevens fully embodied their characters, successfully entering the world of the fairytale. There were moments where the acting seemed a bit forced and clunky, but overall the film is driven by plot rather than nuanced acting. I felt that the portrayal of Belle’s father was touching, as well as the inclusion of her family history.

In addition, felt there were too many fast pans of the camera, whipping around the entire room. I would have loved to have seen more of the library and Belle’s room, but the spinning camera rushed over those details. However, the camera work achieved the experience of being overwhelmed by visual grandeur.

Overall, the costuming in the film was exquisite, yet one particular costume seemed to break the mold. The Beast’s ragged “cloak” that looked like dreadlocks made him appear more like a Sasquatch than the Disney character. Every time he moved him arms and the stringy things flew out I cringed. I thought the Beast’s face and horns were excellent uses of CGI technology in combination with live filming of the actor’s natural facial expressions.

My two favorite scenes of the animated film are “Be Our Guest” and the ballroom scene, and in this film both moments were visually and emotionally stunning. Current computer animation technologies made “Be Our Guest” an incredibly extravagant scene, which included at least two references to iconic moments in dance history.

In the 1991 film, the ballroom scene consisted of a computer-animated background, hand-drawn characters and the simulation of a film camera dollying around the set. This groundbreaking approach for one scene led to further experiments with CGI technology. The updated ballroom scene was breathtaking, especially when paired with the original song, “Beauty and the Beast” and all the signature Disney magic.

Just like the original film, “Beauty and the Beast” adds a new chapter to the story of the Disney legacy. Through rich storytelling, animated artistry and just a little magic, I have no doubt that this movie will soon become a classic for viewers of all ages.