A good fun movie not oscar quality

Rating: 8/10 (24 January 2003)

First the good points.
The only animated movie to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and it didn't deserved it.
let's look at how well the movie works. You have a monster who's more human than the movie's man villain; you have a heroine who's PC but engaging with it; you have a supporting cast of magic utensils who wisely never upstage the couple at the centre of this love story (and despite the Disney animated trappings, it IS a love story); and you have " A TALE AS OLD AS TIME"captivatLY and beautifully told.
The movie's also got wonderful design of its French setting and characters, with the ballroom scene a standout by the sight of the Beast and Belle in their evening wear; and Alan Menken's score is his finest work with matchless lyrics from the late and much lamented Howard Ashman the songs themselves are good,but rather the way they are presented - for example, the opening song with Belle - personally I didn't really get why the WHOLE TOWN was singing about Belle. I know it's called "suspension of disbelief", but I still wasn't that fond of that scene.
"Like Gaston" was the best tune, and the scene of course was great followed by "kill the beast" for it's fun lyrics. Humor here is fun (the final battle scene between the servants-cum-appliances/whatever and Gaston's mob - such as when the one guy is eaten by a closet and comes out dressed in a bikini with Marge Simpson hair). Also the way that Lamier and Cogsworth are towards each other is quite funny at times.
Gaston, one of my all time favorite Disney villains. Gaston is so complex. One minute, he's just an arrogant, stuck-up bum that is reminisicent of someone we all know and find irritating. Yet, he manages to add a little humor in his attempts to woo Belle. Then, he turns into a real jerk, willing to lock Maurice up to get Belle. And finally, he becomes pure evil, ready to kill the Beast to win Belle. That mocking laugh and look he gives the Beast when he says, "What's the matter? Too kind and gentle to fight back?" is one of the greatest scenes in Disney villainry history. A rare few scenes rank up with the amount of evil emotion that this scene has, such as Scar giving Mufasa an incredibly horrifying look before murdering him, or Jafar laughing like an insane lunatic after banishing Aladdin, Abu, and Carpet to the Ends of the Earth. Great moments that illustrate just how dark a villain can be.
Now the not soo good points or FLAWS THAT ARE TOLABLE Plot holes: When the enchantress shows up disguised as an old beggar woman, the prince answers the door. Why is he doing this, when he has servants to answer the door for him? Also here he looks like an older teenager when according to the story he was 11 years old when this happened.
How can Bell's father build such a complicated machine (wood cutter) if doesn't know what tools to use on it. Why does it seem the horse is smarter than Bell's father when they get lost in the woods. The horse wants to go down the less scary path but Bell's father chooses the scarier path (go figure).
I like the homage to "sound of Music" when Bell runs up the green hill singing after she rejectes Gaston's proposal' That horse of Bell's must be part hound dog to know where Bell's father ended up in the castle. (remember the horse took off before Bell's father made it to the castle). Lumier (the candlestick) must be extra magical by the way he can ignite himself anytime he wants.
The musical number "Be our Guest" is way to "disney" in that it's style and presentation has been done in too many other movies. Although the song "Human Again' musical sequence was excellently done and a most welcome addition for the movie's special edition release it was done to Disney" for my liking also.

VERY BIG FLAWS THAT TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BEING A 10/10 MOVIE
Bell must be "super woman" by the way lifts up the Beast onto the horse to take him back to the castle, even though he must weigh about 300 pounds (after wolf pack battle). And again later when she holds the beast so he doesn't fall off the roof at the end of his battle with Gastou.
How did chip figure out how to work the "wood cutter" and start the fire and control the direction it went when it was parked on top of the hill. (huh?)
THEORY: when Bell goes into the west wing and into the Beast's private room, she does notice his human picture (she pulls up the torn sections) So she knows that the Beast is really human. So that is why she falls in love with him. She knows from all the fiction books she read that there must be a way to turn him back into a man. That is why she acts the way she does toward him.
Why isn't Bell or her father or the towns people spooked by all the "living" items they encounters in the castle.
Continuity: The seasons change several times throughout the movie. When Maurice is thrown out of the pub, he lands in a pile of snow. When others leave, the pile is not there. Gaston and others are wearing short-sleeved shirts in the snow. When Belle and the beast go outside (in the winter) after dancing, they are in shirt sleeves and crickets are heard. Also in the final act Bell arrives home (it's still winter) Then later that night apparently, during the climatic scene between The Beast and Gastou (it's starts raining).
Continuity: At the beggining, the Beast scratches his own painting from top-left to bottom-right, later Belle discovers the paint and it's scratched from top-right to bottom-left.
Continuity: After the Gaston song, the bear rug moves from behind the chair to under the chair.

FINAL VERDICT
I see "Beauty and the Beast" as one of those movies that you watch over and over again if you are in the right frame of mind like "leaving your brain at the door" and ignoring all the continuity problems and pot holes that show up. then you can relive the magic and atmosphere of the film and be taken in by the movie's very real heart that makes it a keeper. 8/10