The Little Mermaid 1989 & 2023

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Source: screenrant.com/little-mermaid-disney-live-action-worse-original-movie-reasons/#the-little-mermaid-rsquo-s-underwater-scenes-are-way-too-dark

7 Ways Disney's Live-Action Little Mermaid Is Worse Than The 1989 Original
BY
ADRIENNE TYLER
PUBLISHED 21 HOURS AGO

The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid made some changes to the original movie, and while some were good, others made this version worse.


Animated Ariel and live-action Ariel and Ursula in The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is now part of Disney’s live-action trend, and while this version has its strengths, there are a couple of ways in which it’s actually worse than the 1989 animated version. Disney has been riding the wave of live-action remakes for years, and though most of them haven’t been successful, the Mouse House continues giving new life to its animated classics. Among Disney’s live-action remakes is now The Little Mermaid, directed by Rob Marshall and starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, and while it took the premise of the animated version, it made a couple of changes to it.

Just like the animated version, The Little Mermaid followed Ariel and her fascination with the human world. After falling in love with Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) after saving him from a shipwreck, Ariel made a deal with sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) to become a human, but there were a couple of tricks in that deal. The Little Mermaid has done well at the box office, but it has received mixed reviews from critics, as while it improved the original animated version in certain areas, there are a couple of ways in which it’s actually worse – and here are seven of them.


7
The Little Mermaid’s Underwater Scenes Are Way Too Dark


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In its effort to bring The Little Mermaid to life in the most realistic way possible, Disney went too far with its underwater scenes. Surely, the depths of the sea are dark, but The Little Mermaid is still a fantasy movie, so there wouldn’t have been a problem if the underwater scenes had more vibrancy and color. The animated version of The Little Mermaid has various underwater scenes set at night, but there’s enough vibrancy and contrast so no details get lost in the dark. The Little Mermaid live-action remake could have definitely benefited from different lighting and more color in its underwater scenes.


6
The Little Mermaid’s Outside World Looks Dull


Halle Bailey as Ariel Looking at a Castle in The Little Mermaid Remake

While the underwater scenes of The Little Mermaid were too dark and many details got lost in the darkness, the outside world was, unfortunately, not better. The outside world of The Little Mermaid live-action remake is too dull, far from the colorful world presented in the animated version. The town and Prince Eric’s palace, while beautiful, have a muted color palette, the complete opposite of the bright worlds that animated Disney movies often use. Surely, more sober colors fit with Queen Selina’s personality, but they do no justice to the world that the animated Little Mermaid presented.



5
The Little Mermaid’s Animals Are Too Realistic


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Unfortunately, The Little Mermaid repeated some of the mistakes of previous Disney live-action remakes, especially when it comes to animal characters. The Little Mermaid took realism a bit too seriously when bringing Sebastian, Scuttle, and Flounder to life, a decision that was criticized even before the movie was released. What made their design even stranger was the fact that they talk, just like in the animated movie, a problem that Disney had already dealt with in The Lion King, The Jungle Book, and Lady and the Tramp.

Talking animals with a realistic look is not a winning combination, and these characters actually look quite unsettling, but what makes this even worse is that the live-action designs completely lacked the charm of the animated versions. The realism of their design leads to a lack of expressiveness, while the animated Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle stood out for how expressive they were, as well as for their vibrant colors. The voice actors behind the live-action versions of Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle did a great job, but it’s not as effective as it should have been when the voices don’t match the expressions on the characters’ faces.


4
The Little Mermaid Had Some Unnecessary Songs


Sebastian and Scuttle underwater in promotional artwork for The Little Mermaid (2023)

Unlike other live-action remakes, like Mulan, The Little Mermaid is also a musical, but not all songs made it to this new version. Songs like “Daughters of Triton” and “Les Poissons” were left out of the live-action version of The Little Mermaid and it was for the better – removing “Daughters of Triton” made “Part of Your World” the first big song, and “Les Poissons” would have turned the movie into a horror one – but others were added instead. “For The First Time” was a nice addition as it tells Ariel’s reactions to the human world as an inner monologue as she no longer had her voice, but other songs were unnecessary.

Prince Eric was given his own musical moment with “Wild Uncharted Waters”, which messes with the movie’s pace, and “The Scuttlebutt” felt very out of place. While some viewers loved “The Scuttlebutt” and its heavy Lin-Manuel Miranda influence as it’s a rap between Sebastian and Scuttle, others weren’t on board with it, and with good reason. “The Scuttlebutt” is fast and loud, very different from the rest of the movie’s songs, and it comes right after Ursula bewitches Eric, so it wasn’t the best time for Sebastian and Scuttle to show off their rap skills.


3
The Little Mermaid’s Changes To Ursula’s Deal


little mermaid ursula

Ariel’s desire to explore the human world is the same in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid, but Ursula’s deal went through some changes. In the animated version, Ursula transformed Ariel into a human in exchange for her voice, and in order to remain human forever, Ariel had to receive a “true love’s kiss” from Eric in the next three days. In the live-action version, all that was also included, but so was a trick: Ariel wasn’t going to remember that she had to be kissed, making it a lot easier for Ursula to win. This “amnesia” part took away the excitement of seeing Ariel and Eric’s bond and the anticipation of their kiss, as it immediately gave Ursula the upper hand.


