Beauty and the Beast (re-release) 2002

As the camera pans across the picturesque landscape of 18th century France, we are transported to the lavish palace of Prince Adam (Dan Stevens), a self-absorbed aristocrat who rules over his subjects with an iron fist. A grandiose lifestyle is his sole preoccupation, and he takes great pleasure in hosting extravagant parties that leave his kingdom in a state of revelry.

One fateful evening, a mysterious old beggar woman appears at the castle gates, seeking refuge from the biting cold. The Prince, accompanied by his loyal subjects, mocks her haggard appearance, refusing to grant her shelter. Undeterred, the beggar woman warns Adam against judging others by their outward appearances, only to be rebuffed once more. Her words of wisdom fall on deaf ears as she vanishes into thin air, revealing herself to be a radiant Enchantress.

The Prince’s attempts at contrition are met with disdain as the Enchantress exacts her revenge, transforming him into the grotesque Beast (Dan Stevens) and his subjects into inanimate objects. The kingdom is subsequently shrouded from the outside world, as if erased from existence. The only remnants of his former life are a magical mirror, which serves as his window to the outside world, and a lone rose.

Fast-forward to the quaint village of Villeneuve, where Belle (Emma Watson), an intelligent and book-loving young woman, resides. Her unique interests in storybooks and independent nature make her an outcast among the townspeople, who view her with suspicion (“Belle”). Gaston (Luke Evans), a chiseled but arrogant hunter and former war captain, sets his sights on winning Belle’s heart, accompanied by his bumbling sidekick LeFou (Josh Gad). Gaston’s overtures are met with rejection as Belle politely declines his invitation to dinner.

As the sun sets on Villeneuve, Belle returns home to her father Maurice (Kevin Kline), a skilled music box maker. He is in the midst of creating a poignant tribute to himself and his late wife, Belle’s mother (“How Does A Moment Last Forever”). As they bond over their shared love of literature, Belle confides in Maurice about the villagers’ perception of her as peculiar. Maurice reassures her that she is loved and valued for who she is.

With plans to venture to a neighboring town to sell his music boxes, Maurice agrees to bring back a rose, a symbol of his late wife’s memory. Little does he know, this simple gesture will set in motion a chain of events that will forever alter the course of their lives.

As Maurice (character) gallops through the forest on horseback with Philippe by his side, the snowflakes begin to fall around them like nature’s own confetti. The duo veers towards a path shrouded in mist, where the howls of wolves echo through the trees, forcing Maurice and Philippe to flee for their lives. They burst through an ancient gate, leading them onto the forgotten grounds of the Prince’s castle, its once-majestic halls now shrouded in silence.

As they enter the castle, they’re spotted by Lumiere the candelabra (Ewan McGregor) and Cogsworth the clock (Ian McKellen), who regard Maurice with an air of curiosity. Maurice makes his way to the grand dining hall, where he’s startled by Chip (Nathan Mack), a young boy transformed into a teacup, who speaks to him in a voice that’s barely above a whisper.

Maurice hastily exits the castle and mounts Philippe once more, only to find himself lost in thought as they pass through the overgrown garden. His gaze falls upon a rose, and his heart beats with the desire to pluck one for Belle. However, his moment of tenderness is disrupted by the arrival of the Beast, who accuses Maurice of theft and takes him prisoner.

Meanwhile, back in the village, Belle (character) is engaged in a quiet moment of mentorship with a young girl, patiently teaching her the art of reading. Her peaceful reverie is shattered when a disapproving stranger intervenes, discouraging her from sharing her knowledge with others. Gaston (character), ever the ladies’ man, appears on the scene, attempting to woo Belle once more by suggesting she focus solely on his offspring.

Belle, however, remains unmoved by his advances and firmly declines his proposals. She confides in Philippe that she yearns for adventure and excitement beyond the confines of her mundane village life (“Belle Reprise”). It’s not long before Philippe returns, bearing news of Maurice’s misfortune. Belle’s concerns are validated when she receives word that something dire has befallen her beloved father.

Without hesitation, Belle mounts Philippe once more and sets off to find her father, leading them back to the castle where they’re met with an eerie silence. In the depths of the dungeon, she finds Maurice, who warns her to turn back. Unfazed by the danger, Belle meets the Beast face-to-face, taken aback by his intimidating appearance.

The Beast accuses Maurice of thievery and sentences him to life imprisonment in the dungeon. Belle offers to take his place, despite Maurice’s protests. The Beast agrees to the exchange, releasing Maurice from his cell. As she prepares to assume her father’s sentence, Belle vows to find a way to escape the castle and reunite with her father.

