Movie Reviews

Beauty and the Beast 3D

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Written by Jonathan Jacobs

The story of B&TB is well know the world over. I will not heavily recapitulate it for those of you already familiar with the plot, nor will I spoil it for those that have not seen it yet. What I want to do is provide some measure of contrast. Today's humor has moved a great in the opposite direction since the film originally debuted almost 20 years ago. Beauty is a parable (a moral tale) not unlike an extended Aesopian fable. It is the story of a prince caught up in aesthetics rather than concerning himself with inner beauty. In order to teach him a lesson, the woman he refused shelter imprisons him in a dark and lonely caste until such a time as his true love appears and accepts him for all that he is physically and emotionally. Most of today's cartoon movies are not this deep. They focus on parental rejection, slapstick humor, and are less instructive. Films today cater to special interest groups and their agendas. They are as forgettable as their premises. Beauty is didactic to its core. Robby Benson (Beast) and Paige O'Hara (Beauty) are like star-crossed lovers destined to be together. The songs are music to my ears. Learning to accept someone into your heart is a profoundly challenging matter.

The most salient scene I will always recall from this updated Beauty, is the candle lighting incident. In 3D it is an unusual and impressive sight to behold. Everything looks spacious and more lifelike than it ever did before. Injective new technology into an old classic naturally attracts a new audience, and one that can learn to appreciate a beautiful movie ; even one that offers older jokes and unfamiliar voices. Beauty and the Beast 3D is a wondrous musical/cartoon that we can now celebrate one last time thanks to our friends at Disney.

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