Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty (DVD))

Member Name: catherine21

Product:	Sleeping Beauty (DVD)
Date:	09/08/09 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to watch, enjoyable for both adults and children

Disadvantages: None

Sleeping Beauty has to be my all time favourite Disney film, possibly my all time favourite film. As a Disney film it is primarily aimed at children, but it's very enjoyable for adults and anyone who likes a romantic film.

The plot is simple so that children will understand and enjoy it. The quality of the cartoon is very good considering it was made in the 1950s, and it is still very watchable today. Admittedly, it is without the computer graphics etc of kids films now, but it doesn't look out of date at all.

The story begins soon after Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) is born, and her parents, the King and Queen, are introducing their kingdom to her. This occasion is ruined by the intrusion of Malnificent, the evil witch. She is angry she has not been invited to the celebrations, and so curses Aurora saying that before the end of her 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die.

Malnificent is a classic Disney Villan - dressed in black robes with her pet raven flying around her, she makes for a very imposing figure. This could be quite scary for very small children.

One of Aurora's fairygodmothers promises Aurora that she will not die, but fall into a deep sleep, only to be woken by true love's kiss.

The king and queen are terrified, so the fairy godmothers take her away and raise her in a small peasant cottage in the woods, where no-one will find her.

The story skips ahead to the day of Aurora's 16th birthday. Out in the woods, she meets her dream man, Prince Philip, although she doesn't know at this stage his name, the fact he is a prince, the fact that she is a princess, or that at birth she was betrothed to him.

When her fairy godmothers break the news that day that Aurora is a princess and must be returned to her parents, she is devastated, thinking that she will never see her dream man again.

Clever as the fairygodmothers' plan to hide Aurora away was, Malnificent manages to catch them out. She caputures the prince, and once Aurora is back at the castle, she puts her into a trance and makes her prick her finger.

It is then up to the fairy godmothers to ensure Aurora wakes up from her deep sleep and gets her happy ending.

Sleeping Beauty is a lovely classic fairytale, I love it just as much now as I did when I first watched it aged 6. With plenty of songs, castles, fairies, and wiked witches, it's a film that's sure to capture most children's imagination. At only 75 minutes long, it should also hold their attention.

The DVD comes with lots of special features such as deleted scenes, a music video, audio commentary and an alternate opening. The special features are a good addition to the DVD as it gives extra value for money. I always feel a bit disappointed if I buy a DVD and it has no extra features.

If you like Disney and fairytales, you will love this!

Summary: A wonderful classic fairytale