2
The Little Mermaid Forgot About Ariel’s Sisters


Little Mermaid Ariel sisters

By removing “Daughters of Triton”, Ariel’s sisters were given less screen time than in the animated version, which was a total waste. In the live-action version of The Little Mermaid, Ariel’s sisters were given different ethnicities and were their father’s emissaries across the ocean, so they had a bigger role than in the animated version… but they were given very little screen time. These changes made Ariel’s sisters a lot more interesting and showed diversity, but all that went to waste with their short and, sadly, forgettable on-screen appearances.


1
The Little Mermaid Failed To Replicate The Magic Of “Under The Sea”


Daveed Diggs as Sebastian Singing Under the Sea to Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid Remake

The realism of The Little Mermaid not only resulted in super dark underwater scenes, a dull outside world, and unsettling talking animals, but it also didn’t allow it to replicate the magic and fun of the musical numbers of the animated version. The musical numbers of the 1989 version of The Little Mermaid were bright, colorful, and fun to watch, truly bringing Disney’s magic to the screen, but the live-action adaptation couldn’t inject the musical numbers with the same energy. This was most evident and disappointing during “Under The Sea”, the biggest musical number in The Little Mermaid, and even though Daveed Diggs did a great job, the visuals didn’t match the vibe of the song and did no justice to it.

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Source: screenrant.com/the-little-mermaid-2023-ariel-lifeboats-detail-realistic/

"So Subtle You'll Miss It": The Little Mermaid Explains Realism Behind Minor Moment In Original
BY
MEGAN HEMENWAY
PUBLISHED MAY 28, 2023
One minor detail change in 2023’s The Little Mermaid remake fixes a logical issue that the original animated film isn’t quite able to explain.


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Although Disney's The Little Mermaid remake parallels the original pretty closely, there are a few changes, some "so subtle you'll miss it," that actually make all the difference when it comes to the logic of the film. The Little Mermaid is a 1989 animated film created by Disney based on the much darker fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen. The story follows a young mermaid named Ariel who yearns to see the human world and so makes a risky deal with a sea witch to explore land and fall in love with a human prince.

One scene that stays fairly identical in both the 1989 The Little Mermaid and the remake is the moment in which Ariel comes to the surface after seeing the colorful explosions of fireworks. She quickly finds Prince Eric and his ship, and in order to get a better look, perches on the side of the ship to spy on the crew. This is where Ariel first sees Eric face-to-face and discovers that, unlike what her father has told her, some humans can be kind and caring. While the sentiment of this scene remains the same in The Little Mermaid remake, there is one very small detail that actually makes a significant difference.

The Little Mermaid's Lifeboats Detail Makes Ariel's Boat Spying More Realistic


Halle Bailey as Ariel looking out from behind a rock in The Little Mermaid

In the original The Little Mermaid, Ariel spies on Eric from a platform that extends from the side of his ship, but in the remake, the mermaid instead settles into a lifeboat hanging off the side. Although this The Little Mermaid hidden detail seems not particularly important, it actually makes a lot more sense than the animated film. The first way it fixes the film's logic is in terms of Ariel's spying.

If Ariel is meant to stay hidden from the human crew she's spying on, a lifeboat is a much better cover than a platform. In a lifeboat, the Disney princess can hide behind its walls and even under tarps that could potentially be placed inside. A platform provides no cover and simply acts as solid ground for her to sit on while the lifeboat cradles her and keeps her safe. Additionally, a lifeboat seems much easier for her to slip into as there are many places for her hands to hold. A platform is just a flat surface that could easily become slippery and dangerous.

The Little Mermaid's Lifeboats Change Better Explains How Eric's Crew Survives


The Little Mermaid Original

More importantly, the lifeboat change fixes a major problem when it comes to Eric and his crew. In both films, a lethal storm rolls in, causing the humans to scatter as the boat breaks apart under the pressure of waves and rain. The only difference between the movies, and it's an important one, is that in The Little Mermaid remake, the sailors have lifeboats to save their lives. Without them in the animated film, it's unclear how and or if Eric's crew survives the storm, as only Eric is saved by Ariel. In this way, the remake fixes a major error concerning the sailors' lives.

Overall, it is changes like these that make Disney's live-action remakes beneficial. Where their animated films could get away with incredibly subtle problems, the live-action remakes are forced to take these loopholes head-on and make them work. In many ways, this makes the movies better and more realistic. In the case of The Little Mermaid, this tiny detail change certainly improved the logic of the film, whether audiences noticed it or not.

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Source: www.digitalspy.com/movies/a44000938/little-mermaid-explained-changes-disney/

How The Little Mermaid differs from the Disney animation

It's not just about how Sebastian looks...
Headshot of Jo BerryBy Jo BerryUpdated: 06 September 2023
preview for Alan Menken & Rob Marshall on remaking a classic | The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid spoilers follow.

The Little Mermaid is now available on Disney+, with Halle Bailey starring as mermaid Ariel, alongside Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Javier Bardem as King Triton.

