Beauty and the Beast is a modern classic of animation and one of Disney’s best films. It’s pointless to review the film, but today sees the release of a new edition of the film, and seeing as how this is not its first blu-ray release, I figure it’s worth walking through the disc to see what else you get.
Therefore, without further ado, let’s take a look at what distinguishes this 25th anniversary “Signature Collection” edition and how it compares to the 2010 “Diamond Edition” blu-ray release. First and foremost, it should be stated that the video and audio are identical between the two releases. They look and sound exactly the same (beautiful), and there’s really not a noticeable difference between the two. Additional similarities noted below.
The on-screen menu, though, is different. This may not seem like a big deal, but I think this was actually a change for the worse. The same changes were made with the recent Signature Collection release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The new menu is gorgeous but rather generic. The 2010 edition features a menu that, left playing, flies you through Beast’s castle. Lumiere also talks to and interacts with you, welcoming you back if you haven’t watched in a while and reacting to the selections you make. It’s gimmicky, sure, but it’s incredibly entertaining and has a lot of personality.
The 2010 edition spreads out the special features over two discs, but this new edition packs everything onto a single disc. For those of you who still buy physical media, you might be interested to know about the special features available. Well, here goes…
What’s the same?
What’s new? Aside from the menu, there are quite a few differences and special features that are new to the 2016 edition.
What’s missing (from the 2010 edition)? If you stick to the physical disc, then almost everything from the 2010 release is absent from the new release. This includes the amazing Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind the Making of Beauty and the Beast, tons of other extras, and all of the original DVD special features: deleted scenes, alternate songs, animation tests, trailers, a making-of documentary, and more. However, if you use Disney Movies Anywhere, the code included with the blu-ray not only unlocks the film for instant streaming but also unlocks all of the special features from the previous editions. So, between the physical and digital worlds, you do get everything. It’s just not all in one place.
Do I recommend the new Signature Collection edition of Beauty and the Beast? If you don’t already own a copy of the film, then it’s a no-brainer. You’ll be blown away all over again, and it’s a remarkable film that any fan of animation should own.
What if you already own the 2010 edition? This is tougher. If you’re a big fan of special features, then there a few new things here, but I don’t think I’d recommend picking up another copy of the film on the strength of those features alone. There’s really not much there to satisfy you beyond a single viewing. Since the video and audio of the film itself are unchanged, you’re probably safe giving this one a pass.
(Disclosure: GeekDad was provided with a review copy of this release. All opinions remain our own.)
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