Movie Review: Beauty & The Beast 3D (2012)
- By Aubrey Ward III
- Published 01/15/2012
- Animation
-
Rating:
Aubrey Ward III
I'm not telling you what to see. I'm not telling you what not to see. I'm just sharing my experience and opinion on the movie, tv show or play that I have seen. I'm merely an advisor. Ultimately, you will have to go with your own gut and decide if you'll buy the ticket or not.
View all articles by Aubrey Ward III
The 3D craze has not only encouraged Hollywood to make their new releases into third-dimensional spectacles but the trend has also been applied to older films. If you’ve been to the local cineplex within the past three months I’m pretty sure you’ve seen previews touting the theatrical re-releases of classic films such as Titanic (1997) and Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (1999). Who knows how many more flicks will be retrieved from the vaults and shined up with a 3D gloss but Beauty & The Beast 3D was one of the chosen pieces I just had to check out.
I was 13 when Disney’s animated treatment of Beauty & The Beast debuted in 1991. At that time I was still a big Disney fanatic. After the marvelous production of The Little Mermaid (1989) my expectations were through the roof when Disney decided to put their magical spin on yet another timeless fairy tale. The short version of my initial experience with Beauty & The Beast was that I adored it so much I practically memorized every little detail of the film thanks to the VHS release. I nearly wore out the cassette tape copy of the soundtrack. And I made it a priority to stay up into the wee hours of a Sunday night and see if the nominated film would win the Best Picture award at the 64th Annual Academy Awards ceremony. I have no hate against Silence Of The Lambs (1991) for scoring the statue but I would’ve been much happier the next morning if Belle and Beast had gotten the Oscar. It would’ve added a nice touch to their massive library.
Though this isn’t the first theatrical re-release of Beauty & The Beast (there was an IMAX run of the film 2002 and a special sing-along edition hosted by Jordin Sparks in 2010) this is the first time it has been released in Disney 3D. Admittedly, there was a part of me that was skeptical about just how successful it would be to convert a 2D animated feature into a 3D film coupled with the cynicism that this was such a shameless attempt to squeeze more money out of an old commodity using a flashy gimmick as a selling point. Ultimately, I decided that I didn’t care if they dressed the ticket stub-ripper guy in a "Lumiere" costume. I absolutely loved Beauty & The Beast and I jumped at the chance to not only see it on the big screen again but to see it in 3D.
Just for the sake of the uninformed the general plot of this movie is that a selfish prince (Robbie Benson) is punished for his uncaring ways with an enchantment that turns him into a hairy beast and his subjects into household furniture. The only way to reverse the spell is for the beast to learn how to care for someone else and have that same person return that love back to him. If he can’t break the spell by his 21st birthday then the enchantment will hold forever.
Enter Belle (Paige O’Hara), a headstrong and clever woman who escapes her dull provincial life through books. Belle dreams of a life of adventure and gets more than she bargains for when her father (Rex Everhart) ends up imprisoned in Beast’s castle. Belle offers herself up to Beast so dad can be set free. The stage is then set for a possible solution to Beast’s enchantment problem. But Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a romantic relationship. The clock ticks and the magical rose’s petals fall as Beast tries to win Belle’s heart before his grizzly fate is sealed for eternity.
The film itself is still a masterpiece. Oh, wow, from the stained glass prologue that explains the Beast’s origins to the wide shot of Belle strolling towards the village while singing the opening bars of the song that’s literally all about her to the harrowing woodland battle between Beast and some scary wolves and to the amusing argument between Belle and Beast after that scary situation. It’s all there and it is all still amazing and remarkable and darn that Angela Lansbury. Ooh, every time her voice came through “Mrs. Potts” (housekeeper turned teapot) I couldn’t help but get a big grin on my face and a little mist in my eyes. I had already predicted that Ms. Lansbury’s rendition of the title song would get to me but that’s an understatement. Once Belle came out in that golden gown (arguably the best Disney princess gown ever designed….ever!) and joined Beast in that exquisite ballroom I was destroyed. My lips were trembling, the eye mist had become a small waterfall, and all those childhood fantasies about storybook love that I had long sensed buried under mounds of disillusionment burst out from the soil and it was wearing a shimmering tuxedo.
