Beastly: Love is Never Ugly

A Summary, Reflection Review and Appreciation

The Story:

Beastly is about the seventeen year old Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) who has aesthetic orientation that the bright life belongs to those who possess good looks or physical qualities. He was influenced by the mindset of his father. Thus, he was spoiled and shallow. He was occupied with boastfulness of his appearance and filled with so much confidence to himself. With that attitude, he chooses to humiliate Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen), a witch masquerading as a high school student. Unknown to Kyle, Kendra has a magical power. She teaches him a lesson though transforming him into someone as unattractive or best to say “beastly” in appearance. Kyle hides himself from public. He was even deserted by his father and sends him instead of a blind man to accompany him and also leaves to him their family maid. But, hiding alone cannot solve his problem. He must find someone who can love him despite of his appearance. He has only one year to make himself be back to his old self. Eventually, he notices his quite classmate Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) who can prove that “Love is Never Ugly.” Through the pure heart of Lindy, Kyle realizes that love never looks through eyes but through heart.

Reflection:

Having this story, I remember the book written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery “The Little Prince” which has a famous line saying, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Blaise Paschal also declares in his philosophy that “Heart has its reason that mind cannot comprehend.” It is just simply said that heart does not analyze the superficialness of appearance rather looks to the deeper essence of the (being or) person such as the goodness itself.

Beautiful and goodness always co-related. The problem is that the usual conception of beauty today is always about how good-looking the appearance is. Beauty is the unity of goodness in oneself or the capacity to maintain goodness in his holistic personality. Sadly, our eyes are already influenced by the orientation that what is beautiful are those good-looking in appearance. Thus, here some characters such as Lindy (Beastly), the fox (The Little Prince), and Belle (Beauty and the Beast) to remind us that the true love works not by sight of eyes but by heart and soul. Love is really not an ugly if it comes from the sincerity of heart. No matter what, love works in the way that cannot be explained by reason alone but by the unconditional commitment of one’s heart.

In the story, I recognize the essence of using the characters of a humble maid and a blind person that makes oneself realizes the value of humility in spirit and the sight of the heart. I find those characters as best persons to accompany a spoiled and shallow personality. Those qualities can awake the soul and open the heart. Those humble in spirit could teach someone to lower one’s pride in order for him to look down to what is essential that is just existing in front of him/her. Sometimes we look so far that we forget to feel those who really care for us and love us. In the same way, those blind in sight yet awoke in heart can teach someone to realize the value of what you cannot see but you can feel. Sometimes, we neglect what we feel because we are so pre-occupied with the thought of what is good for you are those pleasing in your sight alone. Yet, in your heart, there is a living emotion of care and love that you are hesitant to give because of pride.

How good it is to love the most beautiful someone in our life. It is our heart who could find them. Just open the eyes of your heart and you will realize that he/she is already beside you. Love is never ugly if you love through your heart.

Review and Appreciation

The story of “Beastly” is a fairy tale for the big boys and girls. It is a contemporary version of the classical “Beauty and the Beast”. Alex Flinn makes the story more interesting to the readers as we face the modern era. Though the concept is not already original and new, but the author was able to make it new in terms of modern settings and plot such as modern school atmosphere and another version of aesthetic philosophy. Daniel Barnz directed the movie with great execution as he was able to portray the deepest feeling of the story. He was able to extract the essence of the story through the natural flow of acting of the cast. Vanessa Hudgens acted naturally as she portrayed every act with innocence in her eyes. Her innocence makes the scene not just a modern fairy tale but a true to life experience. Alex Pettyfer is really fit to the character as he possessed the looks that can be envied by many. His portrayal is great, too. He was able to portray the transition of the character from spoiled and boastful to a renewed better self. However, the sincerity on such transition was not so visible on the scene. Personally, it is good but still lacking. On some events on the movie, there are hanging questions such as why Lindy leaves her father so easily when they face in trouble. It also vague to understand what is the initial motive of Kyle in looking after Lindy. Is it to make Lindy the means to solve his problem or is it really love? Watching the movie, it seems that Kyle is so preoccupied of getting back his “good-looking self again and not to the sincerity of love that ideally should be portrayed. Yes, the good idea was delivered but just lacking in execution.