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I can remember fondly being dragged to see The Little Mermaid by my wife (then girlfriend at the time). She had been a fan of Disney works for years while I myself only had a passing, private fancy for them. I am pleased to say that this film changed it all. The Little Mermaid represents a new era for Disney. In 1989, this wonderful piece of film heralded the beginning of a decade long sucess with their animated features (with only one or two black marks during those ten years). The film is based upon the simple story first spun by Hans Christian Anderson and given a happier ending by the folks at Disney. The tale centers around a young mermaid named Ariel, who has what her stern, but caring father thinks is an unhealthy fascination with the surface world. She is fond of scouring shipwrecks for surface world items and visiting the surface of the ocean from time to time. It is during one of these visits that she saves a young prince named Eric from a terrible shipwreck and becomes fascinated by him. At the urging of the film's villain, Ursula the Sea Witch, Ariel gives up her fins for legs as she ventures to the surface world in search of Prince Eric. Joining her for her adventure are a goofy seagul named Scuttle (voiced brilliantly by the late Buddy Hackett) and a crab named Sebastian, who tries to act as the voice of reason. The voice acting is top notch, but it is the music that really sets this animated film apart from others of its time. It is hard to find someone who cannot hum, whistle or even sing at least one of the seven original songs by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman. The animation is good by today standards, but it is the story and sound that make this film really shine. Children will enjoy the humor and performances by the characters in the film, but some may find the sea witch Ursula and the movies climatic battle a bit scary. This film is a genuine classic that should be on every family's movie shelf.Read full review
Ever since I was young, the Little Mermaid has been a family favorite from teh Disney collection. It was one of the first full feature animation motion pictures that I had ever seen growing up save a few other disney titles. Of course, the movie doesn't entirely go with the REAL story that the Little Mermaid originally was panned out to be, but, Disney isn't one for depression an angst. The music is amazing, and I adore watching it, even in my 'slightly' old age. Heh heh, it's a great addition to any collector of dvd's, vhs', or whatever else it comes out on.
The Little Mermaid is without a doubt a timeless classic. In my opinion it's the best modern Disney work since Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. Character development, plotline, visuals, vocals...everything is superb! Plus unforgettable songs like "Under the Sea", "Kiss the Girl", and my favorite "Part of Your World". I rated this item with 4 stars and not 5 because the Limited Edition DVD has very little special features... by little I mean almost none. If you can wait for the Platinum Edition, then I'd suggest you wait. I couldn't wait so that is why I got this edition.
The Little Mermaid is Disney's animated version of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a mermaid who falls in love with a handsome prince whom she rescues from drowning. Disobeying her father, lord of a great sea kingdom, the mermaid makes a deal with an evil enchantress. In exchange for a pair of legs, the mermaid must sacrifice her exquisite voice to the witch, who, unbeknownst to the mermaid, uses it to beguile the prince into marrying her. You will not be sorry to have bought the Platinum Edition DVD for The Little Mermaid before it goes back in the vault for several years. It is an excellent value!
While inspiring from a development standpoint "The Little Mermaid", in my mind, becomes a timeless classic because of its music. I has everything you could ever want in a movie ... romance, action, mystery, magic, good vs evil, and SO much more. It really is a testament to the fantastic songs when you can start singing a song and everyone not only knows the movie ... but the rest of the words to the song! If you can finish the sentence below you either already have this movie in your collection or you need to get it ASAP! "There you see here, sitting there across the way ..." Enjoy! Additional Information - The first Disney animated feature in three decades based on a classic fairy tale (since "Sleeping Beauty"), this film turned to the famous story by Hans Christian Andersen. Disney artists had considered an animated film of "The Little Mermaid" in the late 1930s, and illustrator Kay Nielsen prepared a number of striking story sketches in pastels and watercolors. For this film, the artists received inspiration from the Nielsen story sketches that were brought out of the Archives for them to study, and they gave Kay Nielsen a "visual development" credit on the film. Actress Sherri Stoner was the live-action model for Ariel. The film probably had more effects than any animated film since "Fantasia;" nearly 80% of the film required some kind of effects work -- storms at sea, billowing sails, schools of fish, shadows, raging fire, explosions, magic pixie dust, surface reflections, underwater distortions, ripples, and bubbles. Academy Award® winner for Best Song ("Under the Sea") and Best Original Score. Released on video in 1990.Read full review
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