As a fan it was an incredible experience to see Beauty & The Beast the same way I saw it in 1991. Well, except for the newly added 3D elements that I can best described as just another layer of sweet icing on an already fantastic cake. It was like watching an extremely enlarged projection from a Fisher-Price View-Master reel. There are lots of great moments of depth perception including the opening zoom-in through the woods to the Beast’s castle, the overhead views of both Belle and her father’s first entry into the massive lobby of the castle, and the infamous ballroom scene that was already impressive enough in 2D.
Actually, the 3D tech is used quite effectively to give a grander scale to both the interiors and exteriors of the enchanted castle.The particle elements such as snow and rain seemed to benefit the most from the 3D conversion.
I was a lot more moved by this experience than I had anticipated. I thought seeing Beauty & The Beast 3D would be some trippy little nostalgia stunt for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Instead, I got a remarkable ride on the “wayback machine”. I had forgotten what a masterpiece Beauty & The Beast was. It was more than just a well-done animated film. This particular combination of voices, songs, designs and plot was the epitome of perfection. I think most people have at least one Disney movie that he/ she considers to be the premier Disney film that not only entertained but thoroughly amazed in every possible way. Beauty & The Beast is my ultimate Disney film experience and seeing it in 3D was incredible. Frankly, even if I saw it again in the 2D theater I probably still would’ve been emotionally floored.
My matinee ticket for Beauty & The Beast 3D cost me $10 dollars so this is a tough sell for the families out there especially the ones with a small army of children. Plus, the film is easily accessible on DVD, Blu Ray and instant streaming. As a fan with no kids it is pretty easy to tell the “tribes” that the extra cost is worth it but that’s something you’ll have to decide based on your calculations and your budget. My advice is to have the kids eat before the movie so you can pass on the popcorn and sodas. The film is barely 90 minutes and they’ll be so enraptured with the wonder of the pretty colors and catchy tunes that the last thing on their minds will be their tummies. Thankfully, there are some theaters that are running also running the 2D version so that might save you a few more cents, too.
Another bonus is the animated short Tangled Ever After that runs before the main feature. The short takes place during the wedding of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and Eugene (Zachary Levi) as their animal pals Pascal (chameleon) and Maximus (horse) lose the wedding rings. The duo endures a series of unfortunate (yet amusing) events in their quest to get the rings back for the ceremony.
As an avid filmgoer this re-release of Beauty & The Beast borders on historic. This is one of the finest films ever made with visuals that fill the screen to bursting with lush designs in exquisite color, a stirring plot that runs most of the gamut of human emotions and a soundtrack that is so incredible that it spawned a Broadway/stage incarnation that has delighted audiences from stages all over the globe. For fans of Beauty & The Beast this is a can’t-miss moment. Reliving the magic in the third dimension was totally worth it.
For those who haven’t seen it, well, this is probably the best opportunity to check the film out. Simply put, Beauty & The Beast is still an awesome chunk of cinema and the 3D only enhances what was already exquisite to begin with.
PS – Beauty & The Beast 3D uses the original version of the film so don’t expect to see any new scenes such as the “Human Again” musical number.
Rhymes With: The Lion King 3D (2011), The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), The Princess & The Frog (2009), Beastly (2011), Annie (1982), The Sound Of Music (1965)
Coming Soon
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace 3D (2/10/12) - The Star Wars Saga is going 3D and Lucas is re-releasing the flicks in chronological order. First up is The Phantom Menace where Qui-Gon Jinn (Jedi Master) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Trainnee) strive to save the planet of Naboo from some sinister forces including a Sith warrior. Also includes the the first meeting of Queen Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, parents of future freedom fighters Luke and Leia Skywalker. Hanging with Jar Jar Binks again is a small consolation for seeing the outer space dog-fights, pod race sequence and underwater Gungan kingdom scenes in the third dimension.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (3/2/12) – Yet another Seuss creation turned “CG toon feature”. This one seems to be about a town completely covered in plastic and other artificial materials. Since there is no more plant-life in their neighborhood two kids embark on a journey to find a real tree. Planned for 3D and 2D release.
The Pirates! - Band Of Misfits (3/30/12) – High sea hijinks about a quirky band of pirates and their misadventures. Brought to you from Sony Pictures and Aardman Animations (the company behind Wallace & Gromit). Planned for 3D and 2D release.
