MEOW!
*This is dedicated to my cat Frisky, who turns 13 today. He's a real beast, if you ask me.*
Nostalgic Insights: I could write an entire post based on how much Beauty and the Beast was a part of my childhood, but I'll just stick to the basics for now. When I watched this film as a wee young lad growing up in the land of Vernon, CT, I was scared throughout most of it. Leaving aside my childhood phobia of fireworks for the moment, the Beast F.R.Ightened me. The design of the Beast instilled nightmares into my imagination, and forced me to use a night light for six years. Even when he was starting to become good, it was a bit unsettling seeing a beautiful woman dance around in a ballroom with some *ginormous* animal. But none of that would compare to when the Beast transformed back into his human form at the end of the film {Spoiler?}. Whenever there was a close-up shot on the eyes of the Prince....brrr...I just shudder thinking about it. I hid behind the chair for the movie to be over at that point.
With all of that being said, I still kept on watching it over and over and over and over and over again as a wee young lad. What made me keep on getting through each viewing of the film, despite all of the issues I had with the Prieast? Well, one reason is a no-brainer: Belle. She was not only my Disney crush growing up; gosh, she was my childhood crush (Sorry, the Wreck-It Ralph-Fanboy inside of me is coming out: She was truly...one dynamite gal. *sigh*). It was rare that a '90s kid would find someone so beautiful, kind and smart in just one film, let alone in a Disney *cartoon.* We boys were truly blessed to have someone like Belle in our childhood daydreams. I also loved the secondary characters, especially the relationship between Mrs. Potts and Chip. Every time I watched their moments in the film as a child, especially when Mrs. Potts sings the title tune, I've always felt that they represented the relationship with my own mother. Minus living in the cupboard, that is.
So, after all these years of seeing the film over and over and over and over and over the rainbow again (wrong film), what do I think of it today?
Critical Insights: As the days pass by as a resident of RIC, some of my favorite moments of the film still play in my head. If that's not the sign of a great film, then I don't know what is. Whatever nitpicks I may possibly have now, Beauty and the Beast remains not only one of the best movie musicals ever made, but also one of the best films that I've ever seen, and I've seen too many to mention. The sweat that went into this film--from the spellbinding animation to the equally spellbinding score by Alan Menken--reminds you of why you love watching movies, and it enhances a timeless story with thematic elements that remain relevant today.
Then you have the songs, written by both Alan Menken and the late (but great) Howard Ashman. The songs are just...perfection. They not only represent why I love movie musicals as a subgenre; they represent why I love musicals in general. Each song creates an intellectual and emotional response every time I listen to them. "Belle" is a brilliant opening number that sets up the character of...um...Belle (Her reprise is also memorable, providing a nice little nod to The Sound of Music, which we'll get to later in the month.)! "Gaston" is a number that excellently satirizes the joys of being one, humongous, self-absorbed ego (There's also a nice little nod to Kiss Me Kate. I swear, if I play the role of Lefou one day, I will intentionally slip up and say "Tom, Dick, and Harry" instead.). Then you have something like "Be Our Guest," which is a mouth-watering marriage of animation and music in one scene of filmmaking; it's right up there with "Make 'Em Laugh" as one of the most joyous moments in movie musical history (And Singin' in the Rain is yet ANOTHER film we'll get to later in this month). "Something There" is also a very nice song, and it does tap into what Belle and the Beast are feeling at those precise moments. I can also relate to the Beast when a bunch of birds decide to nest all over him. It's sort of fun.
And now we move on to the title song, "Beauty and the Beast."
{Getting all nostalgic for a second again.}
After I had finished watching this film for the twenty-thousandth time in the twenty-first century, my dad and I had an hour-long discussion about how this film changed the course of animation forever. That song, along with a masterful blend of hand-drawn and computer animation, is one of those reasons. He talked about he saw that scene for the first time in a movie theater, and how it blew him away to no end. Right now, I can only imagine what it must have felt like experiencing this film for the first time, but even as I watch that scene today, my eyes widen as if I'm six years old again. Heck, I feel like I'm transported back to 1991, not only the year when this film came out, but a year I wasn't even created yet! Quite honestly, it's one of the few perfect moments in cinematic history, and all that was needed was a song, a chandelier, and a teapot whistling a gentle tune.