As Belle’s initial bewilderment gives way to curiosity, she encounters a pair of erstwhile castle dignitaries in the form of Lumiere (a charming candelabra with a dashing French accent) and Cogsworth (a stately clock with a stiff upper lip). These two former heads of the castle, now transformed by the curse, welcome Belle with open arms - or rather, open flames and ticking mechanisms. Her path also crosses Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson), Chip’s mother, who has taken on the unlikely form of a teapot; her son Chip himself; Plumette (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), Lumiere’s lovely girlfriend, now a featherduster with a peacock-like plumage; Madame de Garderobe (Audra McDonald), an Italian opera singer turned wardrobe; and Maestro Cadenza (Stanley Tucci), Garderobe’s husband and former composer, now a piano.

As Belle navigates this strange new world, Lumiere takes her on a guided tour of the castle’s labyrinthine corridors, leading her out of the dungeon and into a chamber deep within the East Wing. Meanwhile, Madame de Garderobe dresses Belle in an outfit that is, shall we say, less than ravishing, prompting the young woman to devise a plan to use the ribbons from her ghastly frock to create a makeshift rope for her escape.

In the midst of this chaos, Gaston (and his loyal sidekick LeFou) regale their fellow villagers with tales of their own bravery and machismo, set to the tune of an upbeat musical number (“Gaston”). The atmosphere is one of raucous revelry, but it’s soon disrupted by Maurice’s arrival, who shares his dire warnings about the Beast and Belle’s predicament. While the villagers are skeptical, Gaston sees an opportunity to prove himself and offers to accompany Maurice on a quest to find the Beast - all in the hopes of securing Belle as his bride.

As tensions escalate within the castle walls, the Beast becomes increasingly frustrated with Belle’s reluctance to join him for dinner. Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Plumette all attempt to intervene, but their efforts are thwarted by the Beast’s gruff demeanor and Belle’s determination to complete her escape preparations. The Beast’s outburst of frustration is met with a corresponding decline in the castle’s enchanted atmosphere, as the rose drops another petal and the very fabric of reality begins to unravel - literally and figuratively.

As Belle ventures forth from her sanctuary, she finds herself swept away by the enchanting spectacle of the castle’s inhabitants as they converge on the dining hall. The charming Lumiere takes center stage, leading a dazzling ensemble in a rousing musical number (“Be Our Guest”) that showcases their impressive culinary prowess and warm hospitality. Meanwhile, Belle’s curiosity gets the better of her, and she slips away to explore the West Wing, a restricted area that Lumiere and Cogsworth had attempted to keep hidden from her eyes. There, she stumbles upon the exquisite rose, now encased in a delicate jar, its beauty almost otherworldly.

However, her reverie is short-lived, as the Beast appears, his imposing figure commanding attention. His thunderous voice booms out, ordering Belle to depart, and she hastily retreats, fleeing on Philippe’s back into the great outdoors. But fate has other plans, as a pack of wolves sets upon her, their snarls and snapping jaws sending her scrambling for escape. Just in time, the Beast arrives, his mighty roar scattering the canines, and he dispatches them with ease. As Belle tends to his wounds, nursing him back to health, Mrs. Potts regales her with tales of the Beast’s former life, revealing a complex individual whose kindness was lost with the passing of his mother.

As Belle learns more about the curse that has beset the castle and its inhabitants, she discovers the rose at the heart of their predicament. The enchanted objects reveal to her that the Prince will remain a beast forever unless he finds someone to love him genuinely in return, and that they themselves will be reduced to mere inanimate objects when the last petal falls without this transformation. This poignant truth is underscored by a melancholic melody (“Days in the Sun”), which takes us back to a tender moment between the young Prince and his dying mother. The memory of her final breaths serves as a reminder of the love that once flowed through the castle, now trapped within the walls.

In a separate tale, Maurice leads Gaston and LeFou into the forest, hoping to find the path to the enchanted castle. However, Gaston’s true intentions soon become apparent: he seeks to utilize Maurice’s connection to Belle for his own selfish purposes. When Maurice discovers Gaston’s duplicity, he refuses to condone the marriage, prompting Gaston to resort to physical violence and abandon Maurice to the wolves. LeFou, torn between his loyalty and moral compass, is left to follow Gaston, as the seeds of destruction are sown in the heart of the forest.

As Belle ( Emma Watson) tenderly reads Shakespearean sonnets to the Beast (Dan Stevens), a subtle transformation begins to unfold. The once-gruff creature, well-versed in the Bard’s works, gently leads her through the labyrinthine corridors of his imposing library, an invitation for her to claim as her own. As time passes, Belle’s initial wariness gives way to a burgeoning rapport with the Beast, whose growing gentleness is mirrored by the enchanted objects (“Something There”), which begin to sense the shift in the air.

