It's a family movie, not just a "kids movie". Also, it's incredibly romantic.

@mechajutaro said:

... Must confess, I'm similarly perplexed by your sentiments on this subject, Ren: did you not also begin a thread advocating a remake of Misery? This in a climate that has been...well, not exactly uneager to unleash such product-remakes, that is- on the viewing public.

Oh, I'm not against remakes at all, or reinterpretations for that matter. I'm not surprised they remade Beauty and the Beast, it's a no-brainer financially, as you have an built-in audience, can market it globally and has lots of avenues for merchandising... I'm sure there is an argument for redoing it as a live action instead of an animation... No issues from me on either count

What I am genuinely surprised at is the enthusiasm from my friends... These are young professionals in their late-20s to mid-30s, who generally are into darker more adult themes when they go to the cinema or watch TV series. They like earnest Oscar dramas, psychological thrillers and watch shows like The Crown or The Affair as opposed to watching comic-book movies and sitcoms...

I would have struggled to get them to see La La Land if it didn't star Gosling and if wasn't nominated for an Oscar... Yet they line up for Beauty and the Beast?!

My interest in Misery is completely separate... I'd love to see a different take on that story, even if it is not just a remake, but an homage with different setting, characters and even changes to plot... Kinda like how Dial M for Murder was paid tribute to in A Perfect Murder.

This is...such a closed minded way of thinking. Its like people who still think Video Games are just for kids. Entertainment for the most part has no age limit. Of course you're not going to see many, if any adults watching Bob The Builder, or toddlers watching The Shinning. But those are two extremes. Disney movies, and by extension most animated or family movies such as Shrek, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, The Love Bug etc. have always been made as family films, for those who are 5, 45 or 75.

woah... easy, I'm not judging your or my friends' film choices... they're all valid choices... I'm just trying to understand the appeal...

clearly there's something going on if my friends are reluctant to watch La La Land because it's a musical, but rush to watch a Disney movie... I'm just wondering if there is something else going on, that is to say that there might be another dynamic at play, nostalgia for a more innocent time, for one's youth, for one's childhood?

I'm not saying that they shouldn't watch these... I'm just trying to understand the appeal to an older audience... are you suggesting that they approach it the same way a child does or that maybe they're getting something else out of it that children don't see?

You know what's funny? When I went to the theater to watch "Beauty and the Beast" I saw nothing but adults there. There was not one child, or at least I didn't see any. Which makes me think that people just want to watch family-oriented movies.

If you don't have kids, you're probably watching dumb comedies or depressing dramas. Which is why people are eager to see retellings of classics from their childhood. It's refreshing to watch a film that has a good story without the sex, excessive violence, or anything else lewd.

I understand your curiosity, especially as you say your friends usually like darker movies, that would puzzle me too. Personally I take your post as more evidence that this movie, which I absolutely love (but I am a fairy tale loving romantic, so no surprise there), is just bursting at the seams which total charm and wonder, enough to overcome even sceptics. And I think the finishing touch is the songs, ranging from at least catchy to wonderful, that lifts the movie to a whole different level to me.

And yes, it is TOTAL romantic escapism, not just for kids.

My wife and I now in our late 50s raised 4 children all in their 30s now, one almost 40. We have 2 grandsons the oldest now 18. Needless to say I have seen every Disney and all other cartoons with these children and grandchildren. Most films I've tolerated, some just hated, a few I've enjoyed, but BatB is something one of a kind. I absolutely loved the story and its characters. It is my favorite and I have watched it a number of times, many alone, never tiring of it. So I'm not the least bit surprised that you saw many adults see this film without children in tow. Come to think of it, that's a better way to watch it, no distractions.

I don't know if this answers your question. I wanted to see it because I liked the cartoon version as a kid (which is still entertaining as an adult, too), so I was dying of curiosity to see how the remade version was. And I enjoyed it.

That said...afterward, I took both my adult (older adult) parents to see it....neither one had much memory of the cartoon. My mom "really loved" it and my dad said it was one of the better movie experiences he'd had in a while. He got into the story, he even cringed at the end when the last rose petal fell, worried that they were doomed for eterenity...haha.

