Beauty and the Beast

At last we’ve arrived at a “tale as old as time.”  Yes.  This week’s film is Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

 

There is so much to love about this film from 1991!  So much so that it was nominated for Best Picture in the 1991 Academy Awards.  (Note that it was nominated for Best Picture, not simply Best Animated Feature.)  This is not only one of my favorite Disney movies of all time, Beauty and the Beast on Broadway was also my introduction to Broadway and live musicals on stage!  My family and friends can attest that I am still very much a lover of musicals!  :)

 

This film is full of greatness!  A great story. ("Here's where she meets prince charming, but she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three...")  Great music. (From opening number to closing note, it's ALL wonderful!)  A great villain. (Who can resist a bad guy in love with his biceps?)  A great bumbling sidekick.  (Lefou=funny.)  Great humor. ("If it's not Baroque, don't fix it." Oh Cogsworth!)  Great creativity. ("Ask the dishes.  They can sing; they can dance!") Great romance. I could go on and on.  Beauty and the Beast gets Disney magic right in every category!

 

The film tells the tale of a selfish prince who refuses to help an old beggar woman who turns out to be an enchantress and as such turns him into a beast- his only hope to break the spell that has fallen on his entire castle is to learn to love another and earn their love in return before the last petal falls from his enchanted rose.  As the narrator intones in the first opening monologue,  "For who could ever learn to love a beast?"  Cue "Belle" - one of Disney's best opening numbers in the history of opening numbers!  The song introduces us to Belle, the films heroine, and the provincial town where she lives with her father, an inventor.  We also meet Gaston who is more in love with himself than anybody or anything else but has singled out "Belle" as the most beautiful girl in town, and thus he plans to marry her (without consulting her of course.)

 

I think one of the things that really sets this film apart is Belle herself.  To little (and not so little) girls around the world, Belle is so relatable.  She never quite "fits in" and she dreams of adventure in the great wide, somewhere.  As a society, we are constantly bombarded with messages to do this and be cool, and wear this to be the most beautiful, and like this because it's what everybody else likes.  It's so refreshing to have a heroine stand out from the crowd and flourish in a story all her own just by being herself.  And on top of all this- Belle loves to read! (I <3 the library too!)  Also, Belle has great character.  She is kind and resourceful, hard-working and compassionate and she doesn't "have it all."  She is not born to wealth and privilege, but she still has the story and adventure of a lifetime.  And really what girl doesn't want that? 

 

After meeting Belle and the village, we meet the Beast and his servants (who are under enchantment as animate household items) when Maurice (Belle's father) stumbles upon the castle after getting lost in the woods.  The Beast takes him prisoner, but exchanges his life-sentence for his daughter when Belle shows up to rescue her father.  Thus Belle meets the Beast, though in far from ideal circumstances.  The rest of the film tells the story of the pair as they grow and learn to change their minds and realize that there's "something there that wasn't there before."  I have quite literally riddled this post with direct quotes and paraphrases from the movie.  I could go on and on, but I don't want to give the whole story away in case someone reading this hasn't seen it yet.  In which case I say: See this film immediately!  It is a Disney treasure and an absolute must for any Disney fan, but really any film fan in general.  It's just plain good. 

 

The film's characters are endearing, comical, three-dimensional, and unforgettable.  You get to spend time with Mrs. Potts (the teapot), Chip (the teacup), Lumiere (the candelabra), Cogsworth (the clock), Maurice (the inventor), Gaston (the narcissist), LeFou (the fool) and the Beast (who just might be a prince in disguise).  Oh and Madame Bouche (the wardrobe)! 

 

The heart and soul of Beauty and the Beast though has got to be the music.  Great music tells a story, so when you have great music telling a great story- it's almost indescribably fantastic.  I've already mentioned the greatness of the opening number, but there are at least 3 other show-stopping numbers (and that's a conservative count!)  But since I'm trying to make this post shorter to read than it would take you to watch the movie, I'll just mention the three other BIG musical numbers in the film.  First up we have "Gaston" - Lefou's ode to Gaston's greatness to try and cheer him up after Belle's rejection - cleverly funny with a dash of ridiculous, yet still toe-tappingly great.  No Beauty and the Beast review could be complete without giving two big thumbs up to Lumiere's "Be Our Guest" number.  It features dancing cutlery, grand humor, candle tricks, and French entertainment at it's best!  Then finally we have the title musical number sung by Mrs. Potts and voiced by the lovely Angela Lansbury - "Beauty and the Beast."  SO.  GOOD.  This scene may also be the most beautiful animated scene of all time.  It is simply stunning artistry.

 

 

I'm not sure if you've realized, but in my humble opinion, Beauty and the Beast is the pinnacle of Disney greatness.  There is not a single thing I would change about the film.  It is funny and heartwarming, visually stunning, gorgeously scored with a FANTASTIC soundtrack.  It's simply wonderful. 

