Rating: 
Summary: Best Disney movie ever made!
Review: Over the years, Disney has had its hits and misses, but Beauty and the Beast surpassed the mark. The computer animation looks so real. Disney did a good job with making the story pleasent for young viewers without straying too far from the original plot (which they've done with several other films). The songs are amazing, the cast is great, and the movie as a whole is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic and a Favorite
Review: I'm one of the people who happen to think this was Disney at its best. When I was young, this was one of my three favorite Disney films. It was one of the first films I was introduced to, and, naturally, I am very excited about the Special Edition; I hope Disney releases the Special Editions for the other two that I like just as much; Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. I considered them a trio of the same type of animation. . .or similar anyway. I miss this type of quality animation from Disney, and it's awesome that they're releasing this, with tons of behind-the-scenes features. A big hand to Walt Dinsey Pictures for this one. Let's hope there are more like it to come. :-)
Rating:
Summary: Tale as old as time...
Review: But who can really love the beast? The answer is: "everyone". The Beauty and the Beast story is a basic plot often used in story telling. When the musical team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken reunited with the Disney Animation Studio, they created perhaps the greatest Beauty and the beast story, if not the greatest animated feature of all time. It combined state-of-the-art animation with a Broadway caliber musical score. In fact the now defunct magazine THEATER WEEK labeled the film the BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR even though they wrote exclusively about the stage.Ashman and Menken, chose the Beast as their Disney follow-up to THE LITTLE MERMAID which single handedly (or single fin-dedly?) revived the animated feature. Their approach would be similar, a musical score and lyrics that do not pander to children even though that would be the largest cross-section of audience. The result is astonishing. The opening song BELLE cleverly sets up the story and reveals our heroine's ambition for more 'than this provincial life'. GASTON, a comic drinking song named for the boorish villain who uses antlers in all of his decorating, reveals his evil plan! "No one plots like Gaston, takes cheap shots like Gaston, plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston..." The intelligent songwriting continues with the charming BE OUR GUEST sung by enchanted household implements as well as SOMETHING THERE, a song where Beauty and Beast reveal potential feelings. It would be a crime not to mention the Oscar Winning title song, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. That song is sung while Belle and her Beast dance in a phenomenal dance hall. This is a wonderful mix of computer and traditional animation that allows for sweeping 'camera' movements, previously never attempted. This type of innovative story telling enchants the entire film, enough to satisfy even the most critical cineaste. The cast, led by Paige O'Hara as the voice of Belle cannot be questioned at this point. The roles have been cemented as they are. Former teen idol Robby Benson voices the Beast and he brings appropriate nuances to the creature's duality. Jerry Orbach is the scene stealing candlabra, Lumiere while David Ogden Steirs is his sidekick Cogsworth, the uptight timepiece, and also supplies the films opening narration. In 2002, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was re-issued in Large Screen (IMAX)theatres with a bit of a face-lift. Most of the changes are transparent to the common viewer but they were necessary improvements to accommodate the large screen. The audience would surely notice if the changes were not made. One whole section has been restored into the film. Although the audio was recorded, HUMAN AGAIN was cut before final animation back in 1991 and was completed just for this deluxe edition release. The good news is it fits seamlessly into the film and none of the films magic is sacrificed. In fact, it even ties up a couple loose ends. With that said, the piece is not imperative to the story and is in many ways redundant. It falls somewhere between a decent addition and an excuse to bring you back to the theatre. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was the only fully animated picture to ever get a BEST PICTURE Oscar nomination and with the 2001 introduction of the Best Animated feature category, it is also the last. It deserves it, as it is one of the most respectful films of the past 25 years. A great picture for children age 3 to 93, The Disney Organization rode a decade on this type of filmmaking. If you'd like to give it a try, Be our guest...
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best (Disney) Movies Ever!
Review: Disney's animated version of the classic tale, "Beauty and the Beast," is every bit as enchanting as the "tale as old as time" that it tells, making its way into our hearts as well as motion picture history. Being the first film nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, as well as six nominations altogether, Disney proves that it has what it takes to make an animated feature enjoyable for adults and children. I remember watching the film as a small child, and now, as an adult, is hasn't lost its luster, and everything is just as I enjoyed it before. Through brilliant animation and song, as well as some terrific voice talents, the story of unexpected love comes to new and exciting life. Small-town girl Belle is forced to head into the woods once her father turns up missing, bringing her to a gloomy, secluded castle where she finds him and his captor, a vicious-looking beast. Of course, the beginning of the movie explains the beast's origins: he was once a selfish prince who, after turning out an old beggar woman, was transformed, given an enchanted rose, and told "if he could learn to love another, and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time." This begins their rocky-turned-romantic relationship, as they begin to warm to one another. Meanwhile, the town brute, Gaston, has plans of his own, involving some sinister maneuvers involving Belle's father in hopes that she will agree to marry him. Many have hailed this as the best of Disney's films, and they wouldn't be wrong in saying so, either. It's easy to see why the movie has become such a success: there are elements at work in this film, just as in every other Disney film, only they seem to have taken on a small degree of maturity with this film's creation. The animation is some of the best and most believable I've seen for an animated film in a long time. Most of the scenes involving solely characters is the same as most of Disney's works, but there are scenes of pure life-like reality that have a special flare to them. The ballroom scene is one such scene: the camera angles sweep across a room filled with high-arched glass windows and a chandelier which looks as real as the words you're reading on this page. Some nice effects go into the creation of the castle as well, especially in the end once everything returns to normal. The is one of the most moving Disney soundtracks to come along since that of "Cinderella" and "Pinocchio." It is clear that composers were striving to capture the feeling and influence of their previous score for "The Little Mermaid," and they truly succeed in doing so. The songs are delightful and will have kids and adults alike smiling and singing along. The score is the perfect underlining for scenes of romance as well as tension and suspense. In case you were wondering, three of the originally written songs were nominated for Academy Awards; that should say something. This is one of Disney's most ambitious and successful projects, ranking alongside such cinematic achievements as the successes of "Citizen Kane" and "Gone With The Wind." Winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture, as well as its Oscar nominations, "Beauty and the Beast" is a hallmark of a time when movies were something that everyone, young and old alike, could enjoy on the same levels. Be my guest, and see this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Over-blown DVD with over-rated film
Review: Disney is known for all style and no substance movies. Well this movie has plenty of it, with cheesy story and animation, and music that would make anyone fall asleep. Ignore it.typical Disney all style and no substance film.
