The (very) few of you from the beginning remember that this site was founded to honor the memory of George Michael. He’s the patron saint of the Brian’s Den, if you will. Today marks the three month anniversary of his tragic decision to give his heart away for good and join the the ranks of the Angelic Pop Duos of Heaven. I’m still picking up the pieces of my life, but I like to think he’s looking down on me every step of the way. I mean, think of all the great things that have happened since Last Christmas: the Pats win the Super Bowl, Yu-Gi-Oh!, John Wick 2, The Great Wall, Logan, and Beauty and the Beast came out, Tom Brady’s jersey was found, McDonald’s introduced chocolate Shamrock Shakes, chocolate covered strawberry Oreos, I introduced the world to Harry, Pie Tops, Lavar Ball came into the American conscious, the heat shield on my car fell off, I did my taxes, the Celtics didn’t trade for Jimmy Butler, the Oscars had the most legendary (staged?) live TV moment of all time, the Naked Chicken Chalupa changed my life forever, my birthday, and I got a new sweatshirt I really like. And that’s hardly everything. What a run. And all thanks to the spirit of Yog. His raw vocal power and sultry tones have been guiding my life from afar all this time. Needless to say his indomitable showmanship pumps through my veins. It seems only right to take a trip into the Great Beyond and pay tribute to our hero once more.
(So no one ever considered that he might be gay? Really? The 80s, man.)
All this remembrance has me in a reflective mood, and I need to do something unprecedented: I have to change one of my takes. Everyone who follows the Brian’s Den Facebook (don’t be afraid to give it a like) page may have seen that I implied that the original 1991 Beauty and the Beast was better than the remake. Well, after firing off my review, I went back and watched the cartoon for the first time in a few years. And, I must confess: I think I actually like the remake better. And not just because I may or may not be in love with Emma Watson. They added in a few new songs and all of them are money. That song Beast sang as he (spoiler alert for everyone who somehow hasn’t seen any version of one of the most beloved romances of all time) watched Belle ride away was some poetic and heart-wrenching stuff. Turning LeFou gay caused a stir on the internet, but he was already gay in the original so I don’t see what the big deal was. Either way, I’m glad Josh Gad sold his soul to Disney because he was delightful, as was the always great Luke Evans. And I kind of think this version of the servants were better, too. The castle was so beautiful. I’m rambling, but the bottom line is that I held the original as an unassailable classic in my mind, and I liked this new one more. So, for the first time (and I swear on the fate of my immortal soul the last time) I’m going to change my rating. From here on out, Beauty and the Beast will be rated 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀. I don’t feel great about wavering like this, but I can’t in good conscience leave it as it was.
So, uhhh, how about those sport games last night?
Brian's Den 