 

What else could I possibly leave you with but lyrics from the iconic "Beauty and the Beast?"

 

Tale as old as time, true as it can be

Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly

Just a little change, small to say the least

Both a little scared, neither one prepared, Beauty and the Beast

 

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Beauty and the Beast

 

 

Coming Up Next Week: Aladdin

The Rescuers Down Under

G’day Mate!  We’re off to Australia this week in Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under.

This is one of three sequels on this journey through a year of Disney movies.  (And Fantasia 2000 and Winnie the Pooh are arguably only sequels in characters and themes as they do not continue the storylines of the preceding movies... But I digress.)  We first met our heroes, Bernard and Bianca, in The Rescuers back at movie #23.  This time they’re crossing oceans to help a boy named Cody who is being held captive by an evil poacher who is hoping Cody will lead him to the rare and beautiful golden eagle.  The Rescuers Down Under premiered in 1990 and is considered the second movie of the Disney Renaissance. 

This was an artistically-beautiful adventure tale, though it definitely deviated from the traditional Disney recipe for greatness. (See here or here for my explanation of the perfect Disney movie recipe.)  While the story was missing the Disney music element (Not a single song in the whole movie!), it definitely still scored high in the categories of good story, likable heroes, and humor (not to mention a dastardly villain).  And of note regarding the music, the score is still sweeping and adds greatly to the artistry of the film.

 

 

Our heroes, Bernard and Bianca, are mice from the Rescue Aid Society in New York.  On their first mission, they helped Penny, an orphaned girl, escape the evil clutches of Madame Medusa in Devil's Bayou.  This film's adventure finds them in the even greater unknown of the Australian outback.  They are aided on their journey once again by a comedic albatross- Wilbur (Orville's brother) and Jake, a hopping mouse (with a definite dash of Indiana Jonesish mystique) once the reach the land down under.  The pair soon find themselves on a perilous journey to save Cody, the golden eagle and her eggs!

 

 

 

 

 

The film is truly beautiful in its sweeping landscapes of the Australian outback and the soaring sequences featuring Marahute (the golden eagle).  While this is not the most famous or memorable film from the Disney Renaissance, the grandeur and artistry of the period is clearly evident.  It was lovely to see Bernard and Bianca (and their blossoming relationship) again. 

 

 

Thanks for continuing on this journey with me!

 

This week's quote is from Wilbur and captures the warmth, heart and humor of the film:

 

Kidnapped?  Oh!  That- that's awful!  Lockin' up a little kid.  Kids should be free!  Free to run wild through the house on Saturday mornings, free to have cookies and milk, and get those little white mustaches, you know?

 

 

Coming Up Next Week: Beauty and the Beast

 

The Little Mermaid

And we have officially arrived at my childhood!  This week's movie is Disney's 28th Animated Masterpiece: The Little Mermaid!

The film premiered in 1989 and is considered the first film of the Disney Renaissance.  The Disney Renaissance was a decade of highly successful Disney film releases from The Little Mermaid (1989) to Tarzan (1999).  I was fortunate to grow up during this "Renaissance" which might help explain my love of all things Disney!  The Little Mermaid definitely shaped my childhood.  I even had Little Mermaid curtains.  (True story.)  And I'm fairly certain Sebastian and Flounder and all of their undersea friends ruined seafood.  To this day, I still don't like to eat fish or shellfish...  Anyways, on to the movie!

The Little Mermaid tells the tale of Ariel (a sixteen-year-old mermaid and princess) who longs to explore the human world (the world above) but her father thinks that humans are barbarians and has thus decreed that all things related to the human world are expressly forbidden.  Ariel (of course) falls in love with a human prince, but must make a pact with Ursula (the evil sea witch) to gain legs for a few days to try to win his love.  Conflict, comedy, and crooning crustaceans ensue!

This film is the complete Disney package!!  As outlined in my first movie review on this Disney journey through film, there are 6 main ingredients that set Disney films apart as the best:

• A good story (the heart of any great film)
• A likable hero/heroine
• A little bit of romance
• A scary villain
• Humor
• Music

 And The Little Mermaid has them all!

The story of this particular film really centers on the romance between Ariel and Prince Eric and their respective journeys to find each other.  Ariel struggles to find legs to stand on (literally) to be part of Eric's world and Eric searches for the girl who rescues him from the sea.  Sigh.  <3  Ariel and Eric are a very likable set of heroes and it's very easy to be caught up in their story and want to see them together for the happily ever after finale.  I have seen this film countless times but I still found myself caught up in the plot and storyline when I watched it just this past week.  I was arguing with Ariel not to make certain decisions and generally worrying about how the whole thing would turnout, even though I obviously know how it ends. :)  What can I say?  It's a good story.  :)

Ursula, the sea witch and villain of this story, is fabulous.  Her character has such depth and charisma, but it is ultimately entirely selfish and villainous.  Also, she arguably has the best villain song in the entire Disney cannon with "Poor Unfortunate Souls."  (I know.  We still have to get through some 20-odd other Disney films so I might be speaking too soon, but I definitely say it ranks in the top 5!)