Based on the 1989 animated classic – which itself was based on the Hans Christian Andersen fable – it is Disney's latest live-action adaptation of one of their animated films, following on from movies like Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.

The story – as in the original movie – is about Ariel, a young mermaid who is fascinated with the world beyond the sea. After saving human prince Eric from a shipwreck, she is determined to leave the water against her father's wishes and explore dry land, but to do this she has to make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, who takes Arie's voice in exchange for making her human.

Of course, changes have been made in the new movie to make Ariel's story more up-to-date, and director Rob Marshall has also added new scenes and songs (co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken, the latter of whom wrote the classic Little Mermaid songs everyone remembers).

So what are the differences between the new The Little Mermaid and the 1989 animated version? Read on for all the details.


the little mermaid
Disney

The songs

Don't worry, your favourite songs from the animated movie – like 'Kiss the Girl', 'Under The Sea' and 'Part Of Your World' – are all in the new film, though there have been a few minor tweaks to some of the lyrics.

Alan Menken spoke to Vanity Fair about the changes he made to two of the songs, 'Kiss the Girl', in which crab Sebastian encourages Prince Eric to romance Ariel, and Ursula's barnstorming number about granting wishes, 'Poor Unfortunate Souls'.

"There are some lyric changes in 'Kiss the Girl' because people have gotten very sensitive about the idea that [Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel]," he explained. "We have some revisions to 'Poor Unfortunate Souls', regarding lines that might make young girls somehow feel they shouldn't speak out of turn, even though Ursula is clearly manipulating Ariel to give up her voice."
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Two songs from the original movie have been dropped – 'Daughters of Triton' and the comedy number 'Les Poissons' – and three new songs have been added. They are 'Wild Uncharted Water's, sung by Eric about his love for Ariel, 'For the First Time', a song from Ariel that shows she is drawn to life on land, not just to Eric, and the immensely fun 'The Scuttlebutt', sung by Sebastian (voiced by Daveed Diggs) and gannet Scuttle (Awkwafina).


ariel, scuttle, the little mermaid
Disney

(There is also a fourth song, 'Impossible Child', sung by Javier Bardem's King Triton, that didn't make the final cut but we're hoping to see as an extra when the movie is released on Disney+ later this year).

There's one other musical change fans may notice, too – in the iconic 'Under the Sea' musical number, it's not just Sebastian who sings, but Ariel as well, as Daveed Diggs explained exclusively to Digital Spy.

It turns out that Halle Bailey was in the studio when Diggs was recording the song, and Alan Menken asked her to go into the recording booth and improvise.

"Alan was like, 'Why don't you just, you know, just go in and improvise'. And I was like, 'You traitor, don't make me sing with her!'

"Then immediately she came in and did like two little trills and I was like, 'Well, I'm done, we can stop now, there's no reason for me to record any more'."


jonah hauer king, the little mermaid
Disney

Character changes

The biggest character change is perhaps that in the new The Little Mermaid Prince Eric is finally given a personality – as well as a history, and even a new song (the aforementioned 'Wild Uncharted Waters').

While in the animated version, he was a stereotypical, old-fashioned Disney prince who just showed up, said little, and saved the day and the girl (see also Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, etc.), here he actually has feelings and expresses them. He wants to bring the island kingdom where he lives up to date and trade with other places nearby. And he has gained a mum this time around, too (don't worry, he still has Max the adorable sheepdog as well).

Director Rob Marshall explained to Digital Spy that the changes were made after he watched the 1989 movie and realised Eric wasn’t a "fully dimensional" character.

"I thought this is an opportunity to bring that story to life. I like to understand why Ariel is interested in him. Does he have substance? Is there something that can connect them?"


jonah hauer king, halle bailey, the little mermaid
Disney

"The great thing is we were able to find these two kindred spirits that have similar journeys," he explained. "They both feel displaced, they both feel they want something more and they're not afraid of someone who's different from them, or a culture that's different from them."

There are other character changes in the movie, too.

Ursula, played by Melissa McCarthy, is now revealed to be King Triton's sister, which adds a new dimension to her story and explains how, as McCarthy describes her, she is "so damaged and broken", having been exiled from her underwater family. (And she has also gained a couple of tentacles in the new movie – while the animated version modelled her on an octopus, she only had six tentacles, and now she has the correct eight).

Scuttle, meanwhile, has been changed from the male seagull of the first movie into a female gannet (a diving seabird that can go underwater), and there is a good reason for this, as Rob Marshall explained (via Indiewire).

"I wanted to make it that Ariel had never ever been to the surface. Ever," he said. "That was the goal for me. She's never broken that rule, [so that helps] raise the stakes for that moment when she finally does it. If she's up and down, up and down, it's not a big deal."

"The fact that she breaks the rule, her father has shut down the surface of the ocean," he added. "No one's ever allowed to go. The mother, his wife, died at the hands of humans. At that moment, he shut down the surface."


scuttle, flounder, ariel, halle bailey, the little mermaid
Disney

Sebastian and Flounder

Remember cute and cuddly Sebastian the crab and Flounder the fish? Well, they're not quite as sweet-looking in the new The Little Mermaid, with Flounder appearing decidedly more washed-out and grey (he was bright blue and yellow in the animated film) and Sebastian looking, well, more like a real crab.

