Beauty and the Beast

Everyone has that special movie about which it is impossible to be objective. This is that movie for me. I saw it first when my son was seven and he brought it home when a schoolmate loaned it to him. It instantly became a favorite in our house. My son, my daughter, and I have a special bond that this film signifies to this day. From the moment Belle sings, "I want much more than this provincial life," you know you are going to have an experience that goes beyond the ordinary, and you get one that goes beyond your wildest dreams. This film goes into superlatives that leave you breathless. It is hard to list all the summa cum laudes in this film. Disney broke new ground in this film by using a UNIX workstation for the ballroom scene that enabled a three-dimensional representation of the dance sequence, showing Belle and the Beast dancing through the ballroom under the chandelier. The movie features the voices of Paige O'Hara (Belle), Robby Benson (Beast), Jerry Orbach (Lumière), David Ogden Stiers), Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury), Chip (Bradley Pierce), and Wardrobe (Joanne Worley). Alan Menken's musical score is outstanding; the title song won the 1991 Best Song Oscar. The combination of a winning score, superb animation, and an unusually magical depth that the cast manages to create -- the viewer will be too spellbound while watching it to be able to say what it is that captivates so totally -- makes this film one that is not to be missed by young and old alike. The story is a traditional tale of a prince turned into a beast by a spell cast by an enchantress. The spell can be broken only if, by the end of his 21st birthday, he falls in love with someone who will also love him. An enchanted rose blooms as a symbol of the spell, and the last petal will fall at the end of the spell. The beauty is a beautiful woman, Belle, in a small French village, who is very intelligent and reads voraciously. She spends much of her time dreaming of living in the worlds she reads about in the books, any place other than the provincial village life she knows. She lives with her father, Maurice, a rather eccentric inventor, and both of them seem to be regarded as odd and unconventional types by the village residents. Gaston, a handsome but arrogant hunter, hopes to marry Belle for no other reason than to be able to say that he has married the most beautiful woman in the village; it is a matter of ego more than feeling, because he admits to no real feeling for anyone other than himself. Maurice heads out for a fair but goes astray from the path and ends up at a castle. The castle turns out to be enchanted, and the ornaments at the castle turn out to be lifelike beings who welcome him. Cogsworth, the pompous clock, Lumière, the romantic candlelabra, Mrs. Potts, the motherly teapot, and Chip, the boyish teacup, all welcome him. All is well until the master, the surly, growling Beast, enters the room, shouting that Maurice is not welcome and takes him prisoner. At a later time in the film, when Belle comes looking for her father, Belle begs the Beast to let her take her father's place, so she becomes the Beast's prisoner. The clash of the high-spirited Belle and the ill-tempered Beast is inevitable, for when the Beast loses his temper with Belle and frightens her, she tries to flee him. Wolves try to attack her, and the Beast comes to her rescue. Somehow the incident draws them together, and the resistance slowly causes the two to start to relate to one another. Before long, the two have become very close. The Beast allows Belle to look into his enchanted mirror, and she sees her father is quite ill. When the Beast sees how distressed Belle is, he releases her. When Belle goes back to her father, she realizes that her feelings for the Beast have changed. As she and Maurice discover, Gaston, in an attempt to intimidate Belle into marrying him, have plotted to put Maurice into an insane asylum. When Gaston discovers that Belle has developed affections for the Beast, he leads the townspeople on a lynch to destroy the Beast. As the lynch mob approaches the castle, all the objects in the castle prepare for the onslaught. Furniture, kitchen utensils, decorations, virtually every object in the castle, turn on the townspeople, and defeat them in the battle. They rejoice in their victory in the end. The only persons left in the battle are Gaston and the Beast. The Beast is so depressed because he has lost Belle that he does not resist and lets Gaston assault him. Suddenly Belle appears, and the Beast rises up against Gaston, throwing him from the castle roof. The Beast is in Belle's arms, dying, as Belle tells him that she loves him. Suddenly, in those last moments, the last petal of the rose falls and the spell is broken. The Beast is transformed into a man. The objects again become human, and the movie ends happily. Somehow at all the right moments in the film, the songs come in to give the story a push forward. Whether it is the opening song that introduces Belle and explains why she can never be content with the life in her little viilage, the song of the conceited Gaston that tells why he can think of nobody in the world except himself, the song that signals the turning point in the relationship between Belle and the Beast, or the title song itself, the music graces the film in the most miraculous way. The film went on to become a Broadway hit as well, and one of the songs from the Broadway play, "Human Again," that was not in the original movie was added in later versions. Too often when the words "entertainment for the whole family" are used, the words mean "boring and awful." Many adults also think of animated films as too juvenile to be good. Such prejudices should be cast aside when viewing this film; it is pure pleasure from start to finish.

