Beauty and The Beast parents guide

Beauty and The Beast Parent Guide

This movie has superb animation and an exceptional score. It also demonstrates the value of loyalty and sacrifice, an the need to look for the qualities within.

Overall A-

In this Disney animation of the classic fairytale, a young girl named Belle (voice of Paige O'Hara), who is an avid bookworm, dreams of a romantic hero. Instead she finds a bad mannered, hairy monster (voiced by Robby Benson). But there is more to the Beast than meets the eye.

Release date November 21, 1991

Violence B
Sexual Content A-
Profanity A
Substance Use B

Why is Beauty and The Beast rated G? The MPAA rated Beauty and The Beast G

Run Time: 84 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

This animated adaptation of the timeless classic is a multiple Academy Award winning film. In it we are introduced to Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), the daughter of a tireless inventor. She is not the type to be happy with just any man. The avid bookworm dreams of a romantic hero, and is not much impressed by the local, most eligible bachelor, Gaston (voice of Richard White). However, her good looks have prompted this vainglorious town bully to announce his intentions to marry the lovely Belle..

Meanwhile, a business excursion leads her father (voice of Rex Everhart) into a dangerous magical forest. Narrowly escaping attacking wolves, the distraught inventor finds himself in graver danger within the fortress where he has taken refuge. When Belle hears that her father has been taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voiced by Robbie Benson), she sets off to rescue him. But the creature will only release the man if the maiden will take his place. Putting aside her freedom and hopes for the future, the selfless girl agrees.

While the agitated parent tries (without much success) to get help from the pride-wounded Gaston and the villagers, Belle settles into her captivity. Fortunately the castle’s enchanted furniture and dishes are far more hospitable than her host. The amicable bunch secretly hopes the young woman may be the one to break a horrible spell that binds them. The biggest obstacle they all face is the Beast’s bad manners.

Parents of young children should be aware that the hairy main character appears very frightening at times, as do some vicious biting wolves. Attempts to lighten the mood by including a loud-mouthed boasting villain—who constantly beats upon his sidekick (voice of Jesse Corti)—only add more annoyance than humor. The stereotypical depiction of a womanizing Frenchman (voiced by Jerry Orbach) may also cause brief concern.

Yet these faults are overshadowed by superb animation (which successfully simulates the camera work found in live action films) and an exceptional score (even if the story lags a little during the “Be Our Guest” musical sequence that serves only as a technical showpiece). Beauty And The Beast also demonstrates the value of loyalty and sacrifice, and the need to look beneath the surface of people to appreciate the qualities found within.

Directed by Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise. Starring Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Angela Lansbury. Running time: 84 minutes. Theatrical release November 21, 1991. Updated

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Beauty and The Beast
Rating & Content Info

Why is Beauty and The Beast rated G? Beauty and The Beast is rated G by the MPAA

Overall: A-

The fairytale comes alive when bookish, but beautiful, Belle trades her own life to free her father from the castle of a horrible monster. During the course of her imprisonment, the beast begins to warm to the young woman’s gentleness, increasing the hopes that the spell that turned a once handsome prince into an ugly creature may be broken. But matters are complicated when the conceited Gaston decides to marry Belle, and no man or beast can stop him.

Violence: B

A character put under magical spell. Mild violence, verbal threats and rough handling are seen throughout the film, especially in the depictions of a boasting bully that repeatedly hits, slaps, pushes and tosses his sidekick. Wolves stalk and attempt to attack characters traveling through a scary forest. Wolves stalk characters and nearly chase them over cliff. A frightening looking beast is depicted. A mob engages in battle while attempting to kill a character (property damage, weapon use and implied death by falling are shown).

Sexual Content: A-

Several female characters wear off-shoulder gowns. Man makes advances toward woman on at least three occasions. Naked beast towels off after bath. A womanizing character is heard kissing heard behind curtain. Man shown dressed in bra and slip. Couple kisses. Man pursues female character.

Language: A

Some name-calling used.

Alcohol / Drug Use: B

Characters are shown with beer mugs in tavern on several occasions. Character offers man another beer because he is upset. Alcoholic beverages may be present in wedding reception scene.

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Beauty and The Beast Parents' Guide

What things does Belle do that eventually tames the beast? In what other ways does the story show that kindness is stronger then force?

Special Note: Beauty and the Beast is releasing to theaters in Digital 3D for two weeks only, beginning January 13, 2012.

Update: Is it worth seeing Beauty and the Beast in 3D?: Considering Disney has already released the 3D version of this heralded animation on Blu-ray, those of you who have a 3D player and 3D capable TV will be best off trading the admission price for two or three people and buying the Blu-ray disc. However, if you really want the 3D experience of Gaston decorating with antlers and can’t make that happen in your family room, you better get to the theater during this very limited release. While the 3D effect is very captivating in some scenes, it comes across poorly in others. This is especially evident on facial closeups where the 3D magicians have attempted to make certain features of the face (like a nose) appear closer than others. The same issue happens in what’s called a 3/4 shot, where the head is partially turned and one side of the face is closer to the audience than the other. Truly it appears that trying to bring depth to a 2D animation is very difficult when dealing with certain scenes. Yes, it’s a picky detail, but lets face it — the only reason you are in the theater to watch this film is to see it in 3D. Frankly, if that isn’t all that important to you and if you already have a decent television, watch one of the recent Blu-ray or DVD releases instead.

Loved this movie? Try these books…

Kids who can’t get enough of Beauty and the Beast will doubtless enjoy a picture book with the same title by Max Eilenberg and Angela Barrett. Its ethereal illustrations transport kids to a non-Disney magical world.

Another picture book of the tale has been published by Cynthia Rylant and Meg Park. It features sush illustrations and some changes to the storyline.

Fans who love Belle’s bookish ways will enjoy Jennifer Donnelly’s Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book. Exploring the Beast’s library, Belle finds an enchanted book that whisks her off to worlds of adventure.

Those who can’t get enough of this story might be interested in Gabrielle-Suzanna Barbot de Villeneuve’s version. The Beauty and the Beast (Illustrated with Interactive Elements) tells the story with full color artwork and 3-D interactive features.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Beauty and The Beast movie is September 20, 2016. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Beauty and the Beast: 25 Anniversary Edition
Release Date: 20 September 2016
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD) in a 25 Anniversary Edition. Supplements include:
- BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017) Sneak Peek
- Menken & Friends: 25 Years Of Musical Inspiration
- Always Belle…
- #1047: Walt, Fairy Tales, And BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
- The Recording Sessions
- 25 Fun Facts About BEAUTY AND THE BEAST—Hosted By Gus Kamp & Kayla Maisonet
- Classic Bonus Preview
- Audio Commentary By Directors Kirk Wise And Gary Trousdale, Producer Don Hahn and Composer Alan Menken

Related home video titles:

Alan Menken, who wrote Beauty and the Beastt Academy Award winning Best Music, Original Score has written the music for many other films including Enchanted, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, Aladdin, Newsiesand The Little Mermaid.

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