That makes sense, of course, but not everyone is happy about the changes, with Newsweek reporting in April that there was a fan backlash to how the two beloved characters look.

They reported that one fan on Twitter declared that "this is starting to be on par with the Cats movie", while another warned "children are going to have nightmares". One fan added (about Flounder), “WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT? Does Disney know they could've kept Sebastian and Flounder animated?"


halle bailey, the little mermaid
Disney

Ariel's character

Fans of the original The Little Mermaid will notice that Ariel's character in the new movie is different, too, and that's illustrated in scenes throughout the film.

She is a girl who is fascinated with the human world (as she was in the animated movie), but it is made very clear in the new film that it is that world – not just seeing Eric – that draws her to make the fateful deal with Ursula. Her feelings are shown off best with the new song, 'For The First Time', which is about Ariel's love affair with the land as she arrives there from the sea.

"I'm really excited for my version of the film because we've definitely changed that perspective of just wanting her to leave the ocean for a boy," Halle Bailey said in an interview with Edition.

"It's way bigger than that. It's about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life and what she wants."

There is also another key scene that shows this Ariel is stronger and more independent than in the 1989 movie, and that brings us to…


melissa mccarthy ursula the little mermaid
Disney

The ending

In the original 1989 animated movie, the big climax has Ursula, using King Triton's trident, growing to monstrous size and creating a wild storm in the oceans. As she is about to kill Ariel, Eric jumps aboard a wrecked ship and kills Ursula by impaling her on a jagged piece of wood jutting from the boat.

While Ursula does indeed grow into mega-Ursula at the end of the new movie, it's not Eric who kills her – it is Ariel who jumps onto the boat and impales her aunt.

It makes much more sense – Ariel doesn't need a man to come to her rescue, and it is she who saves everyone (including her father) from the evil Ursula, before she and Eric sail off towards new adventures.

The Little Mermaid is now available on Disney+.

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Source: www.cinemablend.com/interviews/the-little-mermaid-director-shares-why-live-action-version-is-more-emotional-than-animated-film

The Little Mermaid Director Shares Why The Live-Action Version Is ‘More Emotional’ Than The Beloved Animated Film
By Sarah El-Mahmoud published about 15 hours ago
It's not only for the guppys.

If you missed out on seeing The Little Mermaid in theaters early this summer, then we have good news for you. This week, the 2023 remake of the animated classic has arrived on Disney+. And as you either revisit the big-screen musical or finally watch the live-action Disney remake for the first time, we need to talk about one big way that this version sets itself apart from the original 1989 Disney animated flick. On that note, when CinemaBlend interviewed director Rob Marshall ahead of its theatrical release, he discussed why it’s much “more emotional” in live action.

Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid really establishes its tone with its opening shots, which features gorgeous footage of ocean waves rolling along. A Hans Christian Anderson quote also appears on screen that reads: “But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more." Marshall shared his reasoning for starting the movie in such an emotional way, with these words:

"I really wanted to pay tribute to Hans Christian Anderson because that’s obviously where it all began. This is his classic tale, and there was something very profound about that statement to me – that [mermaids] have no tears, that they feel so much more, that they suffer so much more, because here we are doing a live action and I want you to feel. It’s a more emotional tale I think in this version, because we can go deeper with real people, that’s the difference and the time to tell the story."

Since the movie hit theaters, it's been praised for its deeper exploration of the original story’s themes. That includes its approach to fleshing out Prince Eric from the “wooden character” he was in the animated movie and crafting a more nuanced romance between Ariel and Eric. Part of how the 2023 new movie release communicates that and more is through its first frames with the aforementioned quote from Hans Christian Anderson, the author who original penned the beloved fairytale. You can see the message below:


The Little Mermaid Hans Christian Anderson quote front of movie
(Image credit: Walt Disney Studios)

There’s definitely something about seeing the film open with this quote that really sets the stage for a less glitzy telling of the tale. It puts into perspective how the world of Halle Bailey’s Ariel is perhaps not as romanticized as the animated version's is. Ironically, one can get emotional due to the sheer though that her kind cannot even cry like humans do. This tone just encompasses the entire feature. For instance, the “Part Of Your World” sequence is much more palpable, thanks to the movie’s taking a “more emotional” approach. During our conversation with Rob Marshall, the director also said this about the tone:

"And, I have to say the Eric character with Ariel, you’re creating almost a Romeo & Juliet-esque tale where they find each other even when they are not meant to be together, but they still find each other and find that wonderful bridge between those two worlds, so somehow I felt like having that quote immediately at the beginning, reminding us where this all began and saying that about mermaids, and I felt it could bring depth to the whole thing."

Since the film released in May, the movie received positive reviews from general audiences and critics alike. CinemaBlend’s own The Little Mermaid review awarded the production four out of five stars. While the movie didn’t make a billion dollars at the box office like other live-action Disney movies or other bigger hits this year like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Barbie, it remains a stunning adaptation of a beloved story with a sweet, emotional core. To experience those feels again or for the first time, check out the movie now using a Disney+ subscription.

