Beauty and the Beast
Starring: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Angela Lansbury, David Ogden Stiers, Jerry Orbach
Directed By: Gary Trousdale
Editorial Reviews:
The film that officially signaled Disney's animation renaissance (following The Little Mermaid) and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all other animated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dotty inventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is too hard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned in the Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes this such a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie of supporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing household items) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and the late, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman. (The title song won the 1991 Best Song Oscar, and Menken's score scored a trophy as well.) The downright funniest song is "Gaston," a lout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of my de-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage. Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilarating level of wit, sophistication, and pure joy. --David Kronke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
If you like "Beauty and the Beast, you might also like ...
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: A entertaining movie with profound messages of love and inner beauty.
Comment: *****WARNING!****** There maybe spoilers in this review for those who haven't seen the movie yet!*******
Beauty And The Beast happens to be my all time favorite Disney animated movie. I saw it in the theater at least 4 times when it was first released in 1991 and I must have watched it a dozen or so times since then. There are several reasons why Beauty And The Beast is my favorite Disney movie. For one, Belle is a heroine that many young women today can definitely relate to. Her love of reading, the fact that a man being handsome alone doesn't impress her (Gaston) and her curiousity about things makes her personality very realistic and endearing.
Another reason why Beauty And The Beast is my favorite is the music. I've never enjoyed the music in a Disney movie as much as I have this one. The clever and sometimes touching lyrics draw you in and make one caught up in the story. Songs such as "Belle", "Gaston", "Something There" "Be Our Guest" and of course the title track add so much to the overall story and give the viewer a deeper understanding of the characters.
Yet another reason is the animation. True, there are many Disney movies where the animation is dazzling, however, I'm just so drawn to (no pun intended) the animation in this movie. The scene that impresses me the most is the one where Belle and The Beast dance while Mrs. Potts sings the title song. The combination of tradiditional and computer animation has the end result being such a stunning and beautiful scene. Probably from an artistic point of view (not to mention an emotional point of view), my favorite scene from the movie.
Finally, lets not forget the story itself. I think the meaning of it is beautiful. It's about looking at the person's inside and finding the true beauty of someone's soul, which is Belle's POV. I think we all forget sometimes about that, and this movie is a lovely reminder of that. Another lesson is how people can change, can learn and grow, which is the Beast's POV. It also demonstrates how love conquers all things, even when you think all hope is lost (the last petal of the rose falling after Belle tells the Beast that she loves him). That is a profound message.
Customer Rating:
Summary: PERFECT COPY
Comment: IT WAS EXACLTLY WHAT SHE WANTED FOR MY PRESENT . SHE WAS A HUGE FAN BUT THE DVD WAS IN THE VAULT AND I COULDNT FIND IT. PERFECT COPY WITH ALL THE ORIGINAL INSERTS. DVD CAME TO MY PLACE WITH NO INCIDENT OR DELAY
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best of Disney storytelling... animated or otherwise
Comment: I generally can get cranky when I consider buying a new video for my granddaughter and yet again realize that the sanitized and perfect little princess/fairy tale type animated films that Disney puts out are nevertheless the best that's out there.
You have to admit that the Disney studio knows how to tell a story, probably better than anyone in this genre, even though not all have been the home run that B&B is.
This is an old, old tale, told in many countries & cultures. I have read most of them, and ironically, all the old tales tend to get wound up in details that tend to distract one from the story line. But Disney knows what can be left out, how to create believable (if stock) characters, develop tension in the story as well as take artistic license where it adds drama and moves the story along.
And of all of Disney animated movies, Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favorite. Belle seems nearly flesh and blood; smart, curious and headstrong. She knows what she wants and learns to look in the right place. The Beast is wonderful as are the rest.
Oh! And the music is the BEST that Disney has ever offered.
I only have an old VHS tape but need to buy a DVD....!
Customer Rating:
Summary: loose dvd
Comment: The dvd was in the wrong case it was sliding around in the case because ther wasn't enought space for it and the bonus dvd .
Customer Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Comment: The picture of the front cover that is shown is not the cover you will see when you receive this product. This seller charges a lot of money for a bootleg version of this movie. Buy from a different seller!!!!!!
