Christmas-themed 'Beauty' sequel gets Blu-ray upgrade

A Blu-ray upgrade for a Christmas-themed "Beauty and the Beast" sequel leads these newly released holiday videos.

"Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas: Special Edition" (Disney/Blu-ray + DVD, 1997, G, two discs, $39.99). This straight-to-video sequel gets a Blu-ray refurbishing, and though it's not up to Disney's original, it's actually pretty good as these sequels go. Belle is trying to bring the Christmas spirit to the castle; Beast is not thrilled.

Disney rounded up the original voice talent — Paige O'Hara as Belle, Robby Benson as the Beast, Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts, Jerry Orbach as Lumiere and David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth — with new characters voiced by Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry and Paul Rubens.

Extras: widescreen, featurettes, sing-along, music video (also on single-disc DVD, $29.99) (The lesser second sequel, "Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World: Special Edition," is also being released on DVD only, $29.99)

"Becoming Santa" (Cinema Libre, 2011, $19.95). Gentle, amusing documentary follows one man's desire to be a holiday Santa in an attempt to reignite his Christmas spirit, so he bleaches his beard and hair, goes to a Santa School, learns about and performs various Santa duties, and then, as he realizes how much work it is, wonders if he's made the right decision.. Charming, often funny, informative and surprisingly touching.

Extras: widescreen, trailers

"Prep & Landing" (Disney, 2009, $19.99). Disney Animation Studios, heavily influenced by business-partner Pixar, has produced a holiday winner with this 22-minute cartoon about the elves who pave the way for Santa's big night. Initially a TV special, followed by "Operation Secret Santa," which is also here. (Betty White provides the voice of Mrs. Santa for the sequel.) (A second sequel will have its premiere Sunday on ABC-Ch. 4.)

Extras: widescreen, short cartoons: "Tiny's Big Adventure," "Operation Secret Santa"; featurettes, trailers

"A Christmas Wedding Tail" (Anchor Bay, 2011, $19.98). If you're not weary of the talking-dog genre, this cute live-action Hallmark Channel comedy might have some appeal. Two dogs fall in love (voiced by Jay Mohr and Nikki Cox), so, naturally, they contrive to have their owners (Jennie Garth, Brad Rowe) fall in love as well, and, hopefully marry on Christmas.

Extras: widescreen, audio commentary, featurette