The Beast subsequently reveals to Belle an ancient tome that holds the power to transport its users to any place they can vividly imagine. With Belle’s hand pressed upon the book’s yellowed pages, the unlikely duo finds themselves transported to a quaint Parisian residence, once home to Belle’s parents when she was just a baby. The Beast stumbles upon a doctor’s mask, hinting at the tragic circumstances surrounding Belle’s mother’s demise. A poignant flashback unfolds, showcasing Maurice (Kevin Kline) tending to his ailing wife as she takes her final breaths. In her parting words, she implores him to safeguard their daughter, leaving behind only a delicate glass rose - a symbol of enduring love that Belle would later discover.

Meanwhile, back in Villeneuve, Maurice’s narrow escape from death at the hands of the plague is facilitated by a kindly beggar woman, Agathe (Hattie Morahan). As Maurice recovers, he returns to the tavern, where Gaston (Luke Evans) and LeFou (Josh Gad) reappear, their faces contorted with surprise. Maurice shares his harrowing tale, revealing that Gaston abandoned him in the forest, leaving him for dead. When Maurice calls upon LeFou as a witness, Gaston’s intimidating presence forces the timid sidekick into an untruthful recantation, effectively discrediting Maurice and labeling him a madman.

As the evening’s enchantment unfolded, the Beast extended an invitation to Belle to join him for a waltz in the opulent ballroom. Meanwhile, the affable Lumiere and his cohorts worked their magic to perfect the Beast’s appearance, while Garderobe artfully dressed Belle in a stunning gown. As the clock struck the hour, the two lovebirds met in the grand staircase, where they descended into the ballroom accompanied by the lilting strains of Cadenza’s music (“Beauty and the Beast”). The resulting dance was a poignant expression of the blossoming connection between Belle and the Beast.

As the night wore on, the Beast turned to Belle with a candid inquiry: could she truly be happy within his castle walls? Her response was a poignant reminder that true happiness requires freedom. With her heart still heavy from missing her father, Maurice, the Beast gifted her the magic mirror, granting her a glimpse of her loved one’s plight. Belle beheld the villagers harassing her father and knew she had to act swiftly to save him. Moved by her compassion, the Beast released Belle from her obligations, allowing her to rush to her father’s aid. As she departed, the Beast retreated to his tower, his heart heavy with the realization that his love for Belle was genuine (“Evermore”). The castle’s enchanted objects, however, were consumed by sorrow, aware that their own happiness depended on Belle’s reciprocation of the Beast’s affections.

In a parallel narrative thread, Gaston’s machinations continued to unfold. He had Maurice committed to a mental institution and then offered him a final chance at redemption: simply grant Gaston his blessing to marry Belle. When Maurice refused, Gaston banished him. Just as all hope seemed lost, Belle arrived in the nick of time to prevent Maurice from being carted away. She then presented the villagers with the magic mirror, revealing the Beast’s existence and sending shockwaves through the community. Gaston, sensing an opportunity, began to rally the villagers against the Beast, warning them that he would harm anyone who got in his way (“Mob Song”). As Belle watched in horror, she was locked in a carriage with her father as Gaston led the villagers on a rampage towards the castle.

As the villagers approach the castle gates, the sentient objects within its walls spring into action. The door creaks under their desperate attempts to hold it shut, but ultimately succumbs to the relentless pressure. Undeterred, Cogsworth hastens to warn the Beast of the impending danger, only to find him consumed by a despair so profound that he is incapable of mustering any concern. It is then that Lumiere assumes the role of strategist, rallying the castle’s inhabitants into a cohesive plan. As the villagers burst through the doors, LeFou mistakenly identifies Mrs. Potts as his grandmother, prompting her to unleash a fierce counterattack. The room erupts into chaos as Lumiere illuminates the floor with a warm, golden glow, Mrs. Potts pours scalding hot tea on the attackers, Cadenza unleashes a barrage of piano keys, Cogsworth sends flying books to pummel the villagers, and Garderobe dresses three goons in attire more befitting a masquerade ball than a battle.

Meanwhile, two would-be assailants flee in terror, while a third is so enamored with his new persona that he barely notices the mayhem unfolding around him. Cadenza momentarily sits upon LeFou, who turns to Gaston for aid, only to be rebuffed as the latter seeks to pursue the Beast himself. It is then that Mrs. Potts plummets from the chandelier, but LeFou’s quick thinking allows him to catch her and defect from Gaston’s side. His newfound ally offers words of encouragement, suggesting he is far too deserving of a better suitor than the brutish Gaston.

