Beauty and the Beast (November 22, 1991)

Is this a perfect Disney film? Through this review I will attempt to answer this question and, potentially, award it my first 10/10 rating so far. This movie is a romance between the Beast, a prince who was cursed by a witch to remain as a monster unless he can secure true love’s kiss, and Belle, an intelligent girl from a nearby “poor provincial” French town who longs for something beyond her simple life. Additionally, the Beast lives in an enchanted castle where all of his former servants have been transformed alongside him into various household items. The orchestral soundtrack is fantastic, perfectly transitioning from soft strings sweetly serenading the burgeoning lovebirds, then swelling to a crescendo to highlight the moments of increased dramatic tension. All of the vocal songs are also spectacular. “Belle” is a great introduction to our titular heroine and the opinion of her among her fellow townsfolk. It also includes a great exchange with Gaston, the movie’s villain, “a tall, dark strong, and handsome brute!” “Be Our Guest” is an over the top showstopper where the denizens of Beast’s Castle are able to show off their colorful personalities through an act of hospitality. “Beauty and the Beast” is the iconic song set against a magical CGI ballroom- which still holds up today- where we are able to see Belle and the Beast’s romance blossom into something beautiful and rare. Moving on, the plot is simple but the tale it tells is so timeless it works. It allows the large cast of characters to shine. The Beast, in particular, is quite a complex and tragic figure. He was cursed at such young age and left alone in the sprawling castle with only his servants, as wonderful as they are, for companionship. I do not fault him for his rudeness towards the witch. He grew up in an environment that fostered an attitude of entitlement and it is hard to break out of that shell. The punishment, in this case, did not fit the crime. The servants, on the other are, are so kind to him. Where they could foster feelings of resentment, they instead choose to encourage the beast in his pursuit of happiness. And they never give up hope of one day becoming human again. Belle is a spunky girl who chooses to give up her freedom for the sake of her father. This is an incredibly brave and selfless act on her part which is reciprocated when her father decides to brave the woods to try and rescue her. They do not appear on screen for long, but their rare moments of togetherness cement a loving father daughter relationship that is quite lovely. Finally, Gaston is a great villain. While I usually prefer more complex villains with compelling backstories, in this case his stupidity and brutality contrasts to the intelligence and understanding of Belle. Overall, all things considered, I believe this film deserves the mantel of being one of the rare near-perfect Disney films that will stand the test of time.

Final Rating: 10/10