'Mermaid' meets Gandalf with 'Revenge of the Nerds'

Rating: Null/10 (31 May 2004)

This is maybe the most well-regarded of Disney's Phase III projects as I've classified them. It's typical formula fair, so here's my reinterpretation of the events:
This is your only spoiler warning...
The townsfolk represent technology and knowledge. The Beast is myth and superstition. Having subdued the machines in his domain and made them his servants, the Beast turns on the villagers. After being mentally conquered by the Beast, the townsfolk reject their knowledge and fall victim to the Beast's superstition control. Thus they go off to kill their master, but fall victim to the same technology they once controlled. Ironic? By comparison, Bakshi was too obvious in his work.
Some interesting points:
There's a John Hughes undercurrent here. The Jock is the villain. The Beast is the Recluse. The Nerd is the comic relief. Belle is turning 16 years old.
Of all the post-'Mermaid' work, this is probably the most colorful. So, despite the age-old philosophy behind the character designs, there's some imagination in the art department. The inventor is obviously a spinoff from 'Pinocchio.' Also, the design of the Beast's castle is pretty impressive.
Once again, Menken is the real driving force. My question is "why didn't he do 'Lion King' and why hasn't he done anything since 'Hercules'?" As you can guess, the Oscars love him and his ilk.
So you can praddle on about the "magic" behind this product, but in the end it's still typical. Nonetheless, Disney films can still be interesting when placed in the context of their creation. Here society is the Beast, having long abandoned it's fascination with Disney magic. So Disney manifests itself as Belle, a musical intellect that seduces us. We accept it, the curse is lifted and Disney makes a ton of money marketing its "new aesthetics".
This lasted until 'Pocahantas', where the New World was actually Pixar. That leads to Phase IV. Sadly, Scott better understood the tone that Cocteau was trying to make with 'Legend'.
Final Analysis = = Cinematic Dud