As the villagers retreat in disarray, Agathe ascends the staircase, her presence marked by an air of mystery. It is amidst this backdrop of chaos that Belle shares a profound secret with Maurice: the glass rose and the truth about her mother’s disappearance. Maurice’s motivations are revealed to be driven by a desire to protect his daughter, which Belle comes to understand. With Maurice’s assistance, she frees them from their carriage confinement, and they make their way back to the castle on the back of Philippe.

In the midst of this commotion, Gaston makes his way to the tower, where he finds the Beast slumped in despair outside the window. The hunter claims Belle sent for him, before striking the Beast with a treacherous arrow, sending him tumbling onto a lower rooftop. Undeterred, Gaston pursues the wounded Beast, demanding that he defend himself. Belle’s timely return to the castle reinvigorates the Beast’s spirit, and he mounts a valiant defense against Gaston’s attacks. As the hunter begs for mercy, the Beast spares his life, ordering him to depart. With renewed purpose, the Beast leaps to the next tower to reunite with Belle, only to be struck by Gaston’s treacherous arrow once more. Karma soon intervenes, as the very bridge upon which Gaston stands gives way beneath him, sending him plummeting to his death.

As the Beast’s life force ebbs away, he summons the strength to behold Belle one final time, a poignant moment that underscores the depth of their bond. The enchanting aura surrounding them begins to dissipate, and the last petal from the mystical rose drifts gently to the ground, its fall signaling the impending demise of the spell. Meanwhile, the castle’s enchanted objects, now freed from their inanimate states, rejoice in their newfound freedom. Lumiere, once a charming candelabra, tenderly cradles Plumette, her porcelain form transformed into an ordinary feather duster; Mrs. Potts and Chip, reuniting as teapot and cup, respectively, express their relief and gratitude.

As the Beast’s vision begins to fade, Belle pours out her heart, confessing her love for him. In a poignant display of devotion, she holds vigil beside his lifeless form, her tears falling like autumn rain onto his still breast. And then, as if summoned by her anguish, Agathe appears, her countenance transformed from that of a kindly old woman to the enigmatic Enchantress. With a wave of her hand, the spell is broken, and the rose regains its original splendor.

The once-majestic Beast begins to transform, his beastly form giving way to the handsome features of Prince Adam. As Belle and the prince share their first kiss, the darkness that had shrouded the kingdom dissipates, replaced by a warm golden light that heralds a new era of peace and harmony. The enchanted objects, now freed from their inanimate states, stir back to life, rejoicing at their restored humanity.

As the villagers and castle subjects reunite, Mrs. Potts is reunited with her husband, while Cogsworth finds himself paired once more with his wife, though his enthusiasm for this reunion is somewhat tempered. The Prince, now Adam once more, is overjoyed to be reunited with his friends, embracing them warmly.

A grand celebration erupts in the castle’s ballroom, as Belle and Adam take to the dance floor, their steps weaving a waltz of love and joy. The atmosphere is filled with music and laughter, as Garderobe and Mrs. Potts harmonize, Cadenza playing a lively melody that underscores the jubilation. And so, in the warm glow of this new era, Belle and Adam, surrounded by friends and loved ones, live happily ever after.

As the imposing figure of the Beast (Jean Reno) gradually reveals a softer side to Belle (Emma Watson), an unlikely bond forms between them. The once-timid beauty finds herself captivated by the Beast’s rugged charm, while he becomes enamored with her intelligence and kindness. Meanwhile, the egotistical hunter Gaston (Idris Elba) relentlessly pursues Belle, his lust for power and control driving him to manipulate those around him. His devious plans are put into motion when he orchestrates Maurice’s (Hugh Grant) supposed lunacy, hoping to secure Belle as his prize.

The Beast, moved by Belle’s devotion to her father, allows her to return home, unaware that Gaston has been secretly plotting against him. As the hunter rallies the villagers, they converge on the castle, intent on destroying the Beast and claiming Belle as their own. However, it is the enchanted objects within the castle walls that ultimately thwart their efforts, sending the villagers fleeing in terror.

Undeterred, Gaston (Idris Elba) remains resolute in his pursuit of the Beast, engaging in a fierce battle with the once-formidable creature. Just as all hope seems lost, Belle returns to find her beloved transformed into a dying figure. In a poignant moment, the Beast confesses his love for Belle, and it is this declaration that ultimately breaks the spell cast by the Enchantress (Julia Roberts), disguised as a beggar woman.

As the curse is lifted, the castle’s inhabitants transform back into their human forms. The once-estranged Prince, now revealed in all his glory, joins Belle in her new life within the castle walls, surrounded by the very objects that had once sought to protect him.