Two seemingly different individuals come together and fall in love. As the song goes - "tale as old as time" -
this theme is repeated beautifully in perhaps one of Disney's best animated movies. The story focuses mainly
on two individuals trying to find their place in society. Belle, who is your atypical woman for the time, believes
there is more to life than the one most people are living. And the Beast requires someone to love him before he
is trapped in a monstrous form. Tossed together because of Belle's love for her father, she finds a way to unlock
the human inside of the Beast. After a dramatic ending, Belle finds her prince and they live happily ever after.
Add some good music and a variety of magical household items, and you have yourself an enjoyable movie the whole
family will love.
Disney's Animation Climax,
April 14, 2008
Beauty and the Beast is simply the most transcendent animated film I have ever seen. Before it came out, I felt the same way about The Little Mermaid. When BATB came out I couldn't believe that TLM could be topped, but it was, and then some. There's no need to repeat all the other reviewers' remarks - I can only say I got into this thanks to my children, and I will be enjoying it for the rest of my life (along with a number of other Disney classics like Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp and Jungle Book). The characterizations, voice and animated, of all the characters is beyond description. This is the last Disney animated feature I've seen where I appreciated the computer-assisted animation (the ballroom scene is unbelievable). I consider Disney's output to have reached its absolute climax with this film - it's been all downhill since. You can see the difference once it became all computer-generated.
5 stars for the movie, 4 for the DVD ,
March 6, 2008
Beauty and the Beast is a most own classic in my humble opinion. As someone who watched the oringal movie tons of times I must say I was disappointed with the DVD. First of all, when you place the DVD and hit "play" it automatically plays the "Special Edition" which is an extended version with a new musical number (and cheesy animation). It's not a huge deal because you can change the DVD setting to play the original feature film but I feel the original should have been the default option. Second thing that bothered me about the DVD is that some of the AUDIO WAS CUT OUT from the opening song! Maybe it's just my DVD but I noticed two gaps in audio (since I know all the words). The first gap is after the two old ladies say "that girl is strange, no question" and the second break in audio is after she goes to the bookstore. The lyric "Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar, I wonder if she's feeling well" is cut out.
Aside from that, the movie is great for all ages. The cut out audio makes me wish I hadn't gotten rid of my VHS version.
A beloved Story of love and tradegy,
March 3, 2008
Master of the castle, enchanted to find love or die to the curse, negotiation for love, a beast and then a gentleman, a hero to ward off the wolves, two finding each other and coming together on their own, a villainous Geston, and Belle confessing her love to a dying prince. Time is short, man must find love whether he wants to or not, too survive. Without love man's escape is death; he is desperate to find a woman who brings love, caring, and warmeth to his castle. A warrior well proven in battle, a slayer of his enemies, a builder of fortress strong, a man who confides weakness in none other, a bringer of fear and terror; he must find love or die; he must champion and win the heart of his woman. Death and lack of love combine into the awful monster.
Pride and Prejudice shares a central theme, a powerful Lord, devoid of love, must find love or perish in despair; "if not Belle then who will he find to love him"; a prisoner of love, harsh terms, and brutal commands of control; a disclosure of vulnerable secret revealing hidden secret; a champion against evil rescuing the dame in distress; a soften of heart, a dinner, and a delightful dance; escape from reality through tales of excalibers swords, a Camelot story. The prince thought to possess love but instead discover that he had to win love. Love could not be commanded or possessed, it had to be freely given. The prince fell helplessly in love with the independent mind of Belle.
Phantom of the Opera, a transformation from peasant girl to princess; to love is to be human; all are confined to roles more robotic, slaves within their domain to an ungrateful master; song and dance of the cups, forks, and saucers.
Cinderella, the beast dies but the prince lives again happily ever after. The love of a father siding with Belle, believing in her, an eccentric fellow of no following, a genius before his time, a lost fellow in the woods, a man to be rescued by his daughter. The Romeo and Juliet scenario did not materialize, but the story has a strong potential for tradegy.
Lancelot and Quinivere, the forbidden love between a Queen and her servant; the noble house falling for the love of a peasant; both forbidden by code and culture.
BOOTLEGGED NOT IMPRESSED,
May 12, 2008