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney film and one of my all time favorite films. Disney really did an excellent job with this film. With great animation, a great story with humor and heart, a timeless message, fantastic songs and score and an outstanding array of characters, this film became an instant masterpiece and no Disney film (and many others) has ever topped it. Beauty and the Beast is a film for all ages and although it's only 19 years old, it will be an eternal classic for years to come. This new Diamond Edition makes Beauty and the Beast better than ever. Beauty and the Beast comes to Blu-Ray looking fantastic. I think no traditional-animated film has looked better. It looks brand-new with no dirt, no edge enhancement, no grain and no artifacts to be found in the print. You will be surpriused with the rich color palette that the film has and the huge amount of detail of the drawings. This Blu-Ray transfer does justice to the animators work in te film. The sound is equally impressive with a 7.1 HD sound that will rock your house. Dialogue is clear, the songs sound beautiful and the score is magnificent. This film presentation is absolutely like the movie itself. Simply astounding. As with the previous platinum DVD release, you have three versions of the film to choose: the theatrical 1991 version, the extended 2002 version (which is the version I prefer because Human Again is a fantastic number) and the Work in Progress version. Aside from the three presentations, you have a lot of bonus material (and I mean a lot!!). In disc one you have an audio-commentary, a conversation with legend compososer Alan Menken and a feature that's called Broadway Beginnings which features different stage actors that have been part of the Beauty and the Beast musical on Broadway. Rounding up Disc one is an alternate opening and a deleted scene (which are a little long but great to see). If you are still thirsty for more (and you should be), in Disc Two you'll find the inmmersive documentary Beyond Beauty. Just like the Hyperion Studios documentary in Snow White, this feaure covers everything that concerns the making of the film. You need a lot of your time to see everything here but is pelnty of fun and very informative. You also have some games and the Classic DVD Bonus Features ported from the Platinum DVD. A DVD copy is also offered. It also has the three versions of the film plus the audiocommentary and looks great for SD (better than the platinum) but it's a far cry from the quality of the Blu-Ray. Beauty and the Beast is a fantastic film and a must-own for everyone. This Diamond Edition is a no-brainer purchase or upgrade and you should buy it. An excellent edition for an Exellent film. Completely recommended. Note: You should know that this Diamond Edition as the Diamond for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, comes in two presentations: one in a Blu-Ray case and the other in a DVD case. However, both editions have the same content: Two BDs and 1 DVD. If you want the 2-Disc DVD-only edition you'll have to wait until Nov. 23. The DVD-only edition won't have the same amount of bonus features as the BD. PD: Some ads promoting Disney new releases look very exciting including: Tangled (in theaters Nov. 24) Toy Story 3(On DVD and Blu-Ray Nov. 2) Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-movie Collection Special Edition (On DVD and Blu-Ray Nov. 30) A Christmas Carol (on DVD and Blu-Ray Nov. 16) Bambi: Diamond Edition (on Blu-Ray combo and DVD Spring 2011) The Lion KIng: Diamond Edition (on Blu-Ray combo and DVD Fall 2011) Dumbo: 70th Anniversary (on Blu-Ray and DVD Feb. 2011) Alice in Wonderland: 60th Anniversary (on Blu-Ray and DVD 2011)

Belle is bored with life in her village. Her only escape is her books, and she longs to have an adventure of her own. When her father heads out to a fair, he gets lots, and Belle finds him in an enchanted castle. The objects are thrilled, because if she and their master, the Beast, fall in love, they will all be freed from the enchantment. But will Belle be able to see past the outward appearance? And what about the handsome bore back home who wants to marry Belle? I feel in love with this movie the first time I saw it, and that love has only grown over the years. The story is the right mix of fun and uncertainty. Gaston was a wonderful addition to the mix because his story was the part I was most uncertain about the first time around. The artwork on the film catches your eye from the first shot of the castle, and doesn't let go. Beside the incredible background shots are wonderful drawings of the characters. I especially love the boyish excitement they manage to give the Beast in several scenes. Finally, there's the music. Every song adds to the story and is memorable in its own right. This DVD is perfect for any fan of this movie. Disc 1 includes three versions of the film. The first is the "in progress" version shown to the New York film festival 6 weeks before the premier of the movie in 1991. While it's fun to have, I won't be watching it regularly. The second version is the original release. And finally comes the special edition, with the added scene and "Human Again." Ironically, this is probably my least favorite of the songs added to the Broadway version, but it does advance the story. And, there's always the option of watching the original version. Obviously, the version that you are supposed to watch is the special edition, as the audio commentary and sing along bonus features only work with this option. All three come in Dolby 5.1 sound, which sounds great. The second disc features hours of bonus material. Most of it focuses on the making of this movie. Everything is covered, from original idea through characters and the Broadway version and special edition. Galleries show character designs over the course of the project. Also featured is the original treatments for "Human Again" and "Be Our Guest." Celebrity voices give background on the original story and Disney versions of classic tales. And there's a fun documentary as the stars of "Even Stevens" take a backstage look at all the work that goes into making a feature animated film. This is the first annimated film to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. Watching the film, the reason is clear. This is something the entire family can enjoy. Don't miss your opportunity to catch this classic film.

