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Beauty and the Beast (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
- Animated
- Color
- Closed-captioned
- Widescreen
- Dolby
Avg. Customer Review: 
One Of The Best...
I've been waiting for Beauty and the Beast on DVD ever since I bought a player back in 1997. I am happy to say I am not disappointed. Disney has wisely included three versions of the movie. The original theatrical release, the special edition including the new musical number "Human Again", and the work-in-progress which was shown in New York in October 1991. The movie looks and sounds great on DVD. The extras are nothing to write home about. Most of it is promotional stuff for other Disney products. However, the tribute to the late Howard Ashman is touching and appropriate considering he was the brains behind this masterpiece. Disney animated features since Beauty and the Beast have ranged from fair "Tarzan" and "Aladdin" to downright lousy "Pocahantas" and "Atlantis". Howard Ashman is definetely a missed person in the Disney idea department as they have never measured up to this film since. As a Law and Order fan, it's also a hoot to see Lt Lenny Bricoe (Jerry Orbach) singing into a microphone. Since this is in limited release I will probably buy another copy to have around in case something happens to my original. So why all the praise and only four stars? I don't like the idea that this and all other Disney DVD's start with those rancid trailers. Sure I can hit the menu button but it's still a pain.
 A Must-Have for the Disney Fan
Forget the video. If you loved the theatrical version of "Beauty and the Beast" you won't want to miss the DVD. This special edition DVD has so many added features that fans of the film won't be satisfied until they own a copy. This two-disc set includes 3 versions of the film. They include:- The work-in-progress edition which first premiered at the 1991 New York Film Festival. - The original theatrical version. - A special edition version that includes the new musical number, "Human Again" and enhanced animation. It also includes a sing-along track version, and a version of the film with audio commentary by the producers. In addition, the second disc features behind-the-scenes galleries, interactive games, "The Making of Beauty and the Beast," interviews with the cast-members, a tour of Disney's animation studios, music videos, and much, much more. It's the familiar story of Belle, Maurice, Gaston, the Beast, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth and Lumiere, but presented in a whole new way. Fans will not be disappointed. Restored and remastered, the film seems much brighter than the theatrical version. The previous reviewer who complained of the Work-in-Progress version in French needs to familiarize him or herself to the operations of his or her DVD player. All versions of the film can be watched in a variety of languages, depending upon one's settings. All in all, it's a perfect Christmas gift for the Beauty and the Beast fan.
Pure Magic!
Bringing this classic fairy tail to life is one of the best things that Disney has ever done. Every second of this film is full to the brim with wonder and magic. More than ten years after first seeing it, there are still some scenes that make me gasp at their beauty.
The movie provides all of the usual Disney elements of gorgeous animation, skilled voice actors, awesome original songs, and non-stop entertainment, but there's something special in the mix. We get one of the most believable and heart felt romances to ever grace the animated world. As a child every time I read a picture book of this Fairy Tail I found it impossible to believe that a woman could love a beast, but Disney found a way to make it happen. You truly believe that it's possible, and feel her pain when she thinks she's lost him.
In the classic Disney fashion, Beauty and the Beast brings along a message for the kids to learn. We see the value of intelligence and compassion, learn to look beyond the superficial, and discover that love knows no boundaries.
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