Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Rated: G

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

One cold night, an old woman happens upon a castle and asks the prince for refuge from the cold but the prince refuses due the old woman’s repulsive appearance. The old woman reveals her true identity as a beautiful enchantress and places a spell on the prince and his entire castle because of his shallowness. The prince is turned into a beast and the enchantress tells him if he can find a woman to fall in love with him just as he is by his twenty first birthday the curse will be broken.

Ten years pass and the prince remains alone among his servants who have been turned into various household products, objects and utensils. One day a man named Maurice is on his way to the fair to place his invention in a contest when he gets lost and attacked by wolves.

He finds safety in the walls of the castle but the prince, who still holds anger over what the enchantress had done to him, places Maurice in the tower as his prisoner. Maurice‘s daughter, Belle, goes in search of her father and chooses to take Maurice’s place as the beast prisoner. In the time she is imprisoned Belle helps to bring the good out of the Beast and the love story takes off!

One of Disney’s BEST animated films and the first animated film to be nominated for an Oscar in Best Picture, Beauty and the Beast is one of my ALL time favorite movies!

Beauty and the Beast is woven together with meticulous detail. The French quaint town as the background is full of vivid and bright colors. The dark and foreboding atmosphere of the castle plays a great role in personifying the depression of the Beast and is perfect contrast to Belle’s serene and generous personality.

The music in Beauty and the Beast is heart moving and beautiful. The song “Beauty and the Beast” performed by Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts) is still one of the Disney’s most revered songs. “Be Our Guest” performed by Jerry Orbach (Lumiere) is still one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SCENES in the movie! Richard White does a great job at bringing forth the villain Gaston. And Paige O’Hara as Belle is charming and sweet.

Beauty and the Beast is a wonderful movie for children and adults alike because it offers a great and ageless life lesson: you should judge someone by their heart not by their looks.

So snuggle up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and sit back for a whimsical ride of pure magic only Disney could create!

Running Time: 90 minutes

Director: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise

Rating: 10/10 stars