The Little Mermaid is a 2023 American musical fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay written by David Magee. Co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Lucamar Productions, and Marc Platt Productions, it is a live-action adaptation of Disney's 1989 animated film of the same name, itself loosely based on the 1837 fairy tale of the same title by Hans Christian Andersen. The film stars Halle Bailey in the titular role, alongside Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy. The Little Mermaid follows a mermaid princess Ariel who is fascinated with the human world and makes a deal with a treacherous sea witch Ursula to trade her voice for human legs in order to impress Prince Eric, who she saved from a shipwreck, before time runs out.

Plans for a remake of 1989's The Little Mermaid were confirmed in May 2016. In December 2017, Disney announced Marshall was being courted to direct the film. Bailey, Tremblay, Awkwafina, and the rest of the cast signed on between July to November 2019. Production was expected to begin in London between late March and early April 2020 but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming ultimately took place primarily at Pinewood Studios in England and on the island of Sardinia, Italy, from January to July 2021. Composer Alan Menken, who worked on the original film's soundtrack, returned to compose the score and write new songs alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda, who serves as a producer with Platt, John DeLuca and Marshall. The film is dedicated to the late Howard Ashman, who co-produced and co-wrote the songs from the original film.

The Little Mermaid premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on May 8, 2023,[5] and was released in the United States on May 26. Critics praised the performances of the cast and the musical sequences but criticized the visual effects and character designs. The film has grossed over $326 million worldwide against a total production budget of $250 million.

(Excerpt from Wikipedia)

The Little Mermaid (2023)

Wow, no love for this movie here...

What a difference 34 years make.

Why did I say that?

When the animated movie Little Mermaid was release in 1989, it was make or break for Disney Animation.

Disney Animation had been floundering (get it, a character in Little Mermaid is called Flounder) since Wlat Disney's passing. Disney animation always made their animated movies, WITHOUT script. They continued to do so after Disney's passing. I believe Jungle Book was the last Disney animation Walt was involved it. So what came after Jungle Book (1967)?

The Aristocats (1970)
Robin Hood (1973)
The Rescuers (1977)
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
The Black Cauldron (1985)
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Oliver & Company (1988) (I did not even watch this... Not yet)

After The Black Cauldron many thought that Disney Animations days are numbered. Studio funds were reduced to the project put into Disney Animation products and if you had watch The Great Mouse detective, it looks more like TV movie rather than a feature animated movie.

Michael Eisner who was the head of Disney put his foot down and only greenlit The Little Mermaid (1989) project IF an actually script was written and used for the animation project.

It was a smashing success and a renaissance of sort occurred during the period for Disney.

Now we have the live action The Little Mermaid.

Most of the songs remain from the 1989 animation movie. Some are even expanded and new songs were written.

Why did I say what a difference 34 years makes?

When it was announce that Halle Bailey was to play Ariel in the live action movie, that news almost broke the internet (not is a good way).

It did not matter that Disney got

1) Javier Bardem as King Triton
2) Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
3) Disney spent 350 million dollars to product this movie.

They did not matter.

The public has spoken and before their even watched the movie, Halle Bailey, Ariel does not make.

I want to make things clear, I almost did not watch this at the cinema.

The general consensus out there is not good.

Unlike the rescue of the Disney Animation by the 1989 animation movie, this may end up losing Disney ALOT of money.

ALOT.

There are three new songs and one of them is actually very VERY good.

As for Disney prince go, Jonah Hauer-King is a very very good match to the animated Prince Eric.

Melissa McCarthy killed as Ursula

I can see where the money went in the movie.

In my humble opinion, some money could have been saved. Disney was over enthusiastic about the movie and over indulged in the production....

I did enjoy the movie.

The end was tweaked and I am still not sure if I agree with the tweak...

Overall it is actually a good live action adaption of the animated movie.

Do yourself a favour, go watch this with your love ones or little wants.

You will find yourself humming with Melissa McCarthy when she does the "Poor Unfortunate Souls".

I kid you not!!

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jun 5 2023, 10:37 PM

Went to watch the movie with my wife and kids. I like the musical sequences, like Sebastian and all the animal characters. Other than that it is okayish movie.

Then my wife ask; what the mermaid Ariel not pretty?

LoL

Beauty lays in the eyes of the beholder....

Maybe this Ariel not her type??

To me, all her other sisters are hotter actually. Heck, even those random mermaids at the end also ada looks stunning.

Well, knowing Disney, not surprising anymore. I don't actually care about the diversity. Disney relocate the whole story into more tropical caribbean feel.

The original took in place in the north atlantic, nearer to current Denmark.

Unremarkable movie, my kids say why so boring one?

Edit 1: The blending of live action with CGI, especially the underwater scenes at the beginning sucks.

Edit 2: There is no magic with this Little Mermaid.

This post has been edited by AbbyCom: Jun 5 2023, 11:07 PM

Which was my point, they film it on an Island outside of Italy (for the castle on the hill?) and brought the "Caribbean" elements which did not really gel....

Sorry the movie did not do it for you and your family...

Dunno this is me being jaded with all the wokeness mess of Disney, I remember when the original cartoon came out it was good, then Beauty and the Beast and other cartoons. This life action adaptation is just underwhelming, even the kids felt it so I don't think it's just me being older, or maybe kids nowadays are more sophisticated.

Anyway, let's see how it performs financially.

The anerican's "wokeness" is perplexing.

Looking at the number fir The Little Mermaid, I believe it is going to be Disney's Black Adam/Shazam 2...

But hey, those two are doing well on streaming.

Though streaming for Disney had not proven to be profitable....

The anerican's "wokeness" is perplexing.

Looking at the number for The Little Mermaid, I believe it is going to be Disney's Black Adam/Shazam 2...

But hey, those two are doing well on streaming.

Though streaming for Disney had not proven to be profitable....

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jun 6 2023, 03:13 PM

its streaming for me, bini don't approve paying in cinema hahahah

maybe the reviews she read online, before that still sokong itu ariel....

after tat say review not good la, dont waste, but cannot admit is because ariel

Haha nothing tops the jungle book remake and beauty and the beast my distant second best hahahaha

Just watched this movie.

It's just an okay movie. The underwater scene and other scenes that involved heavy usage of CGI's are major turn off. Looks so fake.

Another thing is the force diversities in this movie are makes me EWWW when I watched this movie. Many scenes needs to include Asian, mexican, white people, black people, etc etc. Oh god. What kind of madness is this.

I know Halle Berry is ugly, but at least Disney should make her hairstyle looks proper like the animation movie. Straighten the hair to make her looks a little bit "PRETTY"

But NO, I MUST show my Black identity in this movie.

Do I want to watch it for 2nd time? Absolutely not.

This post has been edited by Alternate Gabriel: Jul 31 2023, 11:31 PM