Everyone has a favorite Disney film. You know, the one you saw at one point in your life and stuck with you forever. Not to mention that there so many classics to choose from. For me that film is Beauty and the Beast. I start with that because if while reading this, I wax poetic about how this is the best of the Disney films and a work of genius while the reader is thinking "Well, its not Fantasia (or insert your favorite here) but its not bad." Please understand that the film is very close to my heart so it is hard for me to be objective. The first and only hand animated film to be nominated for a best picture Academy Award, Beauty and the Beast is a major departure from the classic Disney formula, at least where the Disney Princesses are concerned. Belle is not your run of the mill damsel in distress, waiting to be saved by Prince Charming. While the setting of the film seems from a long time ago, this is a firmly modern main character, especially for a woman. Everything is turned on its head. Belle reads and thinks (a bad thing according to the villain in the film) and in her notion of marriage the relationship should be emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Not to mention equality. Not 20 minutes into the film our heroine makes a very hard act of self sacrifice to save her father (as opposed to fathers helping their daughters in other films, if they are there at all) and not long after that gets in trouble for her curiosity rather than her beauty (which is usually what gets princesses into trouble). Her relationship with the Beast doesn't exactly "click" from the get go. They argue and fight (some of the best moments in the film)and while Beast does save her life at one point. It is Belle who saves him in the end, again turning a stereotype on its head. Of course, you can't get away with all these changes in tradition without something "Disney" to anchor the film and all this drama. The Fantasy element is very much present. Every secondary character that lives in the Beast's castle is some sort of stationary object. And you can't talk about a film like this and not mention the score and music that goes with it. The songs are all memorable in the best Disney tradition but the score, in my opinion, is one of the best ever by Disney. It perfectly complements the darkness of film. (Who would ever think you could use darkness and Disney in the same anything.) Disney has so far done an outstanding job releasing its back catalog into Blu-Ray. The transfers so far have been pretty much perfect and this film is no exception. The colors look amazing and the detail is so remarkable that if you look closely you can see the pencil strokes in the drawn characters beneath the ink. It is that good. The only thing missing from this release is a digital copy. I'm having a hard time understanding the logic behind Disney's combo packs. Some include the digital copy, some don't. A little bit of consistency (preferably in the "included digital copy" department) would be greatly appreciated. In closing, this is a must have release if you are a fan of Disney films. It is an incredible film. The transfer is awesome. The bonus features are plentiful. Despite lacking the digital copy, I highly recommend this release.

