Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Thank You Disney!
The wait was worth it for 'Beauty and the Beast' to make it's way to DVD. This has got to be the DVD with the best bonus features EVER! You start out with a highly in-depth look at the making of the film and the history of the story all hosted by the delightful Celine Dion. Celine also hosts a HIGHLY entertaining segment called "The Story Behind The Story." In this segment actors Angela Lansbury, Robby Benson, Jodi Benson, Ming-Na, James Earl Jones, Paige O'Hara and David Ogden Stiers relive the Disney versions and original stories of 'The Hunchback of Note Dame,' 'The Jungle Book,' 'Mulan,' 'The Lion King,' 'Cinderella, 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Pocahontas.' The DVD also features the music video to the highly successful song "Beauty and the Beast" performed by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson. For some unknown reason, Disney felt it necessary to include a newer version of the song performed by Jump 5. It's a crime that Disney wasted these talentless youngster's time to record a version of the song that in no way fits into the magic of this film. Celine and Peabo already recorded the song beautifully. Why did Disney hire people who can't sing a note to record the same song? The film itself has been fully resorted and the picture and sound quality has never been better. It even includes a new musical number "Human Again" which I could really do without. Many people like the song but I think it's poorly written and even more poorly performed. But it doesn't take anything away from this being one of the greatest films ever made. I'm really happy with what Disney has come up with this time. This "Special Edition" actually is special. I can only hope Disney continues with these "Special Editions" and bring us 'Aladdin,' 'The Little Mermaid,' and all the other Disney classics. Hopefully they will do this sooner than later.
Rating: - A Disney film that deserves it's Best Picture Nomination
One of the better Disney pictures, this captivating 1991 musical is a treat, to say the least. A classic movie that when digitally restored with an additional scene, is better than it was, fully deserving of its Best Picture nomination.A beauty who is smart and loves to read books, goes to a magnificent castle, where her clumsy, warmhearted inventor father is being held captive by a cold-hearted beast (a prince under a witch's spell) and its inanimate objects (who are actually the prince's servants under the same spell). The girl rescues her father, but must stay with the beast in return, where he hopes to find someone who will love him before a magical rose's last petals fall, otherwise he will remain a beast forever. The movie, fully deserving of its well-earned Best Picture nomination and its Oscar-winning songs, is a delightful movie with inspired vocal acting, clever songs, captivating animation, and its solid morals intact. Rarely has a Disney movie be a fully enjoyable film for kids, as well as adults. Even without its bonus scene added to the Imax version of it, it's still a captivating, witty, and beautiful movie. See it when you can, but avoid the newest movies, such as "Atlantis." Those are good, but they're not the cinematic treat this memorable piece of Disney is. See the older ones, such as this one.
Rating: - Wow!
Disney has taken DVD's to a whole new level. Not only do you get the movie (generally with your choice of widescreen or full screen), you get extras and games as well. "Beauty & the Beast" is no exception.Along with the animated version of this classic tale, you get the added musical number "Human Again" (not available on the original video release), and an extra DVD that allows you to go inside the castle and play a memory game with Chip (Mrs. Potts' son), or "Break the Spell" of the magic rose game (both very fun for kids). You can also take a virtual tour of the beast's castle, browse through Cogsworth and Lumiere's library, and see behind-the-scene footage, original art and character designs, the Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson video of the "Beauty & the Beast" song, and play "Mrs. Potts' Personality Profile" game, where you can find out which character you're most like. But, the coolest feature I like is the "Sing Along" option. Set the DVD to "sing along", and the movie will play as usual, except when you get to the musical numbers, the song lyrics pop on the screen. Unreal! There are so many other fun features of this DVD that even if you own the original VHS release, you're doing yourself a diservice by not getting the DVD. There's more than your money's worth here!!
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