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Source: collider.com/the-little-mermaid-2023-changes-from-original-movie/

Everything 2023's 'The Little Mermaid' Changes From the Original Disney Classic
BY
AIDAN KELLEY
UPDATED 9 HOURS AGO
The Halle Bailey-led reimagining makes quite a few tweaks to the 1989 Disney classic, which you can now check out on Disney+.


Halle Bailey as Ariel underwater


Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for The Little Mermaid.

Director Rob Marshall dove head-first into Disney's live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaid, both paying homage to the original animated classic and updating the movie's narrative for modern audiences. Starring Halle Bailey, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy, this live-action movie sticks pretty close to the 1989 film it's based on (and the original Hans Christian Andersen novel). Making any sort of tweak to an iconic story like The Little Mermaid is always a risky maneuver, but in the case of this vibrant musical, the changes here help make 2023's The Little Mermaid one of the better remakes to come from the Walt Disney Company. Critics have overall been kind to the live-action adaptation, with Collider's own Ross Bonaime praising it as, "a rare Disney live-action remake that captures the magic of the original."

Disney has made changes in their many live-action remakes before. Some have felt rather harmless and benign, like changing the lyrics of certain songs or just removing any musical elements outright. Others have added some meaningful context and standout moments, such as Mowgli (Neel Sethi) choosing to remain in the jungle in The Jungle Book, Genie (Will Smith) wanting to be a human instead of being free in Aladdin, and Captain Hook (Jude Law) getting a sympathetic backstory in Peter Pan & Wendy. Tim Burton's live-action Dumbo with Colin Farrell and Michael Keaton, however, missed the mark. The Little Mermaid also makes quite a few minor, but still effective changes to the animated story fans know and love. To see what's different this time around, read below to see all the changes that The Little Mermaid makes from the original 1989 film.

Ariel's Sisters Are Future Leaders Instead of Singers


Jodi Benson as Ariel with her sisters in 'The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning'Image via The Walt Disney Company

The original The Little Mermaid begins by introducing six of King Triton's (Kenneth Mars) seven daughters. They're all in a musical performance in the underwater city of Atlantica, orchestrated by the court conductor and King Triton's most trusted advisor, Sebastian the Crab (Samuel E. Wright). The performance is supposed to conclude with a grand finale from Triton's youngest daughter, Ariel (Jodi Benson), but when the rest of her sisters introduce her, the young princess is nowhere to be found.

The remake sees Triton's (Bardem) daughters taking on a much more active and responsible role in the underwater kingdom. Instead of being performers in a show, Triton's daughters are all being taught to be responsible and stalwart leaders of the kingdom, with the king summoning his daughters for an annual meeting to prepare for the upcoming Coral Moon festivities. However, Ariel (Bailey) is missing from this gathering as well, choosing to instead explore shark-infested shipwrecks just like in the original.

Awkwafina's Scuttle Is a Gannet Instead of a Seagull


The Little Mermaid Scuttle AwkwafinaImage via Disney

In both the original and the remake, much of Ariel has a keen fascination with the surface world, which is obviously a key component in her character and overall storyline. In the 1989 movie, Ariel seeks information on the gadgets and gizmos and trinkets she finds at the bottom of the ocean through her friend Scuttle (Buddy Hackett). The bird-brained seagull is certainly enthusiastic, but not exactly well-versed in how things work on the surface, describing forks used for eating as "dingglehoppers" used for brushing hair. Scuttle (Awkwafina) is just as ditzy in the live-action remake, but she's an entirely different bird species this time. Instead of being a seagull, Scuttle is a Gannet, an aquatic oceanic bird capable of going underwater for more extended periods of time. This allows the comic relief character to communicate with Ariel and her other companions under the sea rather than up on land.

Melissa McCarthy's Ursula Is King Triton's Sister and Ariel's Aunt


melissa-mccarthy-the-little-mermaid-1Image via Disney

The sea witch Ursula (Pat Carroll) clearly hates Triton, but the reasoning for why isn't made explicitly clear. Basically, all the original film shares about her history with the kingdom of Atlantica is that she once lived in the palace before being banished by the King of the Seven Seas. Since that point, Ursula has lived in the depths of the ocean to plot her revenge, making unfair deals with underwater denizens, and turning those who cross her into her disgusting living garden.

Melissa McCarthy's version of Ursula's past isn't expanded upon too much in the 2023 remake, but she does get a surprising familial connection to the royal family. Instead of being a random person who lives in the castle, Ursula is the sister of King Triton, which of course, makes her the aunt of Ariel and her sisters. It isn't made explicitly clear whether Ursula and Triton are biological or adopted siblings, but it's clear that their mysterious falling out has led to a lifetime of resentment. Ursula is also far more ruthless in this version. Instead of turning her victims into meager plant monsters, the skulls, and skeletons in her lair imply that she simply murders those who cross her instead.

