Beauty and the Beast
- Review Date: September 19, 2005
- Rated: G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Release Year: 1991
- Running Time: 90 minutes
Common Sense Media says
The ultimate makeover story has strong, positive messages.
- Review Date: September 19, 2005
- Rated: G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Release Year: 1991
- Running Time: 90 minutes
Academy AwardGolden Globe
Beauty and the Beast gallery
What parents need to know
Educational value
Positive role models
Violence & scariness
Sexy stuff
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Beast's initial ferocity might scare younger viewers. And once kids have seen his gentle side, they may find scenes of him being hunted and stabbed by Gaston emotionally upsetting. The sequence in which a mob comes after Beast is also quite intense, and there's a fair bit of cleavage on display during the bar-set "Gaston" number. But kids mature enough for feature-length stories will find this one of the best Disney movies they could spend time with in terms of intelligence, quality, and originality -- not to mention having one of Disney's smartest, most independent heroines. Note: The movie's 2012 3D theatrical rerelease intensifies the musical numbers like "Be Our Guest" and the waltz scene in "Beauty and the Beast," but it doesn't make Beast's roars or the mob scenes too much scarier than they are in 2D.
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What's the story?
When a prince turns away an old woman selling apples because of her ugly appearance, she casts a spell that turns him into a beast and his staff into objects. Only finding someone to love him can undo the enchantment, but misfortune turns Beast (voiced by Robby Benson) bitter and mean. When by young Belle (Paige O'Hara) from the village comes to the castle looking for her missing father, the staff -- a motley collection of servants enchanted to look like household items -- hopes she'll break the spell even as Beast holds her prisoner. At first repulsed by Beast, she later sees the beautiful person still inside him. But will her love save Beast from a village determined to kill him?
Is it any good?
QUALITY
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST may not be Disney's most famous movie, but it stands as the studio's crowning achievement, winning an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Picture. Stellar music, brisk storytelling, delightful animation, and above all compelling characters make it both a great animated feature for kids and a great movie for anyone. Although based on source material, this one escapes the fate of sounding merely recycled from previous Disney movies.
In essence all great stories are about transformation, and this one beats out even Cinderella as the ultimate makeover story, with Beast's inner transformation preceding his outer one. Some editions of the DVD include an additional scene and a new song, but the original movie stands on its own merit.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about Belle and Beast's first impressions of each other. What did they discover about each other as their relationship grew?
As one of the popular Disney Princesses, how is Belle the same as Cinderella and the Little Mermaid? How is she different?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | November 22, 1991 |
| DVD release date: | October 4, 2011 |
| Cast: | Paige O'Hara, Richard White, Robby Benson |
| Directors: | Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Topics: | Magic and fantasy, Princesses and fairies, Fairy tales, Great girl role models, Monsters, ghosts, and vampires, Music and sing-along |
| Run time: | 90 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | G |
| Awards: | Academy Award, Golden Globe |
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QUALITY
Terrible message to send to our girls
This movie sends a terrible message to our girls. All too often we see women isolated from loved ones by their abusers, thinking if they can just love him enough, he will change into a prince. This movie encourages those incorrect beliefs. The Beast isolates and abuses Belle, but when she learns to love him, he changes into a prince. Makes me sick to think my little girl could buy into this. I gave it two stars though, because the music is fantastic, and the movie is well done. Belle was a great role model up until she succumbed to Stockholm syndrom.
What other families should know
Too much violence
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QUALITY
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QUALITY
A Masterpiece
Beauty and the Beast is my all the time favorite Disney movie (which is saying something, as I love them all so much!) and I made an account here just to defend it.
First of all, Belle doesn't start loving Beast (or Prince Adam, whichever you prefer) until he stops treating her badly. Unlike some of the other Royal Disney couples, I believe Belle and Beast truly love each other, rather than the lust at first sight couples such as Snow White and her Prince and Cinderella and Charming have. If she was going to fall for that, she would have gone for Gaston. Belle is a great role model. She stands out, doesn't care what others think (great to have a kid appericting that trait young for once they get to middle school or high school), and she's not shallow. The animation is great, the music is great, it's simply...a masterpiece
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
Great role models
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