Beauty and the Beast
By Common Sense Media,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Disney fave has great music, strong messages, some scares.
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What you willāand won'tāfind in this movie.
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Beauty and the Beast
Community Reviews
Based on 74 parent reviews
Beast is abusive, bad image that Belle puts up with it
Stockholm syndrome; Gaston's behavior is pretty rapey
What's the Story?
In BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, curious young Belle (voiced by Paige O'Hara) leaves her village in search of her missing father, arriving at an enchanted castle where a prince has been cursed to live as a hideous Beast (Robby Benson) and his servants as living objects. Only true love can break the spell, but with Beast holding her prisoner and the townspeople plotting to kill him, can Belle see beyond his terrifying appearance in time to save him from his fate?
Is It Any Good?
Stellar music, brisk storytelling, delightful animation, and compelling characters make this a great animated feature for the whole family. Beauty and the Beast may not be Disney's most iconic movie, but it stands as one of the studio's crowning achievements, earning a Best Picture Oscar nomination (the first animated film to achieve that honor) and a Golden Globe for Best Picture.
In essence, all great stories are about transformation, and this one beats out even Cinderella as the ultimate makeover story, with Beast's inner transformation preceding his outer one. Belle remains as strong a role model now as she was when she was first created: She's confident to be herself and stick to her beliefs, even when they don't fit in with others' expectations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Belle and Beast's first impressions of each other in Beauty and the Beast. What did they discover about each other as their relationship grew and as Beast learned humility and self-control? What message does that send to viewers?
As one of the popular Disney princesses, how is Belle similar to Cinderella and the Little Mermaid? How is she different? Do you consider her a role model?
How do the characters demonstrate compassion and empathy? Why are those important character strengths?
Why do you think Gaston was so surprised that Belle didn't want to marry him? How does their relationship poke fun at fairy tale clichƩs?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 22, 1991
- On DVD or streaming: October 4, 2011
- Cast: Paige O'Hara , Richard White , Robby Benson
- Directors: Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More , Fairy Tales , Great Girl Role Models , Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Curiosity , Empathy , Humility , Self-control
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- MPAA explanation: nothing that would offend parents for viewing by children
- Awards: Academy Award , Golden Globe
- Last updated: May 21, 2024
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