Beauty and the Beast is an animated movie released in 1991, produced and distributed by Disney. The movie was one of the greatest hits of it's time, it was the very first animated movie ever to recieve a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

The movie revolves around a young prince who gets turned into a hideous Beast by an enchantress who is displeased with his vain and shallow attitude. The enchantress also transforms all of his attendants and servants into objects like teapots, clocks, teacups etc. She then gives him an enchanted rose and tells him that he must learn to love and be loved by another in order to turn human again. Agonized over his own appearance, the Beast hides in his palace and becomes even more bitter and unpleasant. After all, who could ever love a Beast?

The film has a great lesson behind it's story. While many people disapprove of Disney movies for their children I think it is almost a tradition now to grow up watching Disney movies and Beauty and the Beast is a classic. The Beast was once a handsome prince who had it all but he was shallow, vain and unkind. He was transformed into a hideous Beast until someone could learn to love him. Lesson- true beauty comes from within, it does not do to become obsessed with what is on the outside.

In a nearby village is a beautiful young girl named Belle who longs for adventure, for something more than her current life. When her father gets imprisoned in the Beasts castle, Belle offers to take her fathers place. Not so much a lesson but it shows kindness,sacrifice and love.

Even though the Beast by normal standards was hideous to look at Belle eventually learnt to see past it. She becomes good friends with the Beast and over time the two fall in love- so many other stories associate the idea of love with a handsome prince and a beautiful young maiden. This prince was anything but handsome which again is a great message to the younger girls to not always make the conventional idea of handsome a requirement for love when they grow up.

Despite a few tense moments the movie does not have any particular action like some Disney movies do which I see as a plus. Not all kids like movies with action and tension, I certainly did not when I was young so this movie was one of the ones I would see over and over again because there were no anxiety inducing parts I had to skip over. If your child does not like particularly tense movies this is a winner. The story moves smoothly throughout there are no parts in the movie when I found myself wondering what was going on, no boring parts and nothing is played out, a complaint I usually have of movies.

The animation, for it's time, was very very good and the whole thing is just...stunning. The amazingly detailed ballroom in which Beauty and her Beast share a dance, the huge library, the grand staircase and even places outside of the castle just look stunning. The attention to detail is great. The music is pleasant, enjoyable and simple.

Sountrack:
1. Prologue
2.Belle
3.Belle(Reprise)
4.Gaston
5.Be Our Guest
6.Something There
7.The Mob Song
8.Beauty and The Beast
9.To the Fair
10.West Wing
11.The Beast lets Belle Go
12.Battle on the Tower
13.Transformation
14.Beauty and the Beast (Peabo Bryson & Celine Dion)

On the whole, it is a lovable, entertaining movie and one you will not regret watching, though your kids especially daughters may become extremely obsessed with it so you may be watching it more than once lo

(This review also appears on Ciao)