CHRONICLE KAI

Well, Well, Belle… I don’t usually do movie reviews, so this is a first 😇 To put it simply, this is a modern and inspired take on “Beauty and the Beast” set between the real world and the virtual world of “U”. I’ve been patiently waiting for months for its release and it delivers… on some elements. Here are my pros and cons. Pros - The visuals and animation. What is not to love? It simply mesmerises the eyes with all of the good and bad moments in their world 😍 - The music. 10/10. The music (both Japanese and English variants) hypnotises the mind with a beautiful yet melancholy choral flow; beckoning the soul to reach out and cheer, cry and everything in-between. If nothing captivates you at all during this film (which I think is very unlikely), then the music will 💗 Cons - There is a struggle of balance in the tone and structure. The film plants itself on a tightrope and pushes the story into somewhat convenient and coincidental moments that is not given further development 🧐 - The story illustrates emotional moments well but there are a few key points where it doesn’t hit as I’d have liked it. The one thing that irked me was the lack of stakes which made some story moments feel a bit irrelevant or unnecessary 😪 - Compared to other works that the director, Mamoru Hosoda, has created, the other characters apart from the MC are not developed well enough and loses appeal with the audience as the film progresses. Even another one of his films, Summer Wars (which Belle is heavily inspired upon), the minor members of the family in that film are more memorable, which shows how important storytelling is. Even the smallest roles can make a profound impact 🤯 Overall, I still greatly enjoyed watching this work of art. The music will be stuck in my mind for weeks to come and despite its flaws, Belle still sticks the landing with a graceful finish. So a 14 minute standing ovation at Cannes does not seem uncanny anymore. I enjoyed this experience in IMAX and having friends by your side only makes this even more special 🥺 4 Stars.