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Beauty and the Beast (Disney Special Platinum Edition) Customer Reviews (46 - 48 of 78 Reviews)

A Must-Have for the Disney Fan
Forget the video. If you loved the theatrical version of "Beauty and the Beast" you won't want to miss the DVD. This special edition DVD has so many added features that fans of the film won't be satisfied until they own a copy. This two-disc set includes 3 versions of the film. They include:

- The work-in-progress edition which first premiered at the 1991 New York Film Festival.

- The original theatrical version.

- A special edition version that includes the new musical number, "Human Again" and enhanced animation.

It also includes a sing-along track version, and a version of the film with audio commentary by the producers.

In addition, the second disc features behind-the-scenes galleries, interactive games, "The Making of Beauty and the Beast," interviews with the cast-members, a tour of Disney's animation studios, music videos, and much, much more.

It's the familiar story of Belle, Maurice, Gaston, the Beast, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth and Lumiere, but presented in a whole new way. Fans will not be disappointed. Restored and remastered, the film seems much brighter than the theatrical version.

The previous reviewer who complained of the Work-in-Progress version in French needs to familiarize him or herself to the operations of his or her DVD player. All versions of the film can be watched in a variety of languages, depending upon one's settings.

All in all, it's a perfect Christmas gift for the Beauty and the Beast fan.

100 Stars for my 100th Review!
Since this is my 100th review I've written since I started doing this a couple years ago, I decided to choose to review a movie very near and dear to me. With the rerelease of "Beauty and the Beast" on DVD, it seems fitting and appropriate that this is the one I choose!

So many years ago, when Beauty and the Beast first was released, I hesitated going. After all, how could Disney possibly top its tremendous achievement with "The Little Mermaid". I ended up having to go, for the entire school where I was teaching at the time went. From the opening scene that takes us through the forest to the stained glass windows, I was totally awed.

If you don't know the story (who doesn't?), Belle is an intelligent, beautiful girl smart enough to know that what society deems her life to be isn't right for her. She yearns for something more out there, something she's only read about in her books.. She heroically saves her father from an unjust prison sentence by taking his place in the Beast's delapidated castle. There, through her honesty of heart, she sees through his gruff exterior, into his honest heart. The rest, as they say, is history.

Everything about this film worked back then, and it works just as magically now. The animation is crisp and daring. The songs simply spin powerfully and gently at the same time. The characters are real and realized, from the enchanted objects in the castle to the buffoon-turned-evil guy Gaston. The infamous ballroom scene, which 10 years so stunned me, still today stuns me, not for its techinical merit (after all, we've been exposed to Pixar's incredible work) but for its honesty and high emotional punch.

The DVD offers many treats for "Beauty and the Beast" fans. On disk A, they've offered three different versions of the movie: "Special Edition", "Original Release", and a "Work in Progress" version that mixed some animated parts with sketches and drawings. I particulary enjoyed the commentary done by the producers and song writer Alan Menken during the "Special Edition". Disk B comes with several interviews on making the movies, as well as games for the kids. It seems that Disney has struggled with making their DVD's worthy of the medium, but with this release, they've finally started to learn what they can do with it!

This is my third most favorite movie of all time. Perhaps it was the animation. Perhaps it was the music. Or perhaps it was being able to relate to the longing of a girl who wanted so much more for herself. Or even perhaps, it was the longing of the Beast, who only wanted something that he at first couldn't do himself; for someone to look beyond his appearance to see the beauty within. Perhaps they all work together, perfectly, in "Beauty and the Beast".

Beauty is the Best
Like the sumptuous DVD of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves", Disney has produced another gloriously packaged keepsake for its Academy Award-nominated film "Beauty and the Beast".

The DVD has enough contents to keep the viewer busy for days! There are three versions of the movie here! The "work in progress" version (all line drawings, black and white, and rough) is a little hard to watch after a while, but very interesting, nonetheless.

The menues are adorable and Disneyesque. I find the disks to be very easy to navigate. Although, on disk 2 the voices tell you not to choose the "rose window" -- that leads to the west wing of the castle and is forbidden!! Of course, the first thing I wanted to do was click on the rose window. So there is a sense of fun on the disk.

I found the documentaries to be especially informative. The art of animation is explained. The use of computers is shown. The process of developing the story is fascinating: A powdered wig fop was the original villain. "Be My Guest" was sung to Belle's father, not Belle. There are lots of these stories. There are galleries that show the film's early artwork and the "Dangerous Liaisons" look that the artists were going for.

The movie itself is very entertaining. I'm a huge admirer of the opening musical number ("this small provential town...") - it sets the mood and tone for the film so wonderfully.

"Beauty and the Beast" proved that Disney can sometimes achieve greatness with the animated film like Uncle Walt used to in the old days. It's right up there with "Lion King" as one of the best films in the new Michael Eisner/Disney regime.

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