Brave (6/22/12) – Those Pixar geniuses set their sights on ancient Scotland to tell the story of a young girl who prefers shooting with a bow over wearing a bow in hair. Planned for 3D and 2D release.
Finding Nemo 3D (9/14/12) – One of Pixar’s most popular flicks is gearing up for a theatrical re-release in 3D. Relive the amazing and comical journey of Marlin and Dory as they search the seas for Marlin’s lost son, Nemo.
I was 13 when Disney’s animated treatment of Beauty & The Beast debuted in 1991. At that time I was still a big Disney fanatic. After the marvelous production of The Little Mermaid (1989) my expectations were through the roof when Disney decided to put their magical spin on yet another timeless fairy tale. The short version of my initial experience with Beauty & The Beast was that I adored it so much I practically memorized every little detail of the film thanks to the VHS release. I nearly wore out the cassette tape copy of the soundtrack. And I made it a priority to stay up into the wee hours of a Sunday night and see if the nominated film would win the Best Picture award at the 64th Annual Academy Awards ceremony. I have no hate against Silence Of The Lambs (1991) for scoring the statue but I would’ve been much happier the next morning if Belle and Beast had gotten the Oscar. It would’ve added a nice touch to their massive library.
Though this isn’t the first theatrical re-release of Beauty & The Beast (there was an IMAX run of the film 2002 and a special sing-along edition hosted by Jordin Sparks in 2010) this is the first time it has been released in Disney 3D. Admittedly, there was a part of me that was skeptical about just how successful it would be to convert a 2D animated feature into a 3D film coupled with the cynicism that this was such a shameless attempt to squeeze more money out of an old commodity using a flashy gimmick as a selling point. Ultimately, I decided that I didn’t care if they dressed the ticket stub-ripper guy in a "Lumiere" costume. I absolutely loved Beauty & The Beast and I jumped at the chance to not only see it on the big screen again but to see it in 3D.
Just for the sake of the uninformed the general plot of this movie is that a selfish prince (Robbie Benson) is punished for his uncaring ways with an enchantment that turns him into a hairy beast and his subjects into household furniture. The only way to reverse the spell is for the beast to learn how to care for someone else and have that same person return that love back to him. If he can’t break the spell by his 21st birthday then the enchantment will hold forever.
Enter Belle (Paige O’Hara), a headstrong and clever woman who escapes her dull provincial life through books. Belle dreams of a life of adventure and gets more than she bargains for when her father (Rex Everhart) ends up imprisoned in Beast’s castle. Belle offers herself up to Beast so dad can be set free. The stage is then set for a possible solution to Beast’s enchantment problem. But Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a romantic relationship. The clock ticks and the magical rose’s petals fall as Beast tries to win Belle’s heart before his grizzly fate is sealed for eternity.
The film itself is still a masterpiece. Oh, wow, from the stained glass prologue that explains the Beast’s origins to the wide shot of Belle strolling towards the village while singing the opening bars of the song that’s literally all about her to the harrowing woodland battle between Beast and some scary wolves and to the amusing argument between Belle and Beast after that scary situation. It’s all there and it is all still amazing and remarkable and darn that Angela Lansbury. Ooh, every time her voice came through “Mrs. Potts” (housekeeper turned teapot) I couldn’t help but get a big grin on my face and a little mist in my eyes. I had already predicted that Ms. Lansbury’s rendition of the title song would get to me but that’s an understatement. Once Belle came out in that golden gown (arguably the best Disney princess gown ever designed….ever!) and joined Beast in that exquisite ballroom I was destroyed. My lips were trembling, the eye mist had become a small waterfall, and all those childhood fantasies about storybook love that I had long sensed buried under mounds of disillusionment burst out from the soil and it was wearing a shimmering tuxedo.
As a fan it was an incredible experience to see Beauty & The Beast the same way I saw it in 1991. Well, except for the newly added 3D elements that I can best described as just another layer of sweet icing on an already fantastic cake. It was like watching an extremely enlarged projection from a Fisher-Price View-Master reel. There are lots of great moments of depth perception including the opening zoom-in through the woods to the Beast’s castle, the overhead views of both Belle and her father’s first entry into the massive lobby of the castle, and the infamous ballroom scene that was already impressive enough in 2D.
