BEAUTY AND THE BEAST REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since 1937, Walt Disney Pictures has managed to release masterpiece after masterpiece. Despite the tragic death of the iconic animator in 1966, his company still managed to produce classic animated films. Beauty and the Beast is, by far, my favourite. I first watched this as a child and I loved it. Now, as an adult, I still enjoy watching it.

Most people would think Disney animations would only interest children but I think adults will enjoy watching this with their children. There are a few dark moments that would scare children so it's a good idea to have their parent there to comfort them. Despite these dark moments, there are plenty of upbeat and funny moments and catchy songs to keep them happy.

After an Enchantress, disguised as an old beggar, offers a rose to a Prince in exchange for shelter at his palace, he turns her away in disgust. For his arrogance, the Enchantress reveals herself and curses the Prince turning him into a beast  and places a spell on the whole castle, turning his servants into enchanted objects. This curse can only be broken when the Beast (voice of Robby Benson) learns to love another and the other loves him in return. If he can't find someone by the time the final rose petal falls, the curse will remain forever. The Beast becomes isolated from the outside world and stays in his palace feeling hopeless.

Meanwhile, a young woman, Belle (Paige O'Hara), is bored of her life in the village as she has no friends because the local villages think that she is strange, like her father (Rex Everhart), who is an inventor. She spends most of her days reading books and dreams of a life outside the village. However, when her father disappears whilst travelling to an inventing contest, she goes out to find him. She ends up at the palace where the Beast has been keeping him imprisoned. Belle offers to take her fathers place and the Beast accepts, thinking that she might be the one to break the spell and is determined to make her fall in love with him. However, this is easier said than done and the Beast is running out of time.

Like the majority of Disney films, there's a villain. In this, it's Gaston (Richard White), a selfish and arrogant man, who is determined to marry Belle, despite her many rejections. He is villainous as he will stop at nothing to marry Belle, even if it means having to kill the Beast who Belle eventually falls in love with. I think Gaston's arrogance and his constant harassment of Belle make him one of Disney's most despicable villains.

Lumiere (Jerry Orbach) and Cogsworth (David Ogden Stiers) are a talking candlestick and clock and they bring humour to the animation. Lumiere is optimistic that their master, the Beast, will find true love before the final petal on the rose falls but Cogsworth has his doubts. Their arguments are very funny and entertaining to watch. 

Of course, it wouldn't be a Disney film without some songs. This film includes several of Disney's best songs such as: Human Again; Something There and Be Our Guest which is sung by Lumiere in a mesmerising sequence with all the kitchen ingredients. However, the standout song is the beautiful title song sung by Angela Lansbury who voices Mrs. Potts in the film, whilst Belle and the Beast dance together. 

After its release in 1991, it went on to win two Oscars and also won three Golden Globes, one of which was for Best Motion Picture.

This is one of Disney's most beloved animations and I can clearly see why. It is one of the most enchanting films in animated history.

8/10