VHS Movie Reviews for Beauty and the Beast (A Walt Disney Classic) [VHS]

Beauty and the Beast (A Walt Disney Classic) [VHS]

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VHS Movie Reviews of Beauty and the Beast (A Walt Disney Classic) [VHS]

Movie Review: Classic, Vintage Disney Film is My All-Time Favorite!
Summary: 5 Stars

For me, "Beauty and the Beast" is the best Disney film, and it is my favorite. "Wall-E" is right up there for me, but for simple animation, it will always be "Beauty and the Beast." I love how Disney has taken some of the most simple stories and made them so palpable for both children and adults. Such life-lessons include, dealing with the loss of a parent, learning to be yourself, and the most profound of all, for me: seeing the beauty of yourself and others from the inside.

While these may seem like simple morality tales, I venture that most people would find such obstacles extremely challenging. This is one reason why Disney films, such as this one, can easily be viewed over and over again, because like reading a good spiritual book, the lessons are always applicable.

The movie sets the tone from the start, with David Ogden Stiers as the narrator, using that great voice of his, to give us the prologue of the story; that a young prince has been transformed into a beast due to his lack of love and insight.

Beauty and the Beast has one of the best heroines, in my opinion, in Disney animation. Belle (brilliantly voiced by Paige O'Hara) is a simple girl from a small town. She goes against the norm for the other young women of the town, because she loves to read, and she is not afraid to speak her mind. These are several personality traits that frequently frustrate the town's handsome suitor, Gaston; a person who all of the other young women find absolutely appealing, but for Belle, Gaston is the antithesis of the qualities she looks for in a man. Belle is pure-hearted, and she is looking for someone who shares the same qualities. She isn't necessarily picky. She simply knows what she wants, and strangely enough, she finds him in the most unlikely of guises.

*You'll note that one of interesting ways that the animators make Belle stand out, is that she is the only person in town wearing blue.

The Beast is a man consumed with anger and self-loathment. He can't even stand to look at how he used to be, as we see him rip a portrait of himself to pieces. The first meeting between Belle and the Beast is not a happy one at all. The Beast is unable to see his own cruelty (perhaps because this is how he has always been, and he doesn't know how to be any different) as he drags Belle's father away from her, not even thinking about her feelings at all.

Belle is able to soften the Beast, as she is able to keep up with him and his own sense of logic, which is beautifully demonstrated as the two argue back and forth after the wolf attack. Ironically, it often takes someone else to show us what others see. I find it interesting that the Beast's only link to the outside world is a mirror, since the mirror is his greatest asset to remind him to look within himself. In many ways, Belle is the Beast's true mirror. She finally begins to see something hidden beneath the anger and despair, and she helps him to see what she already sees.

The dance sequence across the ballroom floor is probably my favorite scene. The attention to detail by the animation department is incredible...from shadows to reflections, to the embroidery of the marble pillars, and the detail of the tapestries. This is also the climactic scene in which is becomes apparent that both Belle and the Beast love each other. Both the animation and lighting are at their pinnacle peak during this sequence. There is such attention to detail. I love the way Belle is continuously moving a strand of hair from her face.

Beast demonstrates his love for Belle in the purest and noblest of ways: he lets her go. We have all heard about how if you truly someone, you must let it go. Love is to be given, and the Beast, despite his feelings, lets Belle go to find and be with her ill father.

There is a host of terrific characters in this film. Gaston epitomizes the conceited, manly man who thinks of no one but himself. I like Gaston's character because he isn't the "evil prototype" that we've seen in the past. He's simply a man whose ego is larger than life, and he will never risk losing out to anyone, let alone a hairy Beast!

Jerry Orbach is terrific as Lumiere, and provides one of the best songs in the film, "Be Our Guest" in which every item in the kitchen is involved in an elaborate musical and dance number, with little reminders of the follies done during the 20s and 30s.

Angela Lansbury is perfectly cast as the teapot, Mrs. Potts, playing the proverbial, wise housekeeper.

Overall, the film has true charm, and anyone of any age will enjoy it. Beauty and the Beast is a timeless classic, and the only animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture. The film was even converted into a Broadway show that was an instant hit.

Beauty and the Beast teaches us to leave our prejudicial judgments at the door. It is often challenging to look within ourselves and others to see the true beauty that lies within each one of us. Aside from being an exquisite romantic film, Beauty and the Beast serves as a reminder that there is beauty in everyone. Are we brave enough to find it within?

Movie Review: Beauty and the Beast
Summary: 1 Stars

I have not received my movie when I get it I will be happy to review it. Can you Please let me know what is going on with the movie. Thanks Valerie Page

Movie Review: Disney DVD
Summary: 5 Stars

My grandaughter, who this product was purchased for, really appreciates it since she collects Disney classic DVD's.

Movie Review: One of my all-time favourite movies.
Summary: 1 Stars

The only animated movie to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and it deserved it. Magic from the opening prologue to the final credit, "Beauty and the Beast" is the last real classic to come from the Disney crew before John Lasseter came along. This was one of the few movies I happily paid to see twice in the cinema, and sitting in a sparsely-populated Friday night audience (I was living in Barbados at the time, and it was hardly the most artistic place on Earth... it was a crying shame that there was hardly anyone there while "Home Alone 2" went through the roof) the second time, the magic remained. You all know the story, so apart from pointing out the movie's one flaw (the prince's spell had to be broken before he turned 21 or he would remain a beast forever; so if it was cast ten years before the events of the movie, wouldn't that mean he was 11 when the spell was cast...?), let's look at how well the movie works. You have a monster who's more human than the movie's medallion-man villain; you have a heroine who's PC but engaging with it; you have a supporting cast of magic utensils who wisely never upstage the couple at the centre of this love story (and despite the Disney animated trappings, it IS a love story); and you have a captivating story, beautifully told. The movie's also got wonderful design of its French setting and characters, with the ballroom scene a standout (the tiny but appreciative audience were impressed by the sight of the Beast and Belle in their evening wear - the only time I've ever seen cartoon characters get wolf-whistled in a cinema); and Alan Menken's score is his finest work for the Mouse, with matchless lyrics from the late and much lamented Howard Ashman - how many musicals can you name where ALL the songs are brilliant? But ultimately it's the movie's very real heart that makes it a keeper; the cliche "You'll laugh, you'll cry" is all too true in this case. A lot of movies called 'classic' don't deserve that appellation, but this one does. I'll be slaughtered by anime fans, but what the hell... one "Beauty and the Beast" is worth a thousand "Akira"s. And "Shrek"s. And, I'm willing to bet, "Treasure Planet"s. This is a truly adult animated feature that's also one for the entire family. Forget "The Silence of the Lambs" - this is the real best picture of 1991.