Rating:
Summary: A Better 'Beauty' On DVD
Review: "Beauty and the Beast" is truly one of the Disney studios finest moments. As we all know, it is the only animated film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar more than ten years before the animated feature received its own category. And now this classic finally comes to DVD. It looks as though Disney is doing the right thing, packing this two disc set with extras and three (count them, three) versions of the film. The original theatrical release will be on disc one as well as the recent IMAX re-release and the early rough cut of the film. The IMAX release contains the added "Human Again" sequence that was animated especially for the tenth anniversary re-release of the film. While the song was recorded when the film was originally in production, the animation was never completed. The new sequence was animated especially for the re-release almost ten years after the original film was completed. Disney spent an unprecedented amount of money restoring this film, cleaning up scenes and character heads that didn't translate well to the enormous IMAX format. Other than the obvious musical sequence, the changes are pretty transparent. Fans of the film might recognize some of the subtle, almost transparent alterations but most will go unnoticed. The rough cut of the film is a nice addition. This was the version of the film that was shown to test audiences months before the final film was released. At the time, such a sneak peek was unheard of and somewhat pioneering. The initial reaction to the film was more than positive from children and film critics alike. This same rough cut was also released in the VHS Special Edition when the film originally debuted on video. The rough cut does show some nice insights into the process of animating. It alternates between black and white sketches, clean line drawings, painted stills and finished animation. The jumps are a little jarring at first. It's more for obsessive fans and students of animation than the average movie watcher. But I applaud Disney for releasing it with this special edition. The rest of the extras on disc two are more of the same stuff Disney has been doing to beef up their DVD releases. The sing-alongs, akward and slow "games", and their usual run of the mill Making of series are included. At times, these bits and piece offer an interesting glimpse into the Disney process but more often than not they simply review the same "process of animation" reel that they did back when Walt was still around. Hopefully, Disney will soon tire of these same old fillers and develop something truly pioneering for the DVD format. The same savy they showed with the Snow White DVD, an impressive archive of the films history, should be spread out to their other classics as they become available on the DVD market. Part of me thinks they're holding back so they have something else to add when they start releasing second generations of these DVDs as they did with Peter Pan earlier this year. Either way, this Beauty and the Beast edition is well worth the purchase even if the extras are not. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Aladdin and The Lion King.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Disney Film of all Time
Review: Run, don't walk, to see "Beauty & The Beast" at an IMAX near you - before it goes away and ends up in DVD this October. A grand film of multidimensional power, this Beast will literally sweep you up and lift your spirits for days. Who knew Robbie Benson had such a powerful voice as the Beast? And yes, the extra scenes are fun. More than that, however, has Disney EVER created such a 3-dimensional animated film? NEVER. This is one for the record books - the best Disney musical of all time!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely THE Best!
Review: I just saw this at the Luxor IMAX in Vegas, end of March 2002. I can only say one word for it... BREATHTAKING! I only wish that the home experience could be as grand! Maybe one day. Perfect Picture and Sound on a 7-Story Screen! I was on the 5th Floor, eye-level with the picture! I eagerly away the DVD release. It is supposed to have the Original Version, The New Version AND The Work In Progress. It is going to be one of if not the best DVD Release from Disney Yet!! I can't wait to go back to the Luxor Next Year For the release of The Lion King!! Keep Up The Great Work Dis!
Rating:
Summary: Splendid! If you don't like this you're cracked in the head
Review: This is the best Disney movie out there. I can't see or fathom how anyone wouldn't like it. If you haven't seen it, go rent it now. If you watch it and don't like it, then watch it again because you obviously weren't paying attention. If you don't like it the 3rd time, you must be sniffing glue. The music is great and the animation rocks. You'll be crying like a little girl if you really absorb it.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty and the beast (Disney) used
Review: I just got this movie from my pal Tracey. You should buy it because it's romantic. Enjoy
Thank you
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