The Live-Action 'The Little Mermaid' Explains That Humans Killed Ariel's Mom


Ariel in The Little MermaidImage via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Another element of the 1989 original that isn't expanded upon too much is the fate of Ariel's mother. It's evident that King Triton is struggling to be a single parent to his seven daughters, especially when it comes to his rebellious youngest daughter Ariel. It wouldn't be until the straight-to-video prequel, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, where we would learn that Ariel's mother was tragically killed in a freak accident when a human ship ran her down. Humans are also revealed to be the cause of Ariel's mother's passing in the 2023 version. However, it's implied that a single human was responsible for the mermaid queen's death rather than a ship-based accident. The film doesn't go any further than that, but the conversation seems to indicate that Triton's wife was killed deliberately rather than accidentally.

Eric Is an Orphan Who Became a Prince in 2023's 'The Little Mermaid'


halle bailey and jonah hauer king in the little mermaidImage via Disney

Ariel isn't the only character who is given a more complex family history in the 2023 remake. The handsome Prince Eric (Christopher Daniel Barnes) isn't given too much to do in the original. He's simply a good-hearted member of the nobility whom Ariel falls in love with after saving him. Apart from his love of the ocean, we don't learn much about his backstory or wants and desires. Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) is given a lot more to do in the 2023 version. For starters, we learn that he's not only an orphan, but one that came to the shores of his future kingdom via a shipwreck at a young age. His adoptive mother, Queen Selina (Noma Dumezweni), also acts as a new parallel to King Triton, also being very concerned and protective of their child. Eric's mysterious past also functions as a compelling reason for why the prince wishes to explore the uncharted ocean, likely so he can potentially find his real parents if they're still out there.

'The Little Mermaid' Features Original Songs From Lin-Manuel Miranda


Halle Bailey in The Little MermaidImage via Disney

Hamilton creator and Moana songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda attributed three original songs to the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. The first is an all-new power ballad for Prince Eric. Shortly after being saved by Ariel and wanting to find the mystery woman who saved him, Eric sings the song "Wild Uncharted Waters" as he laments how important it is that he finds this remarkable woman.

Ariel also gets another new song during one of the film's most unique sequences. Titled "For the First Time" (not to be confused with the similarly titled "For the First Time In Forever" from Frozen), Ariel "sings" the song when she's first brought into Eric's castle. This is presented as an internal monologue since Ariel isn't capable of speaking after giving her voice to Ursula just hours earlier. Her singing is passionate but also skeptical since Ariel must have Eric fall in love with her without saying any words. Finally, there's the most eloquently titled song of all: "The Scuttlebutt." Yes, it wouldn't be a Lin-Manuel Miranda soundtrack if there weren't at least one rap song, and we get that when Scuttle comes to tell Ariel and Sebastian (Daveed Diggs) some big news. That news ends up being Eric wanting to get married to a disguised Ursula, but it takes a while for Sebastian to extract that information since the bird won't stop singing about her "Scuttlebutt."

Ariel Deals the Final Blow to Ursula Instead of Eric


the-little-mermaid-melissa-mccarthy-social-featured-2Image via Disney

The final battle of the original film sees Ursula gain massive power when she steals King Triton's trident, ready to exterminate all who cross her. First on her list is Ariel, who is powerless as the deceptive sea witch is about to erase her from existence. Thankfully, Eric arrives with his ship in just a nick of time, impaling the gargantuan tyrant with the bow of his ship. The 2023 version follows a similar series of events but with one crucial change. Eric still helps in the fight, distracting Ursula long enough for Ariel to devise a solution. Using one of the shipwrecks that were brought to the surface by Ursula's typhoon, Ariel is the one to use a massive vessel to impale the monster instead, saving her beloved Eric.

The ending of the 2023 film is largely the same. Triton learns his daughter is capable of making her own decisions, he grants her wish to become a human, and Ariel and Eric live happily ever after. However, instead of ending their story with a happy marriage, this is just the start of another new journey. The two decide to spend their new life exploring the uncharted waters of the ocean, hoping to one day be a part of a whole new world of possibilities where no man (or mermaid) has been before.

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Source: movieweb.com/little-mermaid-differences-classic-remake/

The Little Mermaid: Biggest Differences Between the Original and Disney's Live-Action Remake
BY
MARTIN CANTET
AND
NIKOLE FINGER
UPDATED 21 HOURS AGO

Disney’s The Little Mermaid live-action remake has arrived on Disney+, and comparisons with the original are inevitable. Here’s a short recap of them.


Little Mermaids Disney

The Little Mermaid is finally out on Disney+. The live-action remake took the original 1989 animated film respectfully, keeping almost everything intact while also giving it a new and fresh look that has been well-received by fans of the film. With particular praise for Halle Bailey’s performance, the film is resetting the standard on how Disney should work on future live-action remakes, specifically regarding its interesting balance of paying homage to the original story and adding new elements that give reason for remaking the story in the first place.

Updated September 9, 2023: Following the release of The Little Mermaid on Disney+, this article has been updated with even more differences between the original 1989 Disney film and the live-action remake.

The source material remains virtually the same. Fans of the original will be pleased with the result, as the story hasn’t changed much. The alterations are primarily expansions on elements not properly explained in the animated feature. In other words, the film remains the same with a couple of mostly subtle differences that deem the two movies basically the same. Of course, not every change was widely welcomed by the audience, but plenty of details made for a more elaborate story.

