Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray Movie Review

A Tale As Old As Time Told Anew.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 4, 2017

If there was any doubt that Disney is taking this animated-to-live-action trend seriously, there shouldn't be any now. With Beauty and the Beast, the studio has taken what many (this reviewer included) believe to be its animated masterpiece and transitioned it to live-action with, of course, no shortage of seamless digital aid. Unlike Maleficent, which retold the story of Sleeping Beauty from a different perspective, or Cinderella, which, while sharing some similarities with the animated version, offered a different enough take on the classic story to become its own film, Beauty and the Beast takes the Jungle Book route, retelling the story with most all of the familiar arcs and refrains and characters and happenings from the animated film while mixing in some of its own creatively novel ideas to flesh out the story and extend the runtime. The result is a film that never quite finds its own identity, that cannot decide whether it's nearly a shot-for-shot and song-for-song recreation of the beloved 1991 film or something else entirely that expands on the story but dilutes that core Beauty and the Beast essence that made the original an unforgettable, treasured classic.

Belle (Emma Watson) happily lives in a small French village with her father Maurice (Kevin Kline), a tinkerer. Belle is something of an outcast amongst the villagers; she knows how, and loves, to read and has an independent streak about her. But that's not enough to deter Gaston (Luke Evans), the town's hunkiest bachelor who, even with the other available girls swooning over his every move, has his eye firmly fixed on the beautiful and practically unobtainable Belle. One day, Maurice leaves town for a day but only his horse returns the next. Belle quickly discovers that he's been taken prisoner by a reclusive and repulsive Beast (Dan Stevens) whose only company are living odds and ends from around the house. Belle takes her father's place as prisoner and begins to learn Beast's story of a curse that has befallen him and his house. He has only a finite amount of time before the curse becomes permanent, his only escape coming by way of true love in the arms of a woman who reciprocates the feeling.

The film is set in Rococoo-era France rather than a slightly more whimsical (but very similar) fairy tale world such as that of the animated version, which necessitates that certain characters and situations be altered to fit the time period. The movie feels a bit more rugged, the famous bookstore scene from early in the original animated film is significantly reduced in scope and flair, and the biggest gain of the change comes in the expanded opening sequence in which the prince becomes the Beast. These are not necessarily major changes and none that one might consider damaging to the story, but they're part of a larger flaw which results in, as noted earlier, the picture struggling with identity, playing it so closely to the vest, at times, to remain faithful to the animated film while at others expanding to explore the greater world around the story. While a few of the film’s additions – Belle's mother's fate and an exploration of the Beast's selfishness, for instance – do logically expand on the story (not necessarily as needed but certainly in a flattering, accentuating way), the result is a movie that occasionally feels cluttered and overlong compared to the masterfully timed and precisely assembled animated classic.

The film's visual robustness is a blessing and a curse. Gone are the more simplistic, and frankly believable, charms of the animated film. The servant characters are clearly the largest struggle for this movie, appearing so anatomically correct and painstakingly complex and lifelike -- as lifelike as talking and singing clocks, candles, wardrobes, china, etc. can be -- that the characters lose much of that whimsical silliness and effortless tenderness that made them so adorable in the animated film. But it is live action, and with modern digital effects and without going the "invisible servant" route of the Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve book on which the animated film is based, this is the inevitable end result, a hallmark for visual effects to be sure but at the expense of the characters' simple vitality and appeal. The movie does look resplendent from the top-down. Sets and costumes sparkle (even if there's some debate over how faithful they appear to the animated film, another point of contention in the saga of whether the movie is following standard or forging its own path). Sets are marvelously detailed and expansive outdoor locations are beautiful. Acting is quite good, too. Emma Watson may not necessarily look like Belle, but she captures the character's core spirit and the narrative journey from fear to antagonism to acceptance to love for the Beast quite well. Dan Stevens portrays Beast well, particularly vocally, though, again, there's room for legitimate complaint about how the Beast looks compared to its animated counterpart. The highlight of the film is unquestionably Luke Evans as the self-centered Gaston, capturing, with uncanny precision, the physical demeanor and verbal cadence fans expect of the character.

Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Beauty and the Beast graces Blu-ray with a splendid, practically flawless 1080p transfer. The image appears limited only by the available resolution. The digitally photographed film is clean and resplendent, presenting with impressive depth for digital and the sharpness and color saturation necessary to handle the movie's diverse locations and lighting conditions. One of the film's earliest musical segments features Belle running about town. The image sparkles with a variety of intense, nuanced, and assorted colors. Each is resplendent, with various examples of brightly colored attire sparkling and leaping off the screen with natural intensity and incredible accuracy. Rolling green hills and vegetation are deeply saturated as well. Blue skies dazzle. Within the darker confines of the Beast's castle, particularly early in his relationship with Belle and Belle's father, shadow depth proves excellent and low light detail is fine. Blacks only rarely push to the edge of soupiness and indistinct depth. Flesh tones appear accurate. Fine detail is exquisite. Complex clothing lines, various types of fabric, and intimate stitching details and adornments are easy to spot. Clarity is excellent throughout, even, again, in lower light where the stone walls around Beast's castle take on an appreciable tactile definition. Woods and stone work around Belle's village are equally strongly defined. There's not a smudgy edge to be found. Noise is kept to a bare minimum. This is a marvelous Blu-ray release from Disney.

Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Beauty and the Beast features a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack that captures both the movie's musical spirit and environmental details with clarity and spaciousness. The opening ballroom dance sequence, new to this film, plays smoothly with a wide, enveloping posture. Instrumental details are fine yet audible. Separation is magnificent and the sense of place and immersion is spot-on. Such carries through every song; all of the popular tunes from the film are handled with care, presenting musically and lyrically alike with plenty of width and depth, firm positioning for core instrumentals and lyrics in the center and excellent stage diffusion for the smaller, airier elements. Environments feel open and alive, whether during song and the various effects that accompany them ("Be Our Guest") or the more beautiful focal-point songs ("Beauty and the Beast"). Environmental details are excellent, whether booming and rolling thunder or nighttime insects and distant howling wolves entering the stage with realistic positioning and volume. The larger action sequence near film's end offers a nice cluster of more intensive sonic details that carry the scenes with chaotic precision. Dialogue is clear and center focused with expert prioritization in every moment. This is a masterful soundtrack from Disney.

Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Beauty and the Beast contains several featurettes, deleted scenes, and a number of extras centered on the film's music. The film is available to play with an overture (1080p, DTS-HD MA 7.1, 3:06) and in sing-along mode, which presents the lyrics for each song, karaoke style, on the screen. A DVD copy of the film and a Disney digital copy code are included with purchase.

• Enchanted Table Read (1080p, 13:31): A more involved version of the basic (and very condensed, obviously) table read, this one with additional music, singing, and dancing. It also includes still artwork and scenes from the film interspersed throughout.
• A Beauty of a Tale (1080p, 27:08): A general making-of that features behind-the-scenes footage of the elaborate set-up required to film various scenes. It also explores how the filmmakers determined which songs to add to the film and which to recreate and how they designed the sets and added digital effects as-needed. This piece additionally covers the motion capture technology used to help create the Beast. Scenes from the animated classic are interwoven with scenes from the new film, as are interviews with the cast and crew.
• The Women Behind Beauty and the Beast (1080p, 5:17): Emma Watson discusses her role as Belle and introduces several of the women involved in making the film (all of the department heads were female). The piece explores how these women influenced the making of the movie.
• From Song to Screen: Making the Musical Sequences (1080p, 13:26 total runtime): Behind-the-scenes footage and cast and crew interviews that cover several musical selections and how they were made, including a look at the sets, costumes, and staging process. Includes "Belle," "Be Our Guest," "Gaston," and "Beauty and the Beast."
• Extended Song (1080p, 4:08): "Days in the Sun" with introduction by Bill Condon.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 6:23 total runtime): Following an introduction by Director Bill Condon, the following scenes appear: Gaston Courts Belle, Bread and Jam for Agathe, Storming the Ice Gates, Lumiere Torches LeFou, Monsieur Toilette, Cogsworth Rescues Lumiere, Treacle for the Lasses, and LeFou and Monsieur Toilette Reunite.
• Making a Moment with Celine Dion (1080p, 3:24): Celine Dion discusses her performance in the animated version of Beauty and the Beast, her struggle to decide if she wanted to perform in the new film without her late husband at her side, and her performance of "How Does a Moment Last Forever".
• "Beauty and the Beast" Music Video by Ariana Grande and John Legend (1080p, 4:02): Note that lip sync appears a bit off early in the video.
• Making the Music Video: "Beauty and the Beast" (1080p, 2:07).
• Disney Song Selection (1080p, 33:09): Karaoke versions of various musical selections, including: "Belle," "How Does a Moment Last Forever" (Music Box), "Belle" (Reprise), "Gaston," "Be Our Guest," "Days in the Sun," "Something There," "How Does a Moment Last Forever" (Montmartre), "Beauty and the Beast," "Evermore," "The Mob Song," and "Beauty and the Beast" (Finale).

Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Beauty and the Beast exemplifies the risks and rewards of these films. Comparison to the established treasures is unavoidable, and in the case of Beauty and the Beast the magnification seems extended. While the film gets plenty right, parts of it feel off-balance, whether some of the needless (but certainly interesting) probing into some of the background elements or the manner in which the various servants, never mind the Beast himself, appear and participate in the film. The complex digital work just doesn't lend itself all that well to the animated version's simplistic charms and ability to draw the viewer into a fantastical realm of fairy tale make-believe. If anything this version feels too real, and that comes at the cost of the story's depth and whimsical spirit. It's also too unfocused, trying at once to satisfy purists, expand the story, and dazzle with its visual effects to the point that the end result is more spectacle and less heartfelt love story; the animated film balanced those qualities perfectly. It's a good movie in all of those areas, but it's the first of the live-action Disney films where the animated films remains the clear-cut superior. The Blu-ray is unsurprisingly terrific, featuring world-class 1080p video and 7.1-channel lossless audio. Supplements are fine though nothing remarkable. Recommended.