On this special review of In the Theatre with Murphy Im going to do a re release of a timeless classic “Beauty and the Beast”. In 2002 Roger Ebert reviewed its first re release to home media on DVD, so i'll do a rerelease review for Blu-Ray. In todays's movie business we get at least six animated films come out in a year and most of them are done through the magic of computer animation. But back when I was still in diapers animation was done by hand and Beauty & the Beast is a excellent example of taking every advantage and solution you have with animation and make what is considered the best animated film of all time. Belle (Paige 'O Hara) is a fish out of water in her small french village for her love of books and her dislike of the arrogant town hero Gaston (Richard White). When her father leaves for the county fair he finds himself trapped in the castle of a hideous Beast (Robbie Benson). Luckily Belle finds her father and reluctantly agrees to exchange her freedom for her fathers to the Beast. As with most good love stories the two start off hating each other but over time the do grow a fondness for each other. But as beautiful as their relationship blossoms it must be tested on what they are willing to do for each other to prove their the love to the other.
When Beauty & the Beast was released in 1991 it gained critical acclaim and proved that animation is not just for children since Beauty and the Beast proved to show such strong storytelling, excellent animation and the dealing of inner beauty vs outer beauty. The proof that Beauty & the Beast is a masterpiece is that it's the only animated film (until Up) to receive the highest honour of any film, the nomination for best picture. Although it honourably lost to Silence of the Lambs (1991) it still proved how far animation could go in the film industry with such classics as the Lion King (1994) and Toy Story (1995) with the sense that animation is not limited for souley children. Even as an adult now I see these movies as presenting very powerful feelings I could never understand as a child and now reflect on the struggles an adult would face such as what they wanna do in life and who they want to be with.
The characters in Beauty & the Beast are very well done. Belle and the Beast make excellent chemistry together through out the process of the film and understanding that both have something that the other always wanted in a life partner. In Belle's case its someone who values her for her opinion and in the Beasts case someone who doesn't view him as a monster on the inside. The best scene of the two of them is the infamous ballroom scene which displays how much they understand about each other and of coerce how the use of computer animation is used to its full advantage at the time for the romantic scenario. The supporting characters in this film are animated on a brilliant level because being inanimate objects given life they are able to make full use of their vocal language as if they were real such as Mrs. Potts poring tea or Lumiere flirting.
The villain of the film is a rather interesting one. Gaston doesn't have any magical powers or a high intellect like other Disney villains that came before or after him. He is not a hideous monster on the outside like others and is actually a real “hunk-asourus” but this facade just hides the fact that he is the real monster of the film on the inside. Although he does lack powers like Ursula the sea which or Jafar the sorcerer he is just as sadistic and ruthless as either of them. He is considered the complete opposite of the Beast and the climax of the film proves it since he will go to any level to win Belle's heart and eliminate the competition. The final fight of the film is a clear example of two conflicting forces trying to win Belle's heart, and in the end it is the Beasts love for Belle that prevails over Gaston's love for himself.
Beauty & the Beast will always remain a classic among those great films that were released from the mid eighties to the start of the new millennium. Its well drawn, well acted, well sung and has made its mark in history as a true masterpiece that proves that true beauty is what is on the inside and love is the greatest judge of that. So if parents are thinking of what movies to buy their children for Christmas buy the Blu-Ray to show them how Disney made films through the art of pencils and not computers alone.
My Rating: 4/4 Shamrocks
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