Emma Watson's Belle sings in a trailer released by Disney for next month's release of "Beauty and the Beast," and the Internet responded with more than 700,000 views on YouTube.
Watson, the former "Harry Potter" star, is seen walking through a village as she sings the movie's opening song with other cast members in a one-minute clip.
"In the original 1991 version of Disney’s animated 'Beauty and the Beast,' the winsome, bookish Belle strolled through her village singing this lyric, a dreamer's lament for escape and adventure, reported Entertainment Weekly's Anthony Breznican.
"But in the new live-action remake (out March 17), Emma Watson delivers the line in a way that’s more urgent and heartbreaking than before. This time, there's more darkness at the edge of this provincial life."
In the movie version, Belle's independence and ideas are considered dangerous among those in the village, said Breznican.
"They see her as a threat," director Bill Condon told Entertainment Weekly. "It's that thing that remains under the surface. But when there's a real threat that unifies everybody, they start to look for other people who make them uncomfortable. That's a pretty common pattern."
Cosmopolitan's Gina Mei said Watson's brief singing performance helped build even more anticipation for the movie.
"With less than a month to go before its release, it's hard to imagine there's anything left that could possibly make the world more excited for 'Beauty and the Beast' – and yet somehow, Emma Watson has managed to do it again.
"… The video gives both an intimate look at Emma's character – reminding fans that the important details haven't changed – while also showing the provincial French village's astounding ability to throw some major shade."
Reviews from fans on social media, though, were mixed.
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