David, thanks for all the great reviews. Personally, I've been thoroughly impressed with all the Blu-Ray releases from Pixar. Both the audio and video are just stellar examples. I ordered Beauty and the Beast and Iron Man based on your reviews. I had B&B on VHS and was putting off the BluRay upgrade, but this review really did it for me. Thanks for that I'm looknig forward to checking out the audio and video on this... plus it's a great movie.
Beauty and the Beast (Blu-ray)
Belle (voiced by Paige O'Hara) is a bright and beautiful young woman who finds escape from her ordinary life by reading books. When her father is taken prisoner by a cursed young prince (Robby Benson), Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father's place. With the help of the castle's enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast's exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.
Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture (plus five other nominations) and won two Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Original Score. The talent behind the voices includes Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts, Jerry Orbach as Lumiere, the candelabra, and David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth, the mantel clock. The story is engaging and filled with adventure, but it's the score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman that makes this film a classic.
Video Highlights
- AVC/1080p encode on a BD-50 disc
- Outstanding color saturation
- Exquisite detail & depth
- Picture perfect presentation
Audio Highlights
- DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack
- Enveloping and engaging surround track
- Plethora of discrete effects
- Outstanding dynamics and frequency response
- Smooth pans & crystal clear dialog
Disney has released some outstanding looking and sounding Blu-rays, but this has to be the best yet. You can see every intricate detail in the AVC encode, and the DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack is to die for!
Bonus Materials
- 3 disc set includes two versions of the film plus a DVD copy
- PIP Experience with original story boards
- Audio commentary by producer Don Hahn and co-directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale
- Sing along track
- Beyond Beauty behind-the-scenes documentary (HD)
- Deleted Scenes (HD)
- Ported bonus features from previously released DVD
- Composing a Classic (HD)
- Broadway Beginnings (HD)
- Music video (HD)
- Interactive game using your cell phone
- Enchanted Musical Challenge game
- BD-Live enabled
Disney's second renaissance of animation began in 1989 with The Little Mermaid, but Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King are the studio's two crowning achievements, and fans have eagerly awaited their release on Blu-ray. While the wait for the latter is a year away, this release shines in high-definition. Highly recommended.
Release Date: October 5, 2010
Studio: Disney
Movie: 10/10
Picture: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Review System
Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player
Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)
Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Panamax M5400PM power conditioner
Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer
Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector
Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics
»
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Comments
Submitted by David Vaughn on October 6, 2010 - 2:17pm.
Theo,
You'll certainly be pleased with this release, although it isn't from Pixar, it's Disney. You're probably aware of this but the animation is all hand drawn and literally comes alive on Blu-ray. You can see the individual brush strokes in the backgrounds!
Submitted by Jarod on October 7, 2010 - 12:48pm.
My wife and I are huge Disney fans and we are certainly going to pick up this copy on Blu-ray to add to our collection. We have enjoyed every re-release of Disney classics on Blu-ray. Watching the old Disney movies on Blu-ray, such as Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty, is like watching them for the first time! We both really enjoy the old art style of these classics and I applaud Disney for converting these classics into hi-def. Now Disney if you are listening, how about releasing The Sword and the Stone on Blu-ray? Please!!!?? Keep up the great work as well on the reviews David! First class stuff!
Submitted by David Vaughn on October 7, 2010 - 2:43pm.
Thanks!
As for more classics, Disney will be releasing Fantasia. and Fantasia 2000 later this year and we'll get The Lion King and Dumbo next year.
Be patient...it'll come eventually!
Submitted by David Vaughn on October 12, 2010 - 6:51pm.
Jarod, I'm glad you enjoyed the film as much as my family did!
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