Now that the promotion is out of the way, its time to delve into things between Belle and the Beast. There are a few specific things that struck me after watching the film.
1. The Relationship Between Belle and the Beast
There are many things that are different in this relationship than in first wave relationships. First, Belle and the Beast actually spend time together before falling in love. Granted, it was because he takes her as a prisoner, but they spend some quality time reading, playing in the snow, eating, and dancing before they say they love each other. First wave princess Snow White meets her prince one time (and runs away from him) and then doesn't see him again until he kisses her and wakes her up from a spell. Over time, Disney seems to let its princesses spend more time with the princes before they live happily ever after. Also, the phrase "I love you" is spoken in these film, whereas in the older films it is just suggested that the two people love each other as they ride off into the sunset together.
Something that hit me harder as an adult than as a child is that the Beast is an actual Beast. His paws dwarf Belle's dainty hands, and his chest is broader than even Gaston's. Some argue that Belle experiences Stockholm syndrome, while others deny it. A story that was supposed to be about loving people for who they are on the inside falls flat because of the unnatural love between an animal and a girl. It is a shame that memes like this exist since the authors had good intentions, but it really is quite an odd story when you think about it.
2. Plot Holes
There are many, many, many articles that detail the numerous plot holes in the story. How does Chip exist? How does the portrait of Adam as an adult travel through time? Whose clothes is Belle wearing? These questions and more have haunted me since I rewatched the movie, and they are quite interesting to read. Perhaps some of them will be answered in the live action film in 2017! The trailer already features a more realistic, younger looking portrait of Adam.
(2017) 
(1991)3. Belle as a Pseudo-Feminist
The second wave of princesses are generally known as the pseudo-feminists. There are a few things that are considerably better about Belle than her predecessors. She loves to read although many of her fellow villagers call her odd for being a woman who reads. She doesn't cook or clean like Cinderella and Snow White, and she spends some time with her man before she lets him put a ring on it. She also doesn't just go for the first guy she meets, even though Gaston is admired by the villagers for being handsome and strong. She doesn't just sing about a prince like Snow White and Cinderella. Rather, Belle sings about "adventure in the great wide somewhere" and wanting more than "this provincial life."
Yet Belle choses to abandon these dreams to marry a prince and live in a giant castle, so the story doesn't end much differently than the first wave films. At least we know Belle gets a library.
Hopefully by casting the incredibly talented and dedicated feminist Emma Watson as Belle in the live action film, audiences will get to see more qualities of the princess that make her suitable as a role model for young kids other than the fact that she likes books.
Overall, this film was significantly better than anything in the first wave, though not flawless. A few questions remain in my mind, though. Why does Disney always give the princesses non-human pals (animals or inanimate objects)? Why have all the mothers we've seen either been evil step-mothers (first wave) or simply absent (second wave)? And lastly, what effect do these choices have on young children who watch these movies? Hopefully in class we can discuss and find out.
I leave you with one last meme.
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