Beauty and The Beast Review

Rating: 9/10 (3 December 2013)

Beauty and the Beast is a classic children's Disney movie. It is set in Paris, France within a little town and a big castle. Belle is the main character who lives with her father. Her father Maurice is the town's inventor. Gaston is the man of the town and wants to marry Belle. The Beast lives within the castle and has many servants such as Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Chip.
The beginning of the movie explains how the Beast came to be. He was not nice to a woman who in turn turned him from a handsome prince into a Beast. The lesson was for him to learn to love and be loved in return. It then cuts to Belle in her town trying to help her father with his new invention. Maurice ends up being a prisoner in the Beasts' castle when he took a wrong turn towards the inventors fair. Belle rescues him but she needs to live in the castle for the rest of her life in order for her father to go free. She does so and ends up spending time with the Beast and seeing the good within him. She befriends the servants and begins to live happily.
The music plays a huge role in the movie. First there are the actual songs that are sung by the characters. These songs give a brief glimpse into the character's personality. In the beginning Belle sings about how she loves to read and feels as if she doesn't fit in with the townspeople. The viewer can tell Belle loves reading because her nose is always in a book. She barely pays attention to any of the townspeople because they don't understand her interests. Belle feels alone. When Gaston's song comes on, the viewer learns who masculine he is and his interests such as shooting, spitting, and decorating. The background music is just as important. The background music helps the viewer feel what is going on during the scene. For instance, when Belle is being attacked by the wolves and the Beast comes to save her, there is a dark music in the background indicating that something scary, the Beast, is there. The music makes you feel as if you are in the fight scene. Also when Belle and the Beast are starting to get along, the background music is happy showing the sexual tension between each other.
The camera angles and shots are very important to this movie. There are many close-ups on the beast in order to instill fear. Some of the shots are of his eyes in order for the viewer to see he really is human; he is not just a beast. There are also low angle shots of the Beast. This is to show that he is in power over everyone else and it is to make the viewer afraid of him. There are also establishing shots that are very helpful. Belle has her nose stuck in a book but around her everyone is going about their daily life in the village and giving her weird looks because why would a woman be reading?
Beauty and the Beast is a classic princess movie. I personally love this movie. I have loved this movie since I was little. I love how well it is put together. The characters are well developed so the fact that the movie isn't that long is not a bad thing because you already know the characters. You already feel for Belle and you want her to end up with Beast. I like how Belle is not a typical woman. Back then women were supposed to be housewives and do everything for their husbands. They were not supposed to read or be educated but reading is Belle's favorite thing. She does not want to be a typical housewife she wants much more which is why she does not marry Gaston. She wants to feel equal in the relationship which she does in her relationship with Beast. I do not think kids are the only ones who would enjoy this movie. This movie is for any age and any gender because it's about romance and stereotypes.