I was a lot more moved by this experience than I had anticipated. I thought seeing Beauty & The Beast 3D would be some trippy little nostalgia stunt for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Instead, I got a remarkable ride on the “wayback machine”. I had forgotten what a masterpiece Beauty & The Beast was. It was more than just a well-done animated film. This particular combination of voices, songs, designs and plot was the epitome of perfection. I think most people have at least one Disney movie that he/ she considers to be the premier Disney film that not only entertained but thoroughly amazed in every possible way. Beauty & The Beast is my ultimate Disney film experience and seeing it in 3D was incredible. Frankly, even if I saw it again in the 2D theater I probably still would’ve been emotionally floored.
My matinee ticket for Beauty & The Beast 3D cost me $10 dollars so this is a tough sell for the families out there especially the ones with a small army of children. Plus, the film is easily accessible on DVD, Blu Ray and instant streaming. As a fan with no kids it is pretty easy to tell the “tribes” that the extra cost is worth it but that’s something you’ll have to decide based on your calculations and your budget. My advice is to have the kids eat before the movie so you can pass on the popcorn and sodas. The film is barely 90 minutes and they’ll be so enraptured with the wonder of the pretty colors and catchy tunes that the last thing on their minds will be their tummies. Thankfully, there are some theaters that are running also running the 2D version so that might save you a few more cents, too.
Another bonus is the animated short Tangled Ever After that runs before the main feature. The short takes place during the wedding of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and Eugene (Zachary Levi) as their animal pals Pascal (chameleon) and Maximus (horse) lose the wedding rings. The duo endures a series of unfortunate (yet amusing) events in their quest to get the rings back for the ceremony.
As an avid filmgoer this re-release of Beauty & The Beast borders on historic. This is one of the finest films ever made with visuals that fill the screen to bursting with lush designs in exquisite color, a stirring plot that runs most of the gamut of human emotions and a soundtrack that is so incredible that it spawned a Broadway/stage incarnation that has delighted audiences from stages all over the globe. For fans of Beauty & The Beast this is a can’t-miss moment. Reliving the magic in the third dimension was totally worth it.
For those who haven’t seen it, well, this is probably the best opportunity to check the film out. Simply put, Beauty & The Beast is still an awesome chunk of cinema and the 3D only enhances what was already exquisite to begin with.
PS – Beauty & The Beast 3D uses the original version of the film so don’t expect to see any new scenes such as the “Human Again” musical number.
Rhymes With: The Lion King 3D (2011), The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), The Princess & The Frog (2009), Beastly (2011), Annie (1982), The Sound Of Music (1965)
Coming Soon
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace 3D (2/10/12) - The Star Wars Saga is going 3D and Lucas is re-releasing the flicks in chronological order. First up is The Phantom Menace where Qui-Gon Jinn (Jedi Master) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Trainnee) strive to save the planet of Naboo from some sinister forces including a Sith warrior. Also includes the the first meeting of Queen Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, parents of future freedom fighters Luke and Leia Skywalker. Hanging with Jar Jar Binks again is a small consolation for seeing the outer space dog-fights, pod race sequence and underwater Gungan kingdom scenes in the third dimension.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (3/2/12) – Yet another Seuss creation turned “CG toon feature”. This one seems to be about a town completely covered in plastic and other artificial materials. Since there is no more plant-life in their neighborhood two kids embark on a journey to find a real tree. Planned for 3D and 2D release.
The Pirates! - Band Of Misfits (3/30/12) – High sea hijinks about a quirky band of pirates and their misadventures. Brought to you from Sony Pictures and Aardman Animations (the company behind Wallace & Gromit). Planned for 3D and 2D release.
Brave (6/22/12) – Those Pixar geniuses set their sights on ancient Scotland to tell the story of a young girl who prefers shooting with a bow over wearing a bow in hair. Planned for 3D and 2D release.
Finding Nemo 3D (9/14/12) – One of Pixar’s most popular flicks is gearing up for a theatrical re-release in 3D. Relive the amazing and comical journey of Marlin and Dory as they search the seas for Marlin’s lost son, Nemo.
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Comment #1 (Posted by thx-1138)
Rating:
Very good review. Not every Disney movie needs to be in 3D, but this is certainly one that was screaming for the 3D treatment.