This afternoon we've got more from CBS Film's modernized "Beauty and the Beast" tale, Beastly, which stars Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris, Peter Krause and is directed by Daniel Barnz. Bloody Disgusting has got our first look at the title treatment, along with the newest photo of Alex Pettyfer in the film arriving in theaters July 30. Beastly is an edgy teen romance about learning how to see past false surfaces to discover true inner beauty.
"Kyle Kingson (Alex Pettyfer) has it all – looks, intelligence, wealth and opportunity – and a wicked cruel streak. Prone to mocking and humiliating “aggressively unattractive” classmates, he zeroes in on Goth classmate Kendra, inviting her to the school’s extravagant environmental bash. Kendra accepts, and, true to form, Kyle blows her off in a particularly savage fashion. She retaliates by casting a spell that physically transforms him into everything he despises. Enraged by his horrible and unrecognizable appearance he confronts Kendra and learns that the only solution to the curse is to find someone that will love him as he is – a task he considers impossible.
Repulsed by his appearance, Kyle’s callous father banishes him to Brooklyn with a sympathetic housekeeper (LisaGay Hamilton) and blind tutor (Neil Patrick Harris). As Kyle ponders how to overcome the curse and get his old life back, he chances upon a drug addict in the act of killing a threatening dealer. Seizing the opportunity, Kyle promises the addict freedom and safety for his daughter Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) if she will consent to live in Kyle’s Brooklyn home. Thus begins Kyle’s journey to discover true love in this hyper-modern retelling of the classic “Beauty and the Beast” story.
Vanessa Hudgens (“High School Musical”) and Alex Pettyfer (“Wild Child,” “Stormbreaker”) star in “Beastly” for CBS Films, the film division within CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS). Daniel Barnz (“Phoebe In Wonderland”) is directing the project which commenced principal photography in Montreal in mid-June 2009.
Susan Cartsonis (“No Reservations,” “What Women Want”) is producing through her company, Storefront Pictures. Roz Weisberg is co-producing. In addition to his role as director, Barnz wrote the screenplay, which is based on the Alex Flinn novel of the same name."
You know, I might have given this a chance if it hadn't been for the earlier released shot of what the "Beast" looks like. If you ask me, a film that tries to sell the moral of "looks aren't as important as what's on the inside" and then actually holds back on the appearance of the titular Beast is a film that can only be described as a shallow, corporate teeny bopper film with no soul. Anyone who can't see that is blind.
Comments Page 1 of 1 | You have to be logged in to comment! If you don't have an account register now for free! Your account allows you to post comments and reviews, upload videos and images, access or our forums, write personal blogs, and maintain your profile.