THIS MONTH I REFUSE TO SEE...

BEASTLY!

This weekend Vanessa Hudgens will star in Beastly, a re-imagining of the old tale and Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast. It doesn't take more than one glance at the trailer for this mess of all messes to realize that the studios are trying to cash in on all the Twi-hards out there. Although this film may not star anybody from the actual Twilight films, its hard to miss the similarities between the two flicks - or worse yet, the damage these kinds of films have on today's youth.

Instead of someone like Edward -a vampire unaccepted by society and feared by the local community, you get someone like Kyle - a used-to-be-pretty boy now turned hideous and rejected by those around him. Its all teen drama and its misunderstood teen rebellion fueled by our heroines ego, which is feeding off of the fact that shes doing something 'good' by liking an outcast. You don't ever have to watch the movie to realize that at some point, she will have it out with somebody who criticizes her. Getting high off overcoming adversity is what these films are all about, anyways.

Now, I don't hate the uglies or those who are handicapped or anybody that triumphs despite their shortcomings. There's inspiration in it and to be hopeful and follow your dreams and to have pure, unadulterated ambition is a great high. But when its dwindled down to something as shallow as loving someone who's disfigured - only to have your happy ending be one where he becomes beautiful again, then what kind of lesson are we really learning? More importantly, what impact does that have on those who believe in this type of romance, or better yet - those of us unlucky enough to be disfigured in some way who cant turn into a prince before the credits roll.

Beastly, in the end, (as much as it tries to be), will not be about self image, it will not be about confidence and it will not be about acceptance. It will be about the one thing its been about since its conception - pure and utter bullshit. If that's what your into, Beastly opens March 4th.