Beauty and the Beast has been, by far, my most favorite of the classic Disney Princess films. It has everything you could ever want: a beautifully developed romance, thrills and suspense, action, a rather well developed setting, and a beautiful environment. And need I say the music still stands as awesome? All in all, nothing needs to be said as most of us know that the movie itself is simply beautiful and stunning. Wouldn't have lasted this long if it wasn't. But what of the package itself? CONTENT ISSUES: Well, in case some folks don't remember, there's really nothing offensive in this film and is all around safe for all ages. The only thing that is remotely possibly offensive is that Gaston's fangirls show a little cleavage since they have slightly lower bustlines in their dresses. The PACKAGE: The inclusions are definitely worthy of a 25th Anniversary release. You've got 3 versions of the film (original theatrical, special edition, and sing-along). That alone is awesome. But what I especially loved was the mini-documentaries and interviews with the voice actors, composers, a look at Disney's fairytale inspirations and library. Actually seeing the recording session videos was an especially revealing treat, too! What's more, when you connect this film to the "Disney Movies Anywhere" app/network (via digital code included in the package), you can unlock even more features. Blu-ray Transfer: Some folks have been noting some artifacts. In my case, I did not notice anything, but that may be because I was watching it on a flat screen with lowered "sharpness". But the issue seems not so much that the Blu-rays were badly transferred, but that our viewing technology is much sharper and less forgiving about old animation mistakes than older tech. Colors are certainly more vivid, but higher definition also lends itself to revealing more imperfections when watching media that was not originally produced with HD in mind (this was way back in 1991...before we even had dvds). So, if you are graphically sensitive, I would recommend turning down the sharpness (or even just watch the DVD version that's included). However, again, I didn't notice much to disappoint me at all.

It has been so much fun experiencing these with my four year old son. I saw this in the theater. I bought it, and it's definitely paid for itself, I've watched it over a half dozen times over two days with him. You can't go wrong with this classic. I made the mistake of renting Aladdin. We are on our third rental, I'm going to buy it as well. These movies are magical. The animation is beautiful. Movies just don't get better, no matter your age.

I've been a real animation junky all my life, though I spent many years unsatisfied as the medium itself seemed to in decline, no thanks to Hanna Barbera's mimimalized style popularized weekly cartoon shows like Yogi Bear, Flintstones, the Jetsons and even Scooby Doo -- and Japanese Anime made cartoons look like cheap Cartoons. But starting in 1988 with "Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the release of this exquisite 'Beauty' in 1991, Disney triumphantly reclaimed animation as the true artistic and dramatic medium. I saw the openings of both films in New York with a group of fellow tech and film theater folks and had the experience of seeing my colleagues jaws drop in awe in the opening moments of both films.These were people who dedicated to creating visual magic and I would have thought that nothing could astonish them, but when the viewer's eye was drawn through the enchanted forest to the Beast's castle, my friends and I were totally enchanted and stayed that way from beginning to end. The animation is gorgeous throughout, the orchestral score lush and the songs lovely. And, like the magnificent films of Disney's former animation glory days, the voices -- by a cast of wonderful actors Page O'Hara, Bobby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers and Angela Lansbury -- are wonderful. And one thing that Disney's stable of animators does so well -- bringing the actual characters of the actors into the animation -- is nothing short of magical. I saw it in this theater several times and then waited -- very impatiently -- for its release on video (cassette at that time). Over the years I have updated my copy from tape, to disk to Blue-Ray and digital each time marveled anew at the wonder of this beautiful film. I worried for a time that Disney might see this as a 'one and done' for animation of this quality, but thankfully Disney -- and the movie going public - can't get enough of terrific animation and computer animation has taken the medium to ever more magical heights. And it's rather ironic that in the last few years, Disney and others have combined the skills of animation to create 'live action'' version of beloved classics -- like 'Cinderella' a couple years ago and the soon to be released 'Beauty'. I'm probably among millions waiting anxiously for the release of the new film, but know that the animated version will lose none of its appeal.

