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Originally produced
and distributed in
1997 and 1998,
Beauty and the
Beast: The Enchanted
Christmas
was released when
Disney was doing a
string of direct to
video releases. In
fact, in the 90’s
and early 2000’s
Disney took a slew
of characters and
franchises and put
them out directly to
DVD and home video
releases. Using the
original cast of the
movie that was
released a few years
prior, the movie
takes a look back at
the Beast around
Christmas time when
he was still a
beast. While it’s
not without its
flaws, it’s a nice
holiday story that
tells another story
about Belle and the
Beast for young fans
that became
infatuated with that
movie a few months
ago when it was
released as a
Diamond Edition Blu-ray.
The
movie is told
through a device as
Lumier and Cogsworth
are arguing in their
human form about
last year’s
Christmas and who
saved it. Of course,
that leads to the
story being told
about what
transpired while the
enchanted people of
the castle were
still trying to get
Belle to fall in
love with Beast.
Through the monotony
of being a prisoner
and forced against
her will to stay in
the castle, Belle
realizes on December
24th
that it’s in fact
Christmas Eve. She
rallies the
enchanted items of
the castle to
decorate a Christmas
tree and decorate
the castle and
celebrate Christmas.
She attempts to do
this all while
trying to keep it a
secret from Beast,
who hates Christmas.
Together, Belle and
the objects also
have to work around
the sabotage
attempts from the
evil Pipe Organ
Forte who doesn’t
want Belle to fall
in love with Beast
because he doesn’t
want to go back to
his human form. So
Belle and the group
attempt to make the
best of Christmas
despite the troubles
and their journey to
make it so is filled
with original music,
terrific animation,
and some laughs
along the way.
Beauty and the
Beast: The Enchanted
Christmas
is a direct to video
release so it’s not
exactly on par with
the theatrical film
but it does have
some benefits. You
have to give the
makers of the film
credit for using the
original cast of the
movie to make this
Christmas release.
You also have to
admire the use of
devices to tell the
story instead of
just throwing
something out there.
The story is a tad
lacking but it’s
still fun to watch
and follow for the
whole family.
What’s troubling
about this release
is what’s troubling
about the release
alongside of this
one. Beast needs to
be somewhat of a
troubled figure, but
it seems like he’s
too much of a
troubled figure.
He’s mean and mean
spirited and to a
degree he borders
along being
domestically
abusive. In no way
does he become the
least little bit
enduring in this
release and if
nothing else you
feel sorry for Belle
for being involved
with him in any
capacity. He’s a
character that you
can feel some
sympathy for, but at
the same you can’t
because he’s so
incredibly awful
throughout the
movie.
This isn’t a Diamond
Edition release of
course so there
aren’t a ton of
bonus features to
watch alongside of
this. There are
still four or five
featurettes to watch
on the disc. There’s
a making of
featurette that’s
fairly thorough for
this release.
There’s also several
music features
including a music
video, sing-a-long
modes, and a song
selection in the
special features. In
addition to the
music features
there’s also an
enchanted
environment feature.
Beauty
and the Beast: The
Enchanted Christmas
is a good release
around the holidays
and one that young
girls and families
will enjoy this
holiday season.
Belle and the Beast
and all of the
favorite characters
are back with their
original voices in
the feature and that
makes it a release
worthy of watching
this season.
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