Story
Beauty and the Beast 3D is a Disney classic re-released in a 3D format with some new material and improved animation.
The movie begins with a handsome prince opening his door to an ugly old witch who asks for his help. He refuses to help her and shuts the door in her face. The angry witch reveals herself to be a beautiful woman. To punish the prince for his unkindness and superficial judgment of her, she puts a spell on him. She turns him into a repulsive beast, who will be judged on his looks forever, unless he can find someone to love him. The prince hides himself away from the world, ashamed of how he looks and certain that he’ll live out his days alone and unloved.
Belle (voiced by Paige O’Hara) lives in the town below the Beast’s castle. The stupid and self-centred Gaston wants to marry Belle, but she isn’t interested. She is an unusual and beautiful young woman who feels like a misfit in the town and longs for true love and adventure. She lives with her inventor father, Maurice. One day Maurice comes up with a good invention and sets off to a fair to try selling it. He gets lost and arrives at the Beast’s castle, where the Beast (voiced by Robby Benson) locks him up in the dungeon.
Belle goes to find her father. She begs the Beast to let her father free and take her instead. The Beast agrees, hoping that Belle might be the one to break the witch’s spell.
Themes
Violence
This movie has some violence. For example:
- Gaston fights with his henchmen to demonstrate his strength. He drinks tankards of beer and then punches people randomly. He yells, roars, smashes a chair and throws people.
- The townspeople shoot and kill ducks.
- The townspeople attack the Beast with axes and flaming torches. There’s a fight between the townspeople and the Beast’s servants. People get hit by objects and hurt. Some are left unconscious and possibly dead.
- Gaston approaches the Beast and attacks him. They wrestle and fight. Gaston stabs the Beast in the back but then slips from the roof and falls to his death.
Content that may disturb children
Under 5
In addition to the violent scenes mentioned above, this movie has some scenes that could scare or disturb children under five years. For example:
- Maurice, Belle’s father, gets lost in the woods. His horse runs away. He walks through the shadowy and howling forest. Wolves watch him, ready to attack, and bats fly past in a scary way.
- The Beast finds Maurice. The Beast is big and scary and roars at Maurice. He abuses Maurice for trespassing and throws him into a dungeon.
- The scene where Belle trades places with her father is dark and shadowy. Belle is very upset, and the Beast doesn’t seem kind or understanding.
- When Belle refuses to have dinner with the Beast, he storms to her room and roars threateningly at her.
- Gaston has a conversation with an evil doctor. Together they plot how they can get Maurice put in a mental asylum.
- The final fight is scary and loud.
From 5-8
Some of the scenes mentioned above might also scare children in this age group.
From 8-13
Most children in this age group are unlikely to be scared by anything in this movie.
Over 13
Nothing of concern
Sexual references
None of concern
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
This movie shows some use of substances. For example:
- Gaston and his men drink tankards of beer.
- Bottles of enchanted champagne dance for Belle.
Nudity and sexual activity
This movie shows some sexual activity. For example:
- Some of the women are curvaceous and sexy, and men like to look at them.
- Belle and the Prince kiss passionately at the end of the movie.
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
None of concern
Ideas to discuss with your children
Beauty and the Beast 3D is an animated musical love story about two people who are misunderstood by the world around them. They find each other and fall in love despite the odds. This movie is a remastered version of the Disney classic. It’s likely to be more scary than the original for young children and isn’t recommended for children under five years.
The main message from this movie is that you shouldn’t judge others on how they look. Instead, you should try to see and appreciate inner beauty, both in yourself and in others.
You could talk with your children about real-life situations where people are judged on how they look.