Disney's Return to Glory

Rating: Null/10 (3 February 2003)

When Disney first started animated films, particularly with its opening trio of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "Pinnochio", and "Fantasia", the point was literally to change the way film exists, particularly in a medium such as animation which is generally regared kiddy fluff with little real cinematic value. They succeeded. Watching the early films, with the moveable images, the wonderful swirl of imagination and music, creates a whole new way of experiencing the story.
The later Disney features were a little more formulaic, but still outstanding: they found a story, ran with it, and focused on loveable characters with witty voices. Films like "Peter Pan", "Alice in Wonderland", "Lady and the Tramp", were all more like elegant pieces of pop art than real challenging stuff.
"Beauty and the Beast" re-wrote the rules. The camera flows effortlessly in and out and around a scene, creating a visual way of telling the story that's almost Spielberg-esque. Then you need a compelling cast of vocal talent, worked together flawlessly with charming music. Check off all of the above for this film.
It really was a Return to Glory for Disney, a film that touched audiences that last really loved a Disney film when "Mary Poppins" was released. 10/10.