A very well-made cartoon love story, alas, it wasn't quite what I was expecting

Rating: 7/10 (2 December 2006)

Too much comedy and stupidity, too little enigma and darkness is what strongly lets me down about this love story. However, I DO NOT hate it!
THE GOOD POINTS OF "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST": 1. The Stunning Animation 2. The use of CGI for the ballroom and the title song that combines with this amazing scene 3. Belle's appealing character 4. The Songs 5. The Enchanted Rose glowing, spitting out sparks of magic 6. That emotional scene when the beast is severely injured and Belle holds him in her arms and dies. She tells him she loves him when it's almost too late after he dies (the last petal of the rose is about to fall). It's sad but, you know what? It cuts down on all that unwanted comedy
THE BAD POINTS OF "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST": 1. The opening scene in Belle's village - the townspeople are incredibly idiotic! 2. Belle's father Maurice seems more of a wacky, fiery person rather than a warm, comforting old man who makes such awful inventions 3. Gaston has got to be the most annoying and thick-in-the-head Disney villain ever (at least, until the last 15-20 minutes of the film when he turns nasty and mentally jealous) 4. LeFou drives me MAD! 5. The pub sequence when a party is held for Gaston - IT'S JUST PLAIN PATHETIC!!!
Well, well, well! I think that kinda proves I love it more than hate it! And why should I hate it? It lacks the brainless stupidity of "Hercules" (not a good film AT ALL) and I'm surprised that according to Channel 4's "100 Greatest Family Films" "The Lion King" was more popular than this! This is MUCH better! And furthermore the "Lion King" is just plain depressing and, again, stupid. I still know that this film has already become a treasured classic after just 15 years - it's younger than ME! It's popularity is not surprising, if you ask me! The ballroom scenes with the sweeping camera-motions combining with breathtaking CGI and rich cartoons! Before I go, I will say that, while 6 good points outshines 5 bad points and while there are scenes that'll amaze you, there is no cherry on top of the cake (if you see what I mean) because, like I say, I am not too pleased with the amounts of times sheer dumb comedy comes into this movie - so I won't give "Beauty and the Beast" the highest rating.