PHOTO: Fair use of movie photo courtesy of Beauty and the Beast Official Site.

It’s new, it’s bigger, it’s … a slight disappointment.

The classic Disney movie “Beauty and the Beast” was released in 3D Jan. 13, 2012. However, this 90 minute film isn’t worth the trip to your nearest movie theater.

The original film was a breathtaking, magical movie that captured the hearts of many people, young and old. It did a wonderful job of telling the story of how a beautiful, young girl learns to see past the Beast’s horrifying exterior and discover the heart and soul of a prince. Meanwhile, the Beast finally learns to love and stop acting selfish, breaking the curse and granting the couple their well-deserved happily ever after.

The new 3D feature is unnecessary because it doesn’t add anything particularly special to the movie besides enhancing the color and making the main characters “jump off” the screen. (And of course, those plastic 3D glasses are so annoying!)

So why should you pay to see it when the original is just as spectacular? The answer is simple: you shouldn’t. It’s pointless when the original movie is cheaper, exactly the same, and equally great. In addition, you won’t risk running into any “unpleasant” people.

Don’t bother to pay for all those tickets and food; just grab a blanket and some snacks, settle down on the couch in your favorite pajamas, and get ready to fall in love with Beauty and the Beast all over again.

After all, bigger isn’t always better.

By MICHELLE HSU