Beauty and the Beast was released in theaters on November 13, 1991. Beauty and the Beast mainly tell the story of a Prince who became a hideous beast because he scorned an old peasant who becomes a beautiful enchantress. The enchantress realizes that the Prince selfish, coldhearted and unkind and put a spell on the castle and the residents who live their as well. Several years have past and Belle enters his life when he takes her father captive. Belle agrees to live in the castle as the Beast prisoner in exchange for the release of her father. Over several months there grow to like each other and that is where I am going to end so I don't give away the rest of the story. Unlike other reviews I have written I have given the time length on each one; this DVD is the exception to the rule. This DVD comes with three different versions of Beauty and the Beast: Work In Progress which was released at the New York Film Festival in September of 1991, Original Theatrical Release, and the Special Edition which has the song Human Again in it. My biggest beef with this 2 Disc DVD collection is Disc 2. There is so much repetitive and overlap it is way bother a second disc. The Pencil Version of Human again is play four times. When you get to Mrs. Potts section of the DVD where you The Making of Beauty and the Beast is just and edited version of Origins of Beauty and the Beast in Cogsworth & Lumiere's Library section. Whoever put Disc 2 together must not have had it all there. The movie (all three) Beauty and the Beast is great for the whole family and gets and AAAAA+++++. Disc 1 Scene Selection Set Up 1. Three Enchanting Versions of Beauty and the Beast a. Special Edition b. Original Theatrical Release c. Work In Progress 2. Spoken Languages a. English b. French 3. Captions Bonus Material 1. Three Enchanting Versions of Beauty and the Beast a. Special Edition b. Original Theatrical Release c. Work In Progress 2. Sing - Along Track 3. Maurice's Invention Workshop Game 4. Audio Commentary (Special Edition Only) Sneak Peeks 1. The Jungle Book II 2. The Lion King 3. Lilo & Stitch 4. Beauty & the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas 5. Sleeping Beauty: Special Edition 6. Walt Disney World 7. Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year Play Break the Spell Disc 2 Cogsworth & Lumiere's Library: FOR THE ULTIMATE FILM FAN Origins of Beauty and the Beast Development 1. Bringing the Story To the Screen 2. Early Presentation Reel Story 1. Finding the Story 2. Alternate Version: "Be Our Guest" 3. Introduction To Deleted Song by Don Hahn: "Human Again" 4. Deleted Song: "Human Again" Music 1. Music Magic 2. Alternate Score: The Transformation 3. Introduction to Deleted Song by Alan Menken: "Human Again" 4. Deleted Song: "Human Again" The Characters 1. Strength of Character 2. Vocal Heroes: The Voice Talent 3. Character Art Galleries a. Belle b. Beast c. Lumiere d. Mrs. Potts & Chip e. Cogsworth f. Gaston & Le Fou g. Maurcie & Philippe h. The Townspeople i. Other Enchanted Objects Production Design 1. The Stage Is Set 2. Concept Art Design 3. Layouts & Backgrounds Animation 1. Animation 2. Animation Tests, Roughs, & Clean Up 3. The Transformation: Pencil Version 4. A Transformation: Glen Keane Tricks of the Trade 1. Animating With Computers 2. Camera Move Test Release and Reaction 1. A High Profile Preview 2. Release and Reaction 3. Awards 4. Howard Ashman: In Memoriam 5. Trailers & TV Spots a. Original Release Trailer b. Large Formal Release Trailer c. TV Spot #1 d. TV Spot #2 e. TV Spot #3 f. TV Spot #4 6. Original Release Publicity Gallery 7. Large Format Publicity Gallery 8. Beauty and the Beast Music Video: Performed by Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson The Broadway Musical 1. Broadway Bound 2. Broadway Musical Publicity Gallery 3. Costume Design Gallery The Special Edition Chip's Fun And Games: FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART Disney's Animation Magic: Go Backstage of the Disney Studio 1. Play All 2. Introduction 3. Storyboard 4. Character Design 5. Animation 6. Effects Animation 7. Computer Animation 8. Sound Effects Chip's Challenge: Musical Memory Game Beauty and the Beast Music Video Performed by Jump 5 Mrs. Potts' Engaging Treats: FUN FOR ALL AGES The Making of Beauty and the Beast 1. Origins of Beauty and the Beast 2. Bringing the Story to the Big Screen 3. Finding the Story 4. Musical Magic 5. Strength of Character 6. Animation 7. Release and Reaction 8. Happily Ever After Mrs. Potts Personality Game: Which character from Beauty and the Beast do you most resemble? The Story Behind the Story: celebrity hosts reveal the stories behind Disney's greatest classics 1. Play All 2. Introduction 3. Cinderella - Paige O'Hara 4. The Lion King - James Earl Jones 5. Pocahontas - David Ogden Stiers 6. The Jungle Book - Robby Benson 7. Sleeping Beauty - Jodi Benson 8. Mulan - Ming-Na 9. The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Angela Lansbury Beauty and the Beast Music Video: Performed by Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson The Secret of the West Wing: FOR THE ADVENTURER Break the Spell Adventure Game VHS EXTRAS Previews I. Treasure Planet II. The Jungle Book 2 III. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas IV. Lilo & Stitch V. Sleeping Beauty Bonus Features I. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas II. The Lion King - Imax Version III. Beauty and the Beast Performed by Jump 5