Skip to main content

The Beauty and Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast Movie poster

Plot Summary: Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast's exterior to recognize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within. A magical love story unfolds, filled with adventure, self-discovery, and courage.

Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
Producers: Don Hahn
Screenplay: Linda Woolverton, based on the French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont

Starring:
Paige O'Hara as Belle
Robby Benson as Beast
Richard White as Gaston
Jerry Orbach as Lumière
David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth
Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts
Jesse Corti as LeFou
 Freddy's Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

Family Face-Off: Beauty & Beast vs. Princess & Goblin

We continue our weekend movie marathon at home with another 1991 animated classic. This time, we’re comparing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with Princess and the Goblin, a film we watched just the day before. If you’re thinking it’s a no-brainer for Beauty and the Beast to win, especially among kids, think again. My daughter surprisingly enjoyed Princess and the Goblin much more, finding the goblins' misfortunes—particularly getting stepped on—hilarious. So, who are we to judge what makes a great animated film? But, for me, Disney’s film is clearly the winner. Its animation is smooth, the voice acting superb—especially the Beast, voiced by Robby Benson—and the characters are beautifully imagined. Above all, it’s a more coherent and well-written movie. I can't recall if I saw it as a child, as I wasn’t too keen on princess stories back then, being a boy.


The Special Edition and the Song "Human Again"

Now, the version I watched was not the original 1991 release but the 2002 Special Edition, which includes the song “Human Again” that was cut from the original release. While it’s nice to have additional content, I personally found the inclusion of this scene a bit too much. There’s already a lot of singing in the film, and this particular number left me feeling a bit bored. The original cut would have been a more enjoyable experience for me.


A Classic with a Rich History

I enjoyed learning that Beauty and the Beast originates from French folklore, first published as La Belle et la Bête by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740. Villeneuve’s original version was aimed at adults, but Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont adapted it in 1756 into the concise version we know today. The tale likely has even older roots, drawing inspiration from myths like the Roman story of Cupid and Psyche. So, there's nothing more to add to this popular Disney classic on my behalf. There must be a million reviews of this movie already. Also, if you didn’t know, Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film in history to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It’s undoubtedly a good watch, and it made me curious to see the live-action remake to check how they pulled off some of the fantastical elements in this movie.


🎥 Cinematography (8/10):

Smooth animation and stunning visuals, with timeless character designs.

📖 Story (8/10):

A classic tale, engaging and coherent.

🎬 Direction (8/10):

Captures the magic and emotion of the fairy tale well.

👥 Characters (8/10):

Well-designed and memorable, with excellent voice acting.

💥 Visual Effects (9/10):

Impressive for its time! CGI in the ballroom scene? Crazy!

🎭 Acting (8/10):

Superb voice acting, particularly from Robby Benson as the Beast.

💬 Dialogue (7/10):

Well-written, but the songs sometimes disrupt the flow. A problem I have with most Disney movies.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (7/10):

Immersive setting with a magical atmosphere.

🎵 Music (8/10):

Great Stuff. RIP Alan Menken.

😄 Entertainment Value (8/10):

A timeless engaging classic.

Our blog is currently being updated regularly!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Straw (2025)

Plot Summary: Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson), a desperate single mother of a seriously ill daughter, spirals through eviction, job loss, and tragedy in one catastrophic day. In a last-ditch attempt to get medicine, she starts a bank standoff — but a shocking twist reveals her daughter actually died hours earlier, and Janiyah has been dissociating from reality. Eventually, with support from a bank manager and detective, she surrenders peacefully amid growing public sympathy. Director & Writer: Tyler Perry Producer(s): Tyler Perry Cinematography: Justyn Moro Music: Dara Taylor Editing: Nick Coker Cast: Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah Wiltkinson Sherri Shepherd as Nicole (bank manager) Teyana Taylor as Detective Raymond Sinbad as Benny Glynn Turman as Richard (Janiyah’s boss) Rockmond Dunbar as Chief Wilson Ashley Versher as Tessa  ...
Post a Comment
Click to read

Deep Cover (2025)

