What Parents Should Know
Families who see this movie could talk about why the prince
became the beast and what he had to learn before he could
return to his handsome exterior. What did Belle have to learn?
Why did she decide she liked him?
Common Sense Media Review
Belle is the book-loving daughter of an absent-minded
inventor. She wants "more than this provincial life" and the
boorish hunter Gaston, who hopes to marry her.
Lost in the woods, Belle's father stumbles into what appears to be a deserted castle. But the castle is inhabited by the Beast, once a prince, now under a spell that will last forever unless he finds love before he turns 21, who locks Belle's father in the dungeon. Belle comes after him and offers to stay in his place. At first antagonistic, she begins to find the Beast appealingly gentle and kind, wounded in spirit, rather than cruel. Gaston tries to get Belle's father committed, saying that his talk of the Beast shows he is delusional. When Belle proves that the Beast exists, the townspeople form a mob to kill him, and she cannot stop them. In a fight with Gaston, the Beast is badly wounded. Belle tells him she loves him, which ends the spell. He becomes once again the handsome prince, and they live happily ever after.
This film became the first animated film ever to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. It has great vocal performances and musical numbers and some stunning early use of computer animation.
Families who see this movie should talk about why the prince became the beast and what he had to learn before he could return to his handsome exterior. What did Belle have to learn? Why did she decide she liked him? Families who enjoy this movie should see some of the other versions. One of the most lyrically beautiful of all films ever made is Jean Cocteau's version of this story, "Belle et Bete." The Faerie Tale Theatre version stars Susan Sarandon and Klaus Kinski, and is very well done.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
