When I think of Disney, I think of their animated fairy tales. And Beauty and the Beast is a classic one. As the title song says, the story is as old as time. We all know about the beastly Beast (Benson), a previously handsome prince who was cursed with ugliness until he learns true love, and the beautiful Belle (O'Hara), who is able to see past his hideous exterior and into his kind heart. Even I, with my forgetfulness, remember the French candlestick Lumiere (Orbach), the wound-up clock Cogsworth (Stiers), the teapot Mrs. Potts (Lansbury), and her teacup son Chip (Pierce). They stick in your brain for their uniqueness, their depth, and their extraordinary acting. It feels odd to know that they cast Broadway talent to both act and sing in this movie, but it really lets the film exceed expectations. And it gives the movie phenomenal songs. I think everyone knows "Be Our Guest," but my new favorite might be "Something There." It is compelling--and it elevates the film out of its cartoon beginnings into something mature and beautiful. It is with nostalgia that I rewatched Beauty and the Beast recently, but I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
My main issue with the movie was its animation, which is practically everything for an animated film. It didn't feel stylistically unified and complete as so many Pixar films are. I was shocked to find out that each character had their own creative director, because it seemed as if they were all randomly drawn by a collection of people in cubicles who didn't get to see anybody else's work. Not only were drawings occasionally inconsistent, but some were flat-out ugly. Pixar's movies, on the other hand, will be seen exactly the same 20 years in the future as they are now despite their outdated graphics because they have their own distinct style that isn't stuck in a particular time. Still, Beauty and the Beast is as classic as Aladdin and should be one of the first films you pick up to rewatch if you want a walk down memory lane.
IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101414/