Nothing captivates my daughter these days more than the Disney Princesses, which is why “new” Beauty and the Beast stories are welcome in our house. (Even this Disney loving mom tires of watching the same Disney Princess movies over and over.) Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas and Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World have been re-released out of the Disney vault, just in time for your princess in training to find them under the Christmas tree.
In the sequels to the classic tale, Belle is joined by her enchanted friends in all-new stories. (Well, they were all new to us. The sequels were originally released previously in the ’90s but have been locked in the vault for several years.) While I was thrilled to bring home the new Belle stories, I was a bit confused as to why her friends were once again enchanted. But when we watched the Christmas tale I quickly realized that the story is told as a memory of a Christmas when they were still enchanted. (Ohhhhh…) Beauty and the Beast fans will be happy to hear that in addition to the wonderfully enchanting characters from the original story, both sequels introduce new enchanted characters to love.
K squealed with delight when I presented her with the new stories. “Is that a new Beauty and the Beast for me?!” She couldn’t wait to watch them, and they didn’t disappoint.
The one thing I will warn is that in The Enchanted Christmas K was a bit frightened of Forte (the enchanted organ – bad guy). He is quite dark an ominous, so I understand her concern, but she chose to continue watching and asked to watch it again later. Because she is at the age where she is just discovering that there are scary things, I don’t think this is a deal breaker, just a heads-up. We will still watch it over and over in our house.
I have read several negative reviews of Belle’s Magical World, the main complaint that it is just cartoons originally intended for TV repackaged for DVD release., thus the quality of story and animation is not up to theatrical release standards. I say, “So what.” The DVD is intended for kids and K didn’t love it any less. It is four short stories (about 20 minutes each), which makes it perfect for watching a little at a time. Forget the critics, they are enjoyable tales for little princesses who just want to see Belle and her friends.
About Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas:
Celebrate the most magical time of the year with this Special Edition of the irresistible holiday classic inspired by Disney’s Academy Award(R)-winnng masterpiece, Beauty And The Beast (1991: Winner — Best Song, Best Original Score; nominated for Best Picture). Share the wonder as Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury) recounts another “tale as old as time” about a Christmas past that almost wasn’t — thanks to the scheming of former court composer Forte (Tim Curry), now a gloomy, holiday-hating pipe organ, determined to keep Belle and Beast apart forever. Only a true Christmas musical could possibly thwart his dastardly plans. Reuniting the original voice cast, this spectacular gem sparkles with exciting bonus features, delightful songs, spellbinding visuals, and enduring themes of hope, friendship and love. Your family will experience the spirit of the season all year long with the timeless magic of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.
Blu-Ray Bonus Features:
- Disney’s Sing Me A Story With Belle: “Stick To It (Don’t Give Up)”
- Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes
- Music Video: “As Long As There’s Christmas”
- Disney Sing-a-long Mode
- Disney’s Song Selection
- Enchanted Environment — Bring The Castle’s Crackling Fireplace Into Your Home
About Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World:
Join Belle, Disney’s spirited princess, Beast, Cogsworth, Lumiere, plus some charming new friends, as they discover how teamwork and friendship can turn a once-gloomy castle into a dazzling palace fit for a princess! Adorned with delightful bonus features, your favorite characters and enchanting songs, this fun-filled, instant classic proves that true beauty shies from within!
DVD Bonus Features:
- Disney’s Sing Me A Story with Belle “What’s Inside Counts”
- Belle’s Delightful Dinner Game – Help plan a special dinner for Beast
- Disney Song Selection
- Enchanted Environment – Enjoy the sights and sounds of Belle’s enchanted forest
If princess movies are on constant repeat in your house, treat your little one (and yourself) to new princess stories. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas is available on Blu-Ray ($29.99) and DVD ($19.99) and Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World is available on DVD only ($19.99) on Amazon.
Disclosure – I was provided copies of the movies to facilitate this review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.