Accessories:
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Disney
EAN: 0786936171631
Format: Animated
Label: Walt Disney Video
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
Model: N/A
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2002-10-08
Running Time: 84
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1991
Directed By: Gary Trousdale
 | Format: DVD List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $24.00 Your Save: $ 5.99 ( 20% ) Availability: N/A Average Customer Rating:  |
Editorial Reviews:
The film that officially signaled Disney's animation renaissance (following The Little Mermaid) and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all other animated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dotty inventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is too hard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned in the Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes this such a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie of supporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing household items) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and the late, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman. (The title song won the 1991 Best Song Oscar, and Menken's score scored a trophy as well.) The downright funniest song is "Gaston," a lout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of my de-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage. Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilarating level of wit, sophistication, and pure joy. --David Kronke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
If you like "Beauty and the Beast, you might also like ...
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: A entertaining movie with profound messages of love and inner beauty.
Comment: *****WARNING!****** There maybe spoilers in this review for those who haven't seen the movie yet!*******
Beauty And The Beast happens to be my all time favorite Disney animated movie. I saw it in the theater at least 4 times when it was first released in 1991 and I must have watched it a dozen or so times since then. There are several reasons why Beauty And The Beast is my favorite Disney movie. For one, Belle is a heroine that many young women today can definitely relate to. Her love of reading, the fact that a man being handsome alone doesn't impress her (Gaston) and her curiousity about things makes her personality very realistic and endearing.
Another reason why Beauty And The Beast is my favorite is the music. I've never enjoyed the music in a Disney movie as much as I have this one. The clever and sometimes touching lyrics draw you in and make one caught up in the story. Songs such as "Belle", "Gaston", "Something There" "Be Our Guest" and of course the title track add so much to the overall story and give the viewer a deeper understanding of the characters.
Yet another reason is the animation. True, there are many Disney movies where the animation is dazzling, however, I'm just so drawn to (no pun intended) the animation in this movie. The scene that impresses me the most is the one where Belle and The Beast dance while Mrs. Potts sings the title song. The combination of tradiditional and computer animation has the end result being such a stunning and beautiful scene. Probably from an artistic point of view (not to mention an emotional point of view), my favorite scene from the movie.
Finally, lets not forget the story itself. I think the meaning of it is beautiful. It's about looking at the person's inside and finding the true beauty of someone's soul, which is Belle's POV. I think we all forget sometimes about that, and this movie is a lovely reminder of that. Another lesson is how people can change, can learn and grow, which is the Beast's POV. It also demonstrates how love conquers all things, even when you think all hope is lost (the last petal of the rose falling after Belle tells the Beast that she loves him). That is a profound message.
Customer Rating:
Summary: PERFECT COPY
Comment: IT WAS EXACLTLY WHAT SHE WANTED FOR MY PRESENT . SHE WAS A HUGE FAN BUT THE DVD WAS IN THE VAULT AND I COULDNT FIND IT. PERFECT COPY WITH ALL THE ORIGINAL INSERTS. DVD CAME TO MY PLACE WITH NO INCIDENT OR DELAY
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best of Disney storytelling... animated or otherwise
Comment: I generally can get cranky when I consider buying a new video for my granddaughter and yet again realize that the sanitized and perfect little princess/fairy tale type animated films that Disney puts out are nevertheless the best that's out there.
You have to admit that the Disney studio knows how to tell a story, probably better than anyone in this genre, even though not all have been the home run that B&B is.
This is an old, old tale, told in many countries & cultures. I have read most of them, and ironically, all the old tales tend to get wound up in details that tend to distract one from the story line. But Disney knows what can be left out, how to create believable (if stock) characters, develop tension in the story as well as take artistic license where it adds drama and moves the story along.
And of all of Disney animated movies, Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favorite. Belle seems nearly flesh and blood; smart, curious and headstrong. She knows what she wants and learns to look in the right place. The Beast is wonderful as are the rest.
Oh! And the music is the BEST that Disney has ever offered.
I only have an old VHS tape but need to buy a DVD....!
Customer Rating:
Summary: loose dvd
Comment: The dvd was in the wrong case it was sliding around in the case because ther wasn't enought space for it and the bonus dvd .
Customer Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Comment: The picture of the front cover that is shown is not the cover you will see when you receive this product. This seller charges a lot of money for a bootleg version of this movie. Buy from a different seller!!!!!!
Accessories:
Technical Details
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Disney
EAN: 0786936171631
Format: Animated
Label: Walt Disney Video
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
Model: N/A
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2002-10-08
Running Time: 84
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1991
