Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Beauty and the Beast."Disney's live-action retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" makes a lot of changes from the animated film. While some aid in expanding the story there are a few others that are eyebrow raising.Of all the changes, the most bizarre may be the addition of a magical book in the Beast's possessionwhich allows him to travelwherever his heart desires. He shows it to Belle (Emma Watson), inviting her to take them somewhere she wants to visit by placing her hand on the book."Think of the one thing you've always wanted," the Beast tells Belle. "Find it in your mind's eye and feel it in your heart."The two windup at Belle's old home in Paris and the two learn the grim fate of her mother, a character absent from the animated tale. The book is used as a device to tell the audience Belle's mother died from the plague shortly after her birth. As a result, she and her father fled to the small provincial town Belle wishes to now escape.We also learn the book was a gift left by the Enchantress who placed the curse over both the Beast and his castle. It'sacruel reminder that while he is free to travel anywhere in the world, he would have to do so looking like a hideous Beast.While the addition of the book may make us feel empathetic towardthe Beast, it's an odd item to include in the film.After Belle and the Beastreturn back to the castle (it's not really clear how they get back), the book is never seen or mentioned again. That's odd in itself because the introduction of a book that could let you travel anywhere seems like it wouldbe a big deal.Instead, its inclusion raises so many more questions:How does the magic of the book work'Does the book transport people only to different places or anywhere in time'Can they be seen by anyone else when they transport to another location or are they there in spirit'How often does the Beast use the book'Whendid the Enchantress even have time to leave this with the Beast' Did she just stop by the library after casting a spell on the entire castle and village'Can anyone use this book or just the Beast'The book is also a bit distracting. Itspowers feel way too similar to something out of Watson's previous big franchise, "Harry Potter." The book seemsto work like ateleportation device which allows the users to apparate to another locationimmediately.The fact that we never learn more about the Enchantress also makes the introduction of the book feel like a missed opportunity. Where did she get it from and why leave it with the Beast since it seems like such a useful artifact'It looks like it was solely inserted just to tell us about Belle's mother. If that's the case, the film could have done more to lean into the Beast learning about Belle's loss since it was revealed he also lost his mother due to sickness. However, the two never share a moment to bond over both losing their mothers to an illness. Instead, they bond over books, Shakespeare, and being seen as odd by others.The only reason the book seems to be included in the film is to provide a way to tell us about Belle's mother that wasn't just aflashback in a song.Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Disney is remaking 19 of its classic cartoons as live-action films ' here they all are
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