Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful New Mastering but the Sound???????
Review: Yes I looked forward to the new Criterion remastering and it does have some wonderful things - two commentaries, interviews and other information. But the new sound in Dolby is disastrous. It's harsh and metallic. I pulled out Criterions original issue of this film and the sound is full and rich with no problems except some slight cramping typical of French sound in the 40s. Criterion should get rid of the new soundtrack and put back the older one - it's shame so many good things were ruined - didn't anyone listen to the sound before issuing it????
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Summary: DREAM-LIKE ADULT FANTASY
Review: Leprince de Beaumont's classic fairy tale BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is not just a Disney cartoon. In 1946, Jean Cocteau directed a worldly-wise, shimmering, silvery-toned visual tone poem of the French romantic fantasy that delivers a surprisingly emotional climax. This dreamlike, sophisticated seduction stars Jean Maris as the Beast. He is astonishingly handsome, perhaps more so as beast than man. Make no mistake, this is not a kids' film, but rather an adult entertainment of the highest artistry. The attention to the ornate sets and costumes are as precise as the cinematography, lighting and acting. Lose yourself in this extended figment of the mind's eye and drift away on the ephemeral fantasy of a timeless fable of love and desire.
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Summary: This 1946 French Classic includes 2 versions on DVD!!
Review: This review is about this DVD release only!!! Once upon a time - This is the true classic fairy tale. Disney's updated animated feature copied many ideas from this Black & White Jean Cocteau French Clasic. The original Criterion DVD "Beauty & the Beast" went out of print and now has been digitally remastered and re-released for us to enjoy. The movie is an outstanding cinematographic marvel. This was made during World War II and film, cameras, money and occupied France contributed to the problems & the genius of this classic. This Criterion Classic DVD provides us with new high defintion digital transfer made from restored film elements,the Orignal Full Screen (before WideScreen), Black/White picturesque sub-titled film, a second original operatic version by renowned composer Philip Glass - outstanding & very romantic, 5.1 Dolby Digital - crystal clear flawless sound, Documentary: Screening of the Majestic - 1995 interviews with cast & crew (outstanding), Interviews: Cinematographer Henri Alekan, commentary, Original Trailer narrated by Jean Cocteau. This movie is an adult / child classic waiting to be discovered & compared to by all generations to come. Now we can enjoy this French version - and they lived happily ever after..... Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A Visual Delight!
Review: From the moment the Beast steps onto the screen from behind the rose bushes of his enchanted castle, you know you are in for a very visual treat: his make up, his costume, his terror! -- Cocteau has created a movie and characters that are so appealing to the eye and yet so real. Watching this DVD, I was captivated by scene after scene of beautiful imagery and artwork. Cocteau's movie is magnificent and this new edition DVD is a perferct showcase for it.
There are many similarities between this and the new version by Disney, and you can certainly see where Disney was inspired. Still, this is a gorgeous film that is sometimes frightening, sad, and triumphant.
On this DVD you get a perfect transfer, stills, and TWO audio commentaries that are insightful and entertaining. I recommend buying this and watching it with the Disney version -- also a great film.
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Summary: NEW RELEASE OF CRITERION'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Review: I'm not going to go into the story about Beauty and the Beast, as everyone already knows it. My only comment is for this edition of Beauty and the Beast. Some of the reviews criticize the first Criterion release of the timely classic, noting all of the movies pops, tics, and overall poor quality of picture and sound. My advice to you would be to not hesitate in purchasing this edition! Picture is absolutely luminous. Sound is excellent. And of course the extras! Criterion always makes it well worth the money with all of the extras they provide. What are you waiting for? ORDER IT ALREADY!!
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Summary: A classic in pristine condition.
Review: The problem with old (esp. foreign) film is that it can be hard to find good editions. Classics like this, which have already survived the test of time, tend to get picked up by two-bit distributors and released in the most disgraceful of manners. Thank god for the Criterion Collection; This lavish transfer will not disappoint those with a healthy aesthetic. Reading a lot of the other reviews, I've noticed that they've mentioned something about the sound quality: it's true, even in the newly restored edition there are some imperfections, but I don't think that is enough to merit less than 5 stars (maybe 4.5, but that's not an option.)
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Summary: The New Beauty Is Just OK
Review: Well...I almost hate to write this, because there's no doubt that Criterion is the platinum standard in DVD. I just watched a review copy of the "restored" Beauty And The Beast and it's not as "beauty"-ful as the original Criterion edition that came out a few years ago. The film does look pristine, but the depth of the original is missing. It almost looks too squeaky clean and...well, digital. Make no mistake, you'll be completely entrhalled by this DVD, but if you can get your hands on the other Criterion edition, do it. You'll be even more enchanted.
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Summary: RAVISHING
Review: Visually stunning, baroque, surrealistic fantasy/fairy tale, directed by masterful french artist, poet, Jean Cocteau, starring his longtime lover and protegé, legendary film actor Jean Marais, and Josette Day as "Belle", both perfect in their roles. This is a sumptuous and very lyric film, a real one-of-a-kind experience, a masterpiece, and for sure, the very best version of the story. The Art Direction, the sets, the costumes, are all p-e-r-f-e-c-t....and the beast's make-up (mask) is great!! This is one of the top examples of classic french film. Not to be missed.
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Summary: A Dream of A Fairy Tale
Review: In the very beginning of this movie, the film maker genius responsible for its creation tells us that he wants us to suspend disbelief. He wants us to forget about the ordinary rules of reality, to accept what we see as real, as would a young child. Basically, he's telling us to fasten our seatbelts, because the movie is going to take off and never come back down. There are movies, and then there are movies. This is a movie buff's movie, one for the ages. Why? Well, for starters, it was a miracle that this movie was ever made at all. If you check out the story behind its creation, you'll discover that because it was made right after World War IIa lot of the equipment used in it's production was in terrible shape. There was barely enough money to finish the movie. And people kept on stealing things from the set. Yet...this movie is perfect. The visuals literally will take your breath away. The acting will forever set the standard for any foreign film I will see in the future. And then there is... The Special Effects
This movie without a doubt has the best special effects of any movie ever made. What do I mean? How about living furnature? Not inpressed? How about teleportation that ends in someone coming OUT of a wall? How about someone GLIDING across a floor? And let's not forget tears that turn into diamonds. Yes, the first time I saw this movie, I kept rewinding it because the special effects were amazing. Good movies become dated, great ones never do. This movie becomes more amazing every time I see it. And the DVD edition is a definite must-have because the film has been cleaned up so much it looks practically brand new. This film just might have the best black and white photography of any movie ever made, and only the Criterion DVD does it justice.
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Summary: Eerie, Beautiful Fairy Tale
Review: This classic 1946 adaptation of the classic fairy tale is a real find for anyone who happens to be browsing through the library, or who is interested in French cinema. Famed French filmmaker Jean Cocteau directs this story about a beautiful young peasant girl who goes to live in an enchanted castle in the woods with a hideous looking beast. Gradually, she overcomes her fear of the beast and comes to pity, and eventually love him. The sets showing the inside of the castle are quite remarkable. This has got to be one of the eeriest looking castles I've ever seen on film. I especially liked our first view of the inside of the castle with all those candles being held by what looks like human arms coming out of the walls (they are in fact robotic). The black and white cinematography is beautiful and luminous. This film begs comparison with Disney's animated version of the same story. Ultimately, both films are terrific, though this film is much darker and scarier. Use discretion with showing this to young children, the beast could turn up in some child's nightmare.
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