"Beauty and the Beast" is by far my favorite Disney movie. No contest ...

Lately I have been thinking about it quite frequently as I'm borderline in love with the featured parts of the soundtrack that I listen to repeatedly on Pandora. The issue with the music, though I adore it, is when the lyrics "work in" references regarding The Beast. For example: "Tale as old as time/True as it can be/Barely even friends/Then somebody bends/Unexpectedly/Just a little change/Small to say the least/Both a little scared/Neither one prepared ..." at this point one's thinking "epic lyrics,"then it comes ... "Beauty and THE BEAST." Ugh. Take a word like "beast" and it will ruin a love song pretty much every time.

Aside from the issue of her lover being a beast for the bulk of the film, Belle is by far the "deepest" Disney character. Cinderella is really only concerned with a ball, Ariel will forgo all family ties to be with a man she's only seen once, Sleeping Beauty falls in love in about 30 seconds and runs right into her "spindle-pricking doom," but then there's Belle. A smart girl, different from the rest of her "offbeat" town, a little unsure of her uniqueness, yet willing to be herself -- not to mention she gives up her freedom to set her father free. Belle is a noble character.

Growing up I was entranced with the film. Firstly, at the age of five I may or may not have been aware that Belle was a cartoon. Secondly, I thought she was gorgeous. Thirdly, she was smart and eloquent and liked books. Then fourthly, even at five I was a sucker for love stories, and I thought when she came down the stairs in the gold gown nothing more could have won The Beast.

To accompany my love for the movie I had a "Beauty and the Beast" clock, bedspread, sheets, curtains, pillow, Barbie, etc. Sadly, those items are long gone, but still in my heart, my love for the movie remains.