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Beauty and the Beast (Special Platinum Edition)
The film that officially signaled Disney's animation renaissance (following The Little Mermaid) and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all other animated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dotty inventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is too hard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned in the Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes this such a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie of supporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing household items) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and the late, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman. (The title song won the 1991 Best Song Oscar, and Menken's score scored a trophy as well.) The downright funniest song is "Gaston," a lout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of my de-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage. Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilarating level of wit, sophistication, and pure joy. --David Kronke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
User Submitted Beauty and the Beast (Special Platinum Edition) Reviews
March 8, 2010
Boot legged!!!
My husband's aunt bought this movie for me as a Christmas present. It was shipped from somewhere in Indonesia (I think). When she finally got it (late) she tried to play it to make sure it worked and nothing happened. She had to clean it to get it to work and when it did a screen came up that gave you four or five languages to choose from. When you select English it goes to the options to play, etc. If you look at the picture on the dvd case you can see it was copied and printed (good quality print) and both copies she bought had the same UPC code. The movie plays fine but it seems like they just make copies of an original disk.
March 8, 2010
Beauty and the Beast
The item came on time and was just what it was advertised to be. We watched it with our granddaughter, for whom it was bought,and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. After not finding it in stores, I was glad I'd found it on Amazon and will look there again for future dvds.
March 7, 2010
seller's lack of availability
I have tried contacting this seller on numerous occasions and I haven't received one response back. I'm sending general, basic questions and the seller is ignoring my emails. It is quite frustrating to know that your attempts to contact someone you've engaged into business with is all for nothing. Personally, I would advise anyone contemplating doing business with this seller not to do so. His/her lack of customer service is unprofessional and an irritating inconvenience.
March 3, 2010
Beware of bootlegged copies!
The one star is for bootlegs, not for the genuine article, which rates a five in my book. I've seen quite a few complaints about bootlegged copies in this thread, and thought I'd throw in my two cents on the subject. People interested in buying this item need to know that Amazon and Ebay are awash in bootlegged copies of this and other popular DVD and CD audio titles. It's very difficult, if not impossible, for huge online sellers like Amazon and Ebay to police such activities, so it's largely up to us fans to hold the sellers' feet to the fire. Do not buy from ANY vendor who will not guarantee, in writing, that his or her product is a 100% authentic Disney media product. There are undoubtedly some vendors who are so brazen that they will make this guarantee even though they know it's totally false. I received a counterfeit copy of this DVD set from an Ebay vendor, and the people who sell this trash depend on their buyers not being able to tell the difference. Some people don't care, but for those of you who do, look for the following:
The authentic US release of this particular DVD set came inside an immaculately printed cardboard sleeve. I believe the DVD case inside the sleeve was then encased in shrink-wrap plastic, with Disney or Buena Vista security markings printed on the wrapper. The DVD case inside the wrapping also had separate adhesive seals on it, that had to be broken/removed in order to open the case.
Look carefully at the printing on the outer case liner. It should be sharp and clear, with no fuzzy edges or wavy type, especially around the proof of purchase and UPC code blocks on the reverse side. If you see any such indications of second-generation printing, it's a counterfeit.
The original DVD set included several items of printed material, placed inside the case with the disks. If your set doesn't include this material, it's a knockoff. If the printing on the material has the same indicia of second-generation printing as that seen on the outer case liner, it's a knockoff.
Look carefully at the disks themselves ... the printing on the face of the disks should also be immaculate. The colors and lines where they intersect should be bright and distinct, not blotchy. The copyright and trademark information printed around the outer edge of the disk should be fine, but very legible, and not bleeding into the underlying colors, with no misspellings or weird gaps in the type.
The playing surface of the disks should be glossy and spotless, with no nicks, marks or smudges of any kind. If the title of the movie appears on the inner ring of the playing surface (e.g., "Beauty and the Beast, Disc 1"), it's a knockoff. Disney never puts such verbal markings on its authentic discs ... only code numbers. Disc titles are laser etched into knockoff discs so that the little scumbags who are assembling the counterfeit products by hand in China and Taiwan (or wherever the counterfeits are being mass-produced) can easily identify what disks they're putting into the package.
Hope this helps, and please ... don't knowingly support people who traffic in pirated copies of copyrighted materials. Think of the millions and millions of dollars, and incalculable number of labor hours invested by the lawful owners of products like this. Don't help someone deprive them of the financial rewards that are rightfully theirs for the massive risk they take in bringing brilliant creative work like this to the world.
In short, demand the authentic product, and then proudly ENJOY IT!
February 28, 2010
Love it!
Possibly my favorite Disney film of all time! Belle is witty, curious, and fun with a bold edge that makes you root for her throughout the film. This story, a classic, retells how a bold, bookworm beauty managed to tame the cruel heart of a prince enchanted into a beast. Colorful animation sequences and wonderful songs bring the story to life on the screen. The backgrounds are stunning, each hand painted with oils and each holding that special detail only a brush can capture. All of the characters are fun to follow, especially the blond triplets that adore Gaston, and even Gaston's sidekick is a riot that takes a bit away from the serious tone of the tale. If you're having girls, I suggest buying this! I still love it! :D
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