Disney’s live-action version of their classic Beauty and the Beast animated film opened in theaters on March 17, 2017, posting the sixth largest opening weekend of all time and snagging the #1 spot among all March releases. The PG-rated romantic musical went on to ring up $1.2 billion worldwide during its theatrical release as of June 6, 2017, the date of its debut on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD, and On Demand.
Directed by Bill Condon, the 2017 Beauty and the Beast stars Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the titular Beast. The cast also includes Luke Evans as Gaston, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Josh Gad as LeFou, Ewan McGregor as Lumière, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, Audra McDonald as Madame de Garderobe, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Hattie Morahan as the enchantress, Nathan Mack as Chip, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
The live-action version incorporated the popular songs from the 1991 animated film and also replicated many of the visual elements from the Oscar-winning animated feature film. From Belle’s iconic yellow dress to the design of the Beast, director Bill Condon and his talented crew paid tribute to the original film while expanding the classic story. Audiences awarded the live-action version an A, according to Cinemascore, and it’s likely Disney’s 2017 take on the tale as old as time will become a must-own on Blu-ray and DVD.
Disney’s loaded the Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD combo pack with hours of bonus material including deleted scenes, music videos, and behind-the-scenes featurettes revealing how the entertaining live-action film was created. Much of the content was created specifically for the home video release and the studio didn’t skimp when it pulled together the extras for the film’s Blu-ray. The movie itself makes the transition to the small screen with all of its vibrant colors and crisp audio intact, and combined with the terrific selection of extra material, Beauty and the Beast‘s Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD is a worthy addition to any home video collection.
The Bonus Features:
- Enchanted Table Read – The entire cast takes part in a table read that breaks the mold and includes musical numbers from the film complete with back-up dancers.
- A Beauty of a Tale – Fans get a lengthy peek behind the scenes at the making of this 2017 musical with information on how the motion capture technology and Dan Stevens brought the Beast to life.
- The Women Behind Beauty and the Beast – Emma Watson and female members of the Beauty and the Beast team, including department heads, discuss their involvement in the project.
- Making a Moment with Celine Dion – This featurette focuses on Celine Dion as she talks about performing “Beauty and the Beast” in the animated film as well as performing “How Does a Moment Last Forever” in the live-action movie.
- From Song to Screen: Making the Musical Sequences – Venture behind-the-scenes to look at the sets, costumes, and the filming of select musical numbers including “Gaston,” “Be Our Guest,” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
- “Beauty and the Beast” Music Video with Ariana Grande and John Legend along with a special “Making the Music Video: Beauty and the Beast” featurette.
- Extended Song – Director Bill Condon introduces a special version of “Days in the Sun.”
- Deleted Scenes – The Blu-ray includes eight deleted scenes including one in which LeFou encounters Monsieur Toilette.
- Disney Song Selection – For those who feel the need, Disney’s made it easy to sing along to select musical numbers.
GRADE: A-
