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The Beauty and Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast Movie poster

Plot Summary: Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast's exterior to recognize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within. A magical love story unfolds, filled with adventure, self-discovery, and courage.

Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
Producers: Don Hahn
Screenplay: Linda Woolverton, based on the French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont

Starring:
Paige O'Hara as Belle
Robby Benson as Beast
Richard White as Gaston
Jerry Orbach as Lumière
David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth
Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts
Jesse Corti as LeFou
 Freddy's Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

Family Face-Off: Beauty & Beast vs. Princess & Goblin

We continue our weekend movie marathon at home with another 1991 animated classic. This time, we’re comparing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with Princess and the Goblin, a film we watched just the day before. If you’re thinking it’s a no-brainer for Beauty and the Beast to win, especially among kids, think again. My daughter surprisingly enjoyed Princess and the Goblin much more, finding the goblins' misfortunes—particularly getting stepped on—hilarious. So, who are we to judge what makes a great animated film? But, for me, Disney’s film is clearly the winner. Its animation is smooth, the voice acting superb—especially the Beast, voiced by Robby Benson—and the characters are beautifully imagined. Above all, it’s a more coherent and well-written movie. I can't recall if I saw it as a child, as I wasn’t too keen on princess stories back then, being a boy.


The Special Edition and the Song "Human Again"

Now, the version I watched was not the original 1991 release but the 2002 Special Edition, which includes the song “Human Again” that was cut from the original release. While it’s nice to have additional content, I personally found the inclusion of this scene a bit too much. There’s already a lot of singing in the film, and this particular number left me feeling a bit bored. The original cut would have been a more enjoyable experience for me.


A Classic with a Rich History

I enjoyed learning that Beauty and the Beast originates from French folklore, first published as La Belle et la Bête by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740. Villeneuve’s original version was aimed at adults, but Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont adapted it in 1756 into the concise version we know today. The tale likely has even older roots, drawing inspiration from myths like the Roman story of Cupid and Psyche. So, there's nothing more to add to this popular Disney classic on my behalf. There must be a million reviews of this movie already. Also, if you didn’t know, Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film in history to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It’s undoubtedly a good watch, and it made me curious to see the live-action remake to check how they pulled off some of the fantastical elements in this movie.


🎥 Cinematography (8/10):

Smooth animation and stunning visuals, with timeless character designs.

📖 Story (8/10):

A classic tale, engaging and coherent.

🎬 Direction (8/10):

Captures the magic and emotion of the fairy tale well.

👥 Characters (8/10):

Well-designed and memorable, with excellent voice acting.

💥 Visual Effects (9/10):

Impressive for its time! CGI in the ballroom scene? Crazy!

🎭 Acting (8/10):

Superb voice acting, particularly from Robby Benson as the Beast.

💬 Dialogue (7/10):

Well-written, but the songs sometimes disrupt the flow. A problem I have with most Disney movies.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (7/10):

Immersive setting with a magical atmosphere.

🎵 Music (8/10):

Great Stuff. RIP Alan Menken.

😄 Entertainment Value (8/10):

A timeless engaging classic.

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