And finally we have the music.  Oh the music!!!!!  This film is filled with great songs!  Ariel's iconic "Part of Your World" is still sung by a bevy of little girls today, and I'm guessing most women my age can also sing every word...  The song is so good, it even gets a fantastic reprise!  There are also some great comedic elements imbedded in the music of the film.  Ursula's lyrics in "Poor Unfortunate Souls" are worth a close listen, and I guarantee you'll hear something clever that you hadn't noticed before.  Also, Prince Eric's chef has comedic gold with his "Les Poissons" song in the kitchen in which he ends up battling the uncrushable crustacean, Sebastian.

And speaking of Sebastian- his two musical numbers in the film might even eclipse the music already mentioned.  The show-stopping "Under the Sea" in which he and his friends form a rollicking, sea-faring band is so good.  It's lively and funny and just plain good music.  But that's not all, Sebastian also sings the romantic "Kiss the Girl" on Eric and Ariel's boat ride through the lagoon.  Definitely one of Disney's greatest hits!

If you can't tell, I really like The Little Mermaid!  In fact, it is my favorite film so far on this Disney journey.  Yes.  I like it even more than this film.  (For full disclosure, it may be bumped out of the first spot by Beauty and the Beast in a few weeks, but it's definitely in my top 5 favorite Disney films ever!) 

This week I'm leaving you with lyrics from Sebastian's "Under the Sea:"

Under the sea
Darling it's better
Down where it's wetter
Take it from me
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to floatin'
Under the sea

 

Because really.  How else could you end a The Little Mermaid post?  ;)

Coming Up Next Week: The Rescuers Down Under

Oliver & Company

We are halfway through this year of Disney films!  We've arrived at movie 27: Oliver & Company.

The film premiered in 1988 (a very good year for birthdays!) and is loosely very loosely based on the storyline of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist.  Oliver & Company tells the tale of Oliver, a kitten without a home, and his unlikely inclusion into a gang of misfit dogs who strut the streets of New York without a care in the world.  Oliver is then lucky enough to find a home with Jennifer, a lovely little girl who lives in the wealthy district on 5th Avenue, but alas greedy men, vicious Dobermans, and an unscrupulous (but likable) chap make dastardly plans against the duo.  It's the misfit gang to the rescue!

 

This film was so much fun!  From the opening "Once Upon a Time in New York City" number to the great finale, this was super enjoyable.  Oliver & Company has great characters, great music and great heart. 

Oliver himself is adorable, but plucky at the same time.  He certainly isn't afraid to stand up for himself, go after what he wants, or race to the rescue when someone is in trouble.  The gang of dogs is an eclectic assortment... lead by the worry-free Dodger.  Dodger may seem laid-back, but he clearly cares for his motley crew and fights for them every step of the way.  Most of the gang add a good dose of comedy to the film.  Most notably, Tito, a Chihuahua with major spunk.  Then there's Georgette, Jennifer's spoiled (show-winning) poodle.  Her narcissism and lack of street savvy provide great comedic fodder throughout the film. 

The soundtrack to this film is also wonderful!  Dodger's show-stopping "Why Should I Worry" and Rita's "Streets of Gold" belong on any Disney music lover's list of favorites!  This would also probably be a good time to mention the voice cast for Oliver & Company.  Dodger is voiced by the music legend: Billy Joel.  (Did I mention he has a major show-stopping number, complete with a reprise?!)  Bette Midler voiced Georgette (the poodle).  You also have the talents of Ruth Pointer (of the Pointer Sisters) and Cheech Marin.  Oh.  And Oliver is voiced by a young (12-year-old) Joey Lawrence!  :)

On top of the wonderful cast and music, this film also has heart.  The characters band together to fight the villain and reunite the innocent.  The film definitely treads on some morally gray areas in terms of stealing and petty crimes which should not necessarily be minimized, but the villains are clearly bad, and there is a true, good outcome to root for.  There are friendships formed, sacrifices made, and a love worth fighting for.

I definitely enjoyed this stop on this Disney journey!

Here's a little Walt wisdom for the road:

Life is composed of lights and shadows, and we would be untruthful, insincere, and saccharine if we tried to pretend there were no shadows.  Most things are good, and they are the strongest things; but there are evil things too, and you are not doing a child a favor by trying to shield him from reality.  The important thing is to teach a child that good can always triumph over evil.

Coming Up Next Week: The Little Mermaid