Here are the details on how the 2023 version departed from the original 1989 animation.

What Changed in The Little Mermaid 2023 Remake?


Jonah Hauer-King and Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Character expansion is probably the most notable departure from the original movie. In 1989, animated films used to be shorter, allowing less time to expand on certain characters, their backstories, and their evolution throughout the film.

Undoubtedly, Ariel had some interesting changes. For starters, though still acting as the teenage girl she is, Bailey’s portrayal makes for a wiser Ariel. She still falls in love and does everything for her first crush, but can elaborate on her fascination with the outside world. Overall, Ariel’s path through the surface has more screen time in the newer film. After she gets her legs, she explores the culture of Prince Eric’s Caribbean kingdom. This is the perfect excuse for both giving a much clearer background to the Prince’s realm and expanding on his character.

Speaking of Eric, the character finally finds motivation in this film, which ultimately changes the ending. Eric feels that his mother (a new incorporation for live-action) is too afraid of the outer world, isolating their kingdom from progress. This results in him wanting to explore uncharted territories and have a more adventurous side.

This point of growth changes the moral of the story ever so slightly. Prince Eric’s initial shipwreck is expanded for the movie to explain how the human and sea worlds collide, and Ariel uses this as an excuse to make a point on how cooperation between them is important. This is practically absent from the original movie, which ultimately hints at an ecological (yet very simple) message. In the original, the humans only know of the mermaids as legends. The fear was very one-sided, so the remake made it a mutual fear that reflects what conflicts are like in real life.

Ursula, the sea witch villain, is still unredeemable but now is King Triton’s sister and Ariel’s aunt. This is an element that was actually going to be in the original film but was taken out. Flotsam and Jetsam, Ursula’s minion eels, are still there but are merely pesky sea creatures doing her owner’s bidding.

For minor yet interesting changes, Ariel’s sisters have some more interactions, which, all in all, are not that important to the story. Scuttle, the crazy seagull became a female diving bird. Far from gender-swapping, the justification is mostly for realism’s sake, as the characters get some underwater segments that do not make sense for a regular seagull.

For one last change that didn't have much impact on the story, the location changed. The new story takes place in a fictional kingdom somewhere in the Caribbean. There is a lot of confusion online as to where the original film takes place. Many think that Sebastian the crab's Caribbean accent and the underwater kingdom's name, Atlantica, indicate that it takes place somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, near a Caribbean island. However, this is not the case. The animated film takes place somewhere near Denmark. The author of the story was a Danish man, and Disney's research for the architecture in Eric's kingdom was all based in Denmark. The change did not do much to the story itself, but it finally gave the audience a reason for Sebastian's accent.

The Big Controversy


KissTheGirl (1)Disney

While many would assume the biggest controversial change to the film was the casting, the real controversy was a key change to the story. In the original, Ursula's spell to make Ariel human only does that. Ariel signed the contract, and that contract protected Ursula from King Triton's magic. The villain thought ahead. Her manipulation and her real power came from using Ariel's dreams against her. There is nothing more terrifying than a clever villain who, in turn, pushes the protagonists to grow and become smarter themselves.

In the new film, Ursula's spell makes the little mermaid forget that a kiss would give her back her voice and let her keep her legs. The resolution is basically the same, but there’s no big frustrated wedding scene, and the showdown between Ariel and Eric against Ursula ends a little differently.

However, the big reason this was controversial to many was because of the intentions behind it and how it ended up doing the exact opposite it intended to do. The original film is often critiqued for being about a girl who gives up her life for a boy, and that boy only likes her for her looks since she cannot speak.

Ariel wanted to be with Eric, sure. But she wanted more. She literally said so, or rather, sang it. She wants to be where the people are. She isn't content to just swim around all day when she wants to be a part of the human world. Eric represented a whole new life, adventure, and freedom. Her agency to choose to go after him and the life she wanted is why she signed the contract with Ursula.

As for Eric, he literally had a singing crab whisper into his ear that he should kiss Ariel. There was a whole lagoon full of aquatic creatures setting up the ideal date for the two of them, and Ariel was trying to kiss him. She couldn't speak, but she gave consent for him to kiss her with her body language. Only after all of that did he even try to kiss her, and after the boat tipped over, he checked to see if she was alright and let his romantic desires go. He was after his dream girl, someone he only knew by her voice, but after getting to know Ariel as an adventurous and sweet girl, he finally decided she was better than a dream.

Unfortunately, the new movie tried to fix this by making Ariel forget about the need to kiss him. However, it ended up causing the problems it was meant to solve. Eric kept trying to kiss her, only for her to suddenly back away. Curse or not, that is a clear signal not to kiss her, but he kept trying. Not only did it make Eric a problem when he wasn't before, it took away Ariel's agency. Instead of having a goal to chase after, something she wants and is determined to get, no matter what obstacles are in her way, she is left to wander around.