Plot Summary: An improv comedy teacher (Bryce Dallas Howard) and two of her students (Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed) are recruited by a corrupt cop (Sean Bean) to go undercover. They infiltrate London's criminal world, using their acting skills to catch a gang, only to find themselves deeper in danger and needing to improvise their way out. Director: Tom Kingsley Screenplay: Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen Producers: Colin Trevorrow, Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald Music: Daniel Pemberton Cinematography: Will Hanke Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat Boyles Orlando Bloom as Marlon Swift Nick Mohammed as Hugh Sean Bean as DS Graham Billings Paddy Considine as Fly Ian McShane as Metcalfe Sonoya Mizuno as Shosh Studio / Distributor: Metronome Film Company, Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation / Amazon Prime Video ...
Post a Comment
Click to read

Echo Valley (2025)

Plot Summary: Grieving widow Kate Garrett (J. Moore) struggles to keep her Pennsylvania horse farm afloat after losing her wife. When her estranged, drug-addicted daughter Claire (S. Sweeney) returns bloodied and in distress, a gripping thriller unfolds as Kate fights to protect her child, confronting escalating danger, moral dilemmas, and the lengths a mother will go to save her kids. Director: Michael Pearce Screenplay: Brad Ingelsby Producers: Brad Ingelsby, Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Kevin J. Walsh Music: Jed Kurzel Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun Starring: Julianne Moore as Kate Garrett Sydney Sweeney as Claire Garrett Domhnall Gleeson as Jackie Kyle MacLachlan as Richard Garrett Fiona Shaw as Jessie Oliver Edmund Donovan as Ryan   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Cheese, Wine and Echo Valley Alright, so picture this. It’s a ...
Post a Comment
Click to read

Moana 2 (2024)

Plot Summary: Moana, now a master wayfinder, sets sail with her new crew to restore the lost island Motufetu and reconnect ocean tribes. Directors: David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller Producers: Christina Chen, Yvett Merino (with Jennifer Lee credited on fandom) Screenplay: Written by Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller; story by Bush, Miller & Bek Smith Starring (voice cast): Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana Dwayne Johnson as Maui Hualālai Chung as Moni Rose Matafeo as Loto David Fane as Kele Awhimai Fraser as Matangi Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea Alan Tudyk as Heihei Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui Nicole Scherzinger as Sina   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Back to the Ocean, But With Cautious Toes Saturday after lunch, full belly, and we hit play on Moana 2. If you’ve read my love letter to the first movie, you know it h...
Post a Comment
Click to read

Friendship (2024)

Plot Summary: Suburban dad Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) becomes obsessed with new neighbor Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). A quirky bromance spirals into a cringe-filled, emotional unraveling as Craig struggles with boundaries and rejection. Director & Writer: Andrew DeYoung Producer(s): Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Johnny Holland, Nick Weidenfeld Music: Keegan DeWitt Cinematography: Andy Rydzewski Editing: Sophie Corra Starring: Tim Robinson as Craig Waterman Paul Rudd as Austin Carmichael Kate Mara as Tami Waterman Jack Dylan Grazer as Steven Waterman Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey and others   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Wild Ride into Unhinged Genius Alright, instant noodles, shrimp flavor, done. Now for the actual love letter to Friendship, that magnificent, fucked-up black comedy that quite literally brought Tim R...
Post a Comment
Click to read

Europe's Lithium Paradox (2025)

Plot Summary: This eye-opening documentary explores Europe's struggle to harness its own lithium resources for clean energy. Although rich in lithium reserves, the continent relies heavily on imports. The film examines environmental concerns, community resistance, and growing calls for sustainable and socially responsible mining practices. Director: Stijn van Baarle Presenter: Peter Tom Jones Production Company: Journeyman Pictures, Storyrunner, SIM² KU Leuven Runtime: 56 minutes Original Language: English Featuring: Peter Tom Jones (Self)   ***SPOILER ALERT*** First Impressions from the Portuguese Trenches Let me just say it straight: this documentary is a slap in the face. We’re being f*cked over. Our land, our hills, our Barroso, is getting auctioned off to some British company that plans to drill hole after miserable hole like it's a goddamn dartbo...
Post a Comment
Click to read