So....... I think they did make this movie in a way that could appeal to all ages. I would not say it is a "full on kids" movie, it seems more like a "movie that everyone can enjoy." And for me, it is kinda escapism.

@Renovatio said:

I got dragged to this from a girl I was dating. I was bored to death, I'm a 34 year old male, I like mature adult movies, I actually really love mature romances: Eyes wide shut, Sid&Nancy, Badlands, Drive, Wild At heart, Light sleeper, Bugsy, Days of heaven, One night stand, American gigolo, Yanks, Internal affairs etc.. But I can't understand how some adults would want to see a children's movie without their children there. Bottom line G or PG is for kids folks. This is not an adults movie, I can only summarize that these women had some family issues and want to stay as a child for nostalgia reasons? I could relate that to us guys like to watch dumb actions or horrors.... Yet those films are rated for adults?

The animated Disney movie is a huge childhood reference for many current adults, so that explains a part of the adult audience.

@Badlands1 said:

@Renovatio said:

This is not an adults movie, I can only summarize that these women had some family issues and want to stay as a child for nostalgia reasons? I could relate that to us guys like to watch dumb actions or horrors.... Yet those films are rated for adults?

Lol I guess my 73-year-old dad is a woman with family issues who wants to stay a child, then ;). I mean, it's possible he does have family issues, but ... haha. It's just a feel good movie, and you didn't like it. Which is okay. But it doesn't automatically mean the adults who did enjoy it have issues, either. I like a lot of mature adult movies too, Muholland Drive for instance I think is one of the best movies out there...Cabaret is really good...etc. But I still enjoyed this one too. Eh?

Adult coloring books are something that've been used in psych wards and therapy for a long time. They're a good tool for some people. I don't know how exactly, but suddenly over the past couple years they exploded as a trendy fad amongst neurotypical individuals. No surprise that the trend is now falling off rapidly as these individuals realize such an activity isn't that well suited for them, though I'm sure there are some people who genuinely just like to color and will keep using them for that purpose.

Harry Potter is popular among many young adults 'cause these young adults literally grew up with Harry Potter. When I was in kindergarten and first grade, the first couple Harry Potter books were just coming out and they promoted heavily at school book fairs. Those of us who liked to read took to them right away. The movies span my adolescence from elementary school all the way through high school graduation; the final movie came out right before my sophomore year at uni began. Those films were popular and renowned, including amongst those who'd never read the books. Harry Potter is a cultural force with people my age, and it has every reason to be. It's also charming and intriguing enough to endear itself to those who are older. I'm 25, but my sister is 38 and she likes Harry Potter more than I do!

The Disney animated Beauty and the Beast was a popular and well loved movie with people my age as we were growing up. Most Disney creations themselves are pretty timeless anyway, in my opinion. Now we're young adults, many of us who liked the animated film before still like it now, and of course we will be interested in this live action version. There's nostalgia, sure, but there's also genuine interest. There's charm to this kind of film. People who like Disney, fairytales, and/or such fantasy-romance stories in general, which includes people of all ages, may also be interested in this movie and there's nothing wrong with it. It's innocent fun. People are allowed to enjoy themselves.

Movies like this aren't just for children. They're for all ages.

What's surprising to me are the people who automatically assume extremely negative things about anyone who'd like this movie while sporting a vaguely condescending tone, assuming they have "family issues" or have some other "severe" problem. Ignorant and rude.

@Damienracer said:

I'm also surprised that so many adults who must be severely and dehabilitatingly nostalgic would watch this and that it is almost at 1billion, you couldn't pay me to watch this movie.

Well not everyone can be as closed minded as you.

Why restrict yourself to only "adult" films? Just because a film targets a family audience it doesn't mean that an adult can't enjoy it. Saw BatB with Mme LeMarchand and her (adult) daughter and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Mme LeMarchand wants to buy it when it's released, which isn't something she often says. One of my favourite films last year was the Pete's Dragon remake.

As for La La Land, I'm quite partial to musicals, but the trailers didn't sell it to me at all. I'll catch it when it's on cable, but I'm not holding out much hope for it - I can't abide jazz.