While the writers were clearly trying to improve the material, it just didn't quite work out the best way it could have. Perhaps a better change would have been to give them longer to get to know each other, to clarify that it was a genuine relationship and not puppy love. It is not bad relationship advice to pursue a relationship, but it is good advice to take your time with it. Unfortunately, this change ended up being a deal breaker for quite a few viewers, who saw it as an insult to both characters.

What Are the New Songs from The Little Mermaid 2023 Remake?


Halle Bailey's Ariel during the Under the Sea musical number in The Little Mermaid trailer Disney

Almost all the original songs make a comeback with beautifully reimagined visuals (the only two exceptions are "Daughters of Triton" and "Les Poissons"). The gorgeous imagery of these Menken classics also is a new high for live-action remakes, as previous live-actions didn’t quite balance the photorealistic style with the animated charm of the first versions (Lion King, that’s you). The perfect example of this is “Under The Sea,” a gorgeous reprise with a modern twist.

That said, there are a couple of new songs in the mix. As mentioned, the now-human Ariel sings in her head about her experiences in "For the First Time," giving more context to her character development. The Prince’s newfound motivation is properly explained in “Wild Uncharted Waters.” For Sebastian and Scuttle, "The Scuttlebutt" gives them a comedic segment to advance the plot with the funky touch of Lin Manuel Miranda. While the previously mentioned plot change was deemed most controversial, this song may actually take the cake.

Funny enough, “Part of Your World,” probably the most iconic song in the film, has more reprises in this live-action remake, a true testament to the tune’s powerful structure and unforgettable melody. “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” the villain’s turn to shine, had mild lyric updates.

In conclusion, the live-action version of The Little Mermaid is almost the same as the original although it does make some big changes in an effort to update the story for the 21st century, some for the better and some for the worse. Trying to please both old and young audiences, the balance is good and should impact future Disney live-action remakes.

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Source: screenrant.com/who-plays-king-triton-in-the-little-mermaid-2023/

Who Plays King Triton In The Little Mermaid 2023
BY
ANTONELLA GUGLIERSI
PUBLISHED 4 DAYS AGO
King Triton's role was central in 1989's Little Mermaid, and the actor who plays him in the 2023 live-action remake gives him even more importance.


Javier Bardem as King Triton and Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid (2023)


SUMMARY
King Triton's role in the 2023 version of The Little Mermaid is different from the original, with more background and motivation provided for his ban on merpeople meeting humans.
Javier Bardem perfectly embodies King Triton's complexities, making him one of the few improvements in the live-action remake.
The remake also establishes a more direct connection between King Triton and the villain Ursula, adding personal stakes to their conflict.


King Triton is a central part of The Little Mermaid’s story, leading Disney's live-action version to cast an established and well-known actor in the role. While Ariel’s interest in humans and the world beyond the oceans always existed, leading her to build an impressive collection of trinkets over the years in both the original The Little Mermaid and the longer live-action remake, it becomes a point of contention once King Triton discovers it, as he always forbade humans and merpeople from fraternizing with each other. Without King Triton, there’s no character for Ariel to row against, kickstarting her adventure in both the 1989 animated feature and its 2023 redo.

King Triton’s relationship with Ariel takes center stage in 2023's The Little Mermaid, just like it did in the original, poignantly changing for the better as the film goes on, and leading to a perfect, hard-won ending. The Hollywood star playing King Triton perfectly embodies the character’s complexities exemplified by his love for Ariel, but also by the multiple control tendencies he has over her to protect her that eventually leads her away to fall into Ursula’s clutch. King Triton's story is one of the things in the 2023 Little Mermaid remake different from the 1989 original, but his actor makes the character one of the few improvements.


Javier Bardem Plays King Triton In The Little Mermaid 2023


Javier Bardem as King Triton in The Little Mermaid (2023)

King Triton’s role in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid went to Spanish actor Javier Bardem. He proved a wholly apt choice for King Triton, perfectly opposing Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula and bringing King Triton’s gravity to life. Known for various roles, Bardem won the prestigious Coppa Volpi at the Venice Film Festival for his protagonist part in The Sea Inside. He went on to co-star as the iconic villain Anton Chigurh in the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men, which garnered him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He was also nominated for lead roles in Before Night Falls, Biutiful, and Being the Ricardos, where he portrayed Desi Arnaz.

On the more mainstream side of his filmography, Bardem played the intelligent Bond villain Raoul Silva in the 2012 blockbuster movie Skyfall and the vengeful Captain Armando Salazar in the Disney sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. More recently, he played the Freman leader Stilgar in the sci-fi epic Dune and continued to branch out into family films as the titular character's owner in Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.


How The Little Mermaid 2023's King Triton Is Different From The Animated Movie


Halle Bailey as Ariel and Javier Bardem as King Triton in The Little Mermaid (2023)

Unlike the 1989 animated original, The Little Mermaid’s live-action remake managed to offer more background to King Triton’s fears, along with the motivation behind his total ban on merpeople meeting and interacting with humans. Indeed, having Ariel’s mother be killed by a human not only plays a bigger part in the live-action plot but also justifies King Triton’s distrust and hate of humans. Given the humans’ disregard for the ocean and one human’s violent act resulting in King Triton losing his wife, it makes sense for him to despise them and excessively worry that his daughters might suