Review of Beauty and the Beast (1991) by Johnathon W — 12 Jan 2017

Classic animated film that represents the peak of the Disney Renaissance of the 90's while also being one of the finest films the studio has ever produced. The vocal cast is superb across the board, with the roles played by talented theater & Broadway actors, thus they can speak & sing their roles (something Disney has wisely returned to since "Frozen").

Behind the camera, director Gary Trousdale and the film team craft a beauty adaptation of the classic fairy tale, with nice hints to the original story, from the rose to the magical castle, but with some nice modern updates.

Most significant is the character of Belle, who is an intelligent & strong-willed young woman and also a bit of a geek (Beast's first romantic gesture to her is giving her a library full of books).

She's no shrinking violet and at one point, it's her galloping on horseback to save the Beast, making her the prototype for modern Disney princesses/heroines. Gaston is another wonderful subversive move by the film, as in any other Disney film, he would be the prince and is never outwardly identified as the villain (the whole town loves him after all).

Of course, the music is second to none, with brilliant work by Alan Menken & the late, great Howard Ashman, who make each song enjoyable but vital to the story (one lyric in the first song, 'Belle', actually foreshadows the plot of the entire film).

Overall, still one of Disney's finest films ever made, which by default makes it one of the best films ever.