Beauty and the Beast is one of my all-time favorite animated films. Excellent in every way, the film meets and exceeds expectations in terms of story, performance, music, and animation standards. If there ever was a film that encapsulates the heart and soul of Disney’s Golden Age of animation it’s Beauty and the Beast.
From the very first moment of the movie to the final frames of the finale, Beauty and the Beast takes us on a journey that no animated feature had taken audiences on before. It’s no wonder that the first animated film ever nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award!
A landmark film, it’s a movie that transcends generations and still holds up today against animation utilizing superior technology.
The movie is filled with comedy, drama, heart, adventure, action, and memorable musical numbers that would eventually be translated to the Broadway stage for the musical version of the film.
With this Blu-ray edition you get three versions of the movie. The first is the original theatrical version; the second includes a new musical number “Human Again;” and the third allows you to compare the rough animation and storyboards for the film as you watch the actual movie.
This Diamond Edition is loaded with special features that will allow you to immerse yourself in the world of the movie, its development, the history of Disney animation, and more.
Blu-ray special features on the first disc include: Composing a Classic; Broadway Beginnings; a New Music Video by Jordin Sparks; the Never-Before-Seen Alternate Opening; Deleted Scenes; Disney Sing-a-Long Mode; and Audio Commentary.
Now here’s where things get interesting. On Blu-ray disc two you get Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories of Beauty and the Beast, which is a fascinating and in-depth exploration of the origins of the film since the time of Walt Disney himself. This is an extensive documentary that has side-featurettes, chapters, and a whole bunch of cool things to see and learn.
You also get the Enchanted Musical Challenge Game; Bonjour, Who is This? Game; and the Bonus Features from the DVD Platinum Edition from a few years ago.
Beauty and the Beast is classic animation at its finest. A movie that never fails to amaze, excite, and inspire, and I really cannot recommend this film enough!
Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition DVD/Blu-ray is available October 5, 2010!
What you favorite moment/musical number/character from Beauty and the Beast? What are your favorite animated Disney movies? Leave and comment and let us know!
My top 5 favorite classic Disney animated films are:
1. Aladdin
2. Beauty and the Beast
3. The Little Mermaid
4. The Lion King
5. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs