Director: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
Release Date: 1991
Running Time: 1hr 24 minutes
Genre: Disney/Animation
Rating: U
Format: Blu-Ray
Synopsis:
A stunning live action adaption of the beautiful fairytale Beauty and the Beast!
I can remember watching this when I was a child and crying at the end every single time. I have a confession. I still cry at the end. This is quite possibly one of Walt Disney's best masterpieces. Beautifully touching and fantastically entertaining! A selfish prince is cursed by a mysterious enchantress. His only way to change and learn is to love a young woman and earn her love in return, in order to redeem himself. When Belle's father Maurice stumbles across the castle, he's taken prisoner, Belle offers to take his place. With the help of the incredibly enchanted staff, Belle soon learns to appreciate her captor and soon falls in love with him. However, a hunter called Gaston has other plans for her!
The storyline is magnificently enchanting. Paige O'Hara who voices Belle is absolutely perfect, O'Hara's performance is stunning, with an equally as stunning voice. Audiences will soon find themselves falling in love with the opening number "Belle", performed beautifully by O'Hara. A terrific start to the film. Rex Everheart's performance as Maurice is excellent. The relationship that he has with his daughter is emotional and touching, it's clear that he brought her up from a very young age and would do anything for her. The town's people think of him as a crack pot inventor. Little do they know, how incredible his inventions actually are.
The beast! Robby Benson is truly incredible, with the help of Disney's gorgeous animation, he's absolutely terrifying. I love watching the beast and watching how beautifully his character changes through out the course of the film, as he too begins to fall in love with Belle. Of course, who can forget the beast's enchanting staff, Mrs Potts, Chip, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Wardrobe, Bimbette and Stove. The amazing voice work of Bradley Pierce, Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, Jo Anne Worley and Brian Cummings is just tremendous. The characters work marvellously together.
Angela Lansbury was so excellently cast as Mrs Potts, she looks after all the staff, especially little Chips, you can't help but fall in love with both of their characters. We can't forget nasty Gaston played sensationally by Richard White. Cocky and 110% in love with himself, his character is great. A nasty man who wants Belle for his bride! Of course, she knows better then that and karma soon catches up with him. All of the characters really are enchanting and magical and really bring the film to life.
I cannot even tell you how exquisite the animation is, at twenty-six years old, it's very hard to believe. It'd be so easy to think this was made yesterday. The picture quality of the Blu-Ray is incredible. The gorgeous colours from the animation really stand out. The dance sequence between Belle and the Beast is beautiful, with Angela Lansbury singing, she delivers one of Disney's most magical performances. The scene will bring a tear to your eye, you'll find yourself singing "Tale as old as time", continuously afterwards. Incredibly shot, the film is a masterpiece and will be for years to come! The film's score is remarkable, with catchy songs like "Belle" and "Be our Guest", it really brings the story to life. The soundtrack could tell the story all on it's own. Beautifully sung by the cast, its just as famous as the film! Absolutely perfect for Disney fans who want a better quality of the film, the Blu-Ray certainly won't disappoint. A beautifully touching film, one that is surely not to be missed by any die hard Disney fan.
5/5 stars
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