{Alright, back to critiquing.}
My favorite lyric from "The Mob Song," other than "take whatever booty you can find, but remember, THE BEAST IS MINE!," is "We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it scares us." That lyric captivates me more than any other lyric in any song in this film. Why? Because it is the truth regarding everyone living in this world today. We've become so familiar with the predictable that we heavily fear the unpredictable, and if one thing alters the provincial lives we have led so far, then we will not only fear it; we may as well burn it into the hellfire (Yes...that'll also be reviewed later). In my eyes, we need a few positive surprises on this bloody blue planet; it would make the world we live in now worth living for in the future.
I mean...wow. Who would've thunk it? Just ONE lyric that depicts a universal truth about US, and in a so-called *cartoon*, no less. GIVE THAT LYRIC A MEDAL!
...I need to watch Wreck-It Ralph again.
{I'll also note that "Human Again," which was an additional scene for the IMAX special edition release, is a fantastic musical number, and it even adds a little more character development for the secondary characters.}
Speaking of characters, let's talk about them. Belle (Paige O' Haira), to this day, remains my Disney crush, and for good reason as well: she's beautiful, intelligent, kind, mature--all of the qualities that, with a few exceptions, you will rarely find in another film, let alone animated. The Beast (Robby Benson), now seen as a child-like, mature 18-year-old, is a great tragic character, and a relatable one too. It's also rare to see something designed as such a monster to transform, metaphorically, into a good-hearted human being (Now the design on the human...yeah, we'll get to him in a bit). And I will not lie, every secondary character is absolutely memorable; yes, even the sporks! Lumiere (the late-but-great Jerry Obrach) represents the likable, easy-going candlestick who is not afraid to woo feather-dusters, and he is responsible for "Be Our Guest," which is, again, one of the most joyous moments in movie musical history. Cogsworth (David Ogden Stiers, who also is the narrator in the prologue) is a no-nonsense clock who knows his way around the castle. I still stand by that Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury) and Chip (Bradley Pierce) reminds me of my mother and I every time I watch it, and they represent some of the heart of the film. Maurice (Rex Everhart) also provides some of the heart of the film as Belle's inventive father, and Gaston (Richard White)...he's Gaston, what more do you want? Oh yeah, Lefou (Jesse Corti) is a pretty good fool, too.
I stand by that, technically, this is one of the most gorgeously crafted films I've ever seen. Almost every shot in this film is a sight to behold, a fright to be feared, and a joy to be watched. All gushing about the ballroom sequence aside, there are some absolutely beautiful visuals in this film. The couple of shots when Maurice leaves for the fair, the shot with Belle running off to the fields a la Maria, the interior of the Beast's castle, the amount of depth inside that library, the shots when Belle comes back to the castle and attempts to save the Beast--garsh, I can go on and on and on. The score by Alan Menken is one of the best scores I've ever heard in a motion picture, and it perfectly matches the timing of the animation. One composition that stands out is "West Wing." Every time I listen to that piece, I get the MMC: Movie-Musical-Chills; it almost feels like I'm on a mysterious adventure, and running away from those crazy spider monkeys. This is a beaut(y)fully made film about a Beauty and a Beast.
Now believe it or not, even with all of the praise I am writing about this film, I do have a couple of nitpicks. One is that I do think the relationship of Belle and the Beast could have been a little more developed; they practically start to fall in love with each other around the fifty minute mark. And yes, I still think the human design of the prince is rather creepy-looking, but I do understand the message it's trying to send. It's all in the eyes, people. All in the eyes.
Whether you've seen this film over twenty-thousand times, or are about to see this film for the very first time, Beauty and the Beast is something to behold--a near-perfect marriage of the movie and the musical. It has some of the most beautiful visuals I've ever seen, the story and its characters are enjoyable and true to life, and the music is an absolute joy to listen to. If you have NEVER seen this film in the twenty-two years after its initial release date, then be their guests for ninety minutes. You are absolutely welcome.
Out of five bacon strips, I give Beauty and the Beast...
...on a stick, too.
Until next time,
CAMP
and MEOW, of course!
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