1/5 The Disney version was WAAAAY better!
  by Rayscann
I went to my video store last weekend to rent "Beauty and the Beast" because I like that song "Be Our Guest." I even asked them to place this on hold for me and I told them over and over again to make sure they had my name spelled correctly. That dumb video store is alwasy forgetting that theyve put movies on hold for me which I can't understand because I call them 19 times a day to make sure that its still on hold. Anyway, I get home and play the movie and I soon discover its not the Walt Disney version. Even worse it's in black and white and it's NOT EVEN IN ENGLISH!!!! I mean, C'MON!!! Everywhere you look nowadays there's some commie-lib foreigner invading our workplace and now they're invading our movies. Oh and get this! It's in French. UGGGH! What a lame pile of crud. Of course they had some English words on the bottom of the screen, but if it was important it would have been in English in the first place. I mean, the Bible's in English and if English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for Hollyweird Or whatever they call Hollyweird in France.

5/5 One of the Best movies EVER made: An absolute MUSE see
  by Alberto M. Barral (new york)
This movie is pure magic, in the best sense of the word and one never tires of seeing it, as it is always fresh in its own space and time. I have seen it since childhood, at least 10 times, and there was not one time I did not enjoy it as much as if it were the first. This unique quality has guaranteed it a cult status amongst film aficionados.
From the point that Belle's father is lost in a storm and finds his way to the Beast's chateau, the movie takes off into a magic realm, where trees part to let guests through (as they do for the Prince Charming in Sleeping Beauty) and a hallway can be lit by magical hands holding candlesticks that never go off no matter how windy. Other magical hands can assist while eating at a beautiful dining table while mantlepiece statues become animated and look on mysteriously.
Belle's father has ventured there on his way back from a business trip and Belle had asked him to bring back a rose. Her mean and envious, snobby sisters have asked for more exotic presents, as they resemble Cinderella's sisters in their meanness to Belle, but in a way are also closely related to Moliere's "Precieuses Ridicules' : the women of his time that took refinement so seriously that they made a ridiculous spectacle of themselves. However it is this rose that will connect Belle to the Beast as her father incurrs the Beast's wrath when he takes the flower and he has to swear to come back, or send one of his daughters in his place. Even while the Beast is finishing the sentence we KNOW Belle will show up in his place.
The Beast in this movie is Jean Marais, and the Belle is Josette Day, both excellently directed by Jean Cocteau, the ultimate magician, I believe of all his works, whether literary or otherwise, this was the masterpiece. Cocteau creates a world historically set at the beginning of the 17th century in France, but more akin to the "Once upon a time" era of fairy tales and stories that children have always loved. The ability to ground the fantasy of the tale within the context of the eternal archetypes (as in Jung) is what makes the story so appealing and everlasting.
The Beauty inside the beast is what attracts Belle, and eventually makes her love him. She is naturally beautiful inside out and even when she is doing house chores she has the air of having just had a facial at a La Prairie Spa. One can understand her attraction for the beast, as no matter how ugly he looks, the Beast is impeccably dressed in velvet and diamond embroideries that look like early Yves Saint Laurent couture, not to mention that he dresses her magically also, while he carries her through a doorway, in a ravishing gown that would make any girl lose her mind with delight, and showers her with magnificent gifts such as diamond tears that pay all her father's debts and an exquisite necklace fit for a queen. Once Belle's love is declared to the dying Beast, which is a very dramatic scene, as the beast is dying of sadness over not seeing her (how fabulous a disease is that?? we don't even have a name for it) he can be born again in the guise of Belle's admirer, a role also played by Marais as a handsome but brainless young man. He only makes sense up to the point where he metamorphoses from the body of the Beast at the same instant, and in perfect synchronicity in time, that the young man has climbed into the forbidden pavillion of Diana, where all of the Beast's treasury is scattered, and where he has come with the ambition of killing the beast and stealing the treasure. Instead he is killed by an arrow from a statue of the goddess that has become magically animated. Belle then "remembers' vaguely that she knew and liked someone that "looked like him" which makes the Beast-turned-Jean-Marais give a radiant smile of self satisfaction and we know we've hit the finale on a high note.
It is a beautiful romance in the gorgeous setting of an enchanted castle and a happy ending that ends quite literally with the two lovers flying to the heavens, giving "Happily Ever After" a visual image that is as unforgettable as the film itself.
The restauration job is excellent and the dvd is a pleasure to watch. The images clearer than in many movie reel versions I have seen

5/5 A lovely movie
  by Dellah H. (NJ, USA)
I debated buying this because of the price, but decided to treat myself. It arrived in fantastic condition and with all the extras some other reviewers mention. I've watched it several times now, also with
& without the commentary. It's a very well made, beautiful movie. Honestly, I had a rather difficult time (esp when I first watched it) listening to such an ugly beast speaking beautiful French. (It has
English sub-titles). It doesn't strike me quite so odd anymore.
It's a rather fast paced movie, especially re: the relationship between Belle & the Beast. I would have preferred seeing some more interaction/ conversations between the two of them. Two of my favorite special effects are when Belle's dress changes into a beautiful gown, and her pearl necklace instantly changes when put in the hands of her evil-minded sister. I recommend this movie to anyone considering it.

5/5 Daughter wanted this movie
  by A. M. Herrera (Fresno, CA)
This is the actual movie she wanted for Christmas. She has watched it numerous times although it is in French. She loves period films, b/w films and wanted this in French. SHe is very happy with this movie.

5/5 a real beauty
  by Felix (Brisbane, Australia)
There's not much to complain of in this Criterion issue. You can watch the movie in French, with various subtitles, with commentary, with documentary backup. Either way, it is one of the great films of the world by a true visual artist.

Like everyone, I prefer Marais as the Beast to when he becomes the prince version. So might you.