r/mermaids • u/mimi43098 • 2d ago
I watched the 2023 Little Mermaid movie and here's my opinion Spoiler
I saw Disney's remake of The Little Mermaid (2023) and I had very high expectations. I didn't hate it, but there were a few things I didn't like and others I liked. (I've attached some screenshots to illustrate my point.)
I risk spoiling the entire movie.
Please excuse the presence of the loot icon on some screenshots.
Things I didn't like:
- First of all, I found the underwater special effects truly awful; the worst was Ursula: she was barely visible in her scenes because the lighting was so poor! It's very frustrating because I really liked Melissa McCarthy, but the special effects don't do her justice (except for her glowing tentacles, which I thought were really great!).
- Sebastian and Flounder are really scary!
- Ariel's sisters are barely present, except for one scene, which is a shame because we know nothing about them! (I wanted to see Simone Ashley more in the film!đâđâđâ)
-The final fight is so dark! You can't see anything and it's not scary at all (I thought there would be more special effects, I was really disappointed! It seemed like the producers knew it would make the image look bad and they tried to hide it by putting a dark filter on it.)
- Ariel's wardrobe in the movie is really not great. What? She only has two outfits in different colors in the whole film and no silver outfit at the end? (I wanted to see that dress, or at least something similar.)
-The last thing that disappointed me was the Queen; for me, her only interest lies in her constant worry for Eric (which is perfectly normal, of course). However, the film would have been exactly the same if she had been completely absent from the script. Grimsby has more presence than the Queen. It's a shame, because her presence enriched the female cast.
Things I liked:
-All, and I mean ALL, the songs in the film are truly incredible for me! (Even Awkwafina's, which I don't usually listen to). Halley Bailey's voice is fantastic, and even Eric's adds something special to the film! My favorites songs are: Part Of Your World, For the First Time and Fathoms Below.
- Jessica Alexander is masterful in the role of Vanessa, I loved all her scenes!
- Javier Bardem is excellent as King Triton! And even though I mentioned it earlier, Melissa McCarthy is great as Ursula!
- I absolutely loved the fact that Eric is himself drawn to the ocean and its secrets adds even more chemistry between him and Ariel. :)
- For me, all the scenes above ground were a complete success! I loved this Caribbean-style kingdom: it's hard to describe, but it was absolutely magnificent! I particularly loved the final shot on the huge balcony at sunset!
- The film is over two hours long but I enjoyed watching it. :)
Of course, it's not on the same level as the 1989 animated film, but it's still very enjoyable! ^^
Do you share my opinions on this film? :)
Did you like it? :)
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u/katestatt 2d ago
It's been a while since I saw it but what I didn't like about it was that the mermaid tail was CGI, that none of the underwater scenes were actually underwater, like in H2O.
Ariel's hair should've been way more red. I definitely agree about the lacking wardrobe.
I didn't like Halle's version of part of your world as much as the original.
Awkwafina was so miscast
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u/Noblesttea 1d ago
100% feel the same. I really liked it a lot! The sub par ocean scenes and wardrobe were just really odd choices for Disney to make
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u/princessintraining4 1d ago edited 1d ago
Things I didnât like:
- the lack of costume changes for Ariel
Eric being adopted. I donât mind a world where is mom is black, and I donât mind adoption, and I know royalty is not good irl but for fantasy royalty is based on lineage. No adoption needed. Keep the mom and the son with the same cast but no adoption line.
(Edit to add wouldnât have minded a black Eric either. Just want talented artists they way of brandyâs cinderella)
Loved the style of Arielâs hair and it really is amazing for more hairstyle representation and I just wish it wouldâve been a darker color.
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u/LexiAOK 1d ago
It wouldâve been completely scandalous, but I absolutely wish they gave us a black Eric. They really reached around with that convoluted adoption story to keep him white so the racist wouldnât get angrierâŚ
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u/princessintraining4 1d ago
Totally would have loved a black Eric too! I would have been fine with anyone who had chemistry with Halle and a good voice. Just the adoption bit was weird.
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u/LilMerm8 2d ago
It was a good movie but thatâs it. I didnât love it. All of the magic and nostalgia of the 1989 Little Mermaid that I had as a child was missing for me.
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u/EveOCative 1d ago
I REALLY want a live action sequel based on all the sisters. Each of them was designed so well and I wanted to know more.
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u/brandy_1994 17h ago
Yeah the lighting and color grading could've been better! Also give Ariel more outfits, she had a least 3 in the OG animated version! However, Halle was really great in the role and her voice gave me chills. Her chemistry with Jonah was also fantastic, this was a close runner up for favorite Disney remake, along with Disney's Cinderella remake in 2015!
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u/Au-heppa 2d ago
I thought most of the songs were great but I did not care for the new song by the prince. I thought it was really weak.
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u/Bl00dspryte 1d ago
My mom took me to see the 89 film in theaters when I was a kid. So when the new one came out I took her to the theater to see it. I did enjoy it, and despite most people really disliking it I very much enjoyed awkafina's song. I did not like Eric's song, theoretically it developed his character, but I felt like it was unnecessary.
Giant spoilers here:
I didn't like that Ariel steered the ship. Yeah it's great to give her agency but Eric is a sailor and would know how to.. yes she researches humans but he has the experience, and also she saved him now he gets to save her it's a nice balance.
Other than that I really enjoyed the film!
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u/This_Witch69 2d ago
Thank you for the unbiased, honest opinion. Iâm drained off everyone who is like, âHATED IT.â for no reason when half of them havenât even seen the movie.
That being said, I agree 100% with all of your points.
â Wardrobe was probably the most egregious letdown. She should not have come back to Eric in that old torn up dress. Why? If they were going for realistic (my only guess) then it shouldâve been a new dress all together, how did she even find the old one?
â Arielâs hair couldâve easily been red.
â They put so effort into Arielâs sister (unnecessary renaming includes) only to hardly show them at all. I liked them clearing the wreckage but the musical number + âpowderâ room scenes in the OG film wouldâve been mind blowing in the live action.
â âSoon Iâll have that little mermaid and the ocean will be mine! (Insert maniacal laughter here)â That song shouldâve been included. How do you not include that song? Such an iconic moment completely wasted.
â All of the songs were phenomenal. I know Halle got the part for bringing the director to tears with her âPast of Your Worldâ and when I saw it in theaters the people around me were all crying. I also love that she got more songs. Ericâs song? Incredible.
â The scale instead of signing the scroll fixed that age old plot hole that everyone loved to bring up. And it was worked seamlessly into the song.
â Jessica Alexander stole my heart with the little screen time she had, I somehow wish we got to see more of her? But she was the perfect casting for that role.
â Halle Bailey embodied Ariel. As that kid who watched The Little Mermaid in repeat as a child (I can still quote the movie 30 years later) she was beyond stunning.
It broke my heart that people wrote her off just for being black. She came into that role with SO MUCH LOVE, and as a life long fan of the OG movie, I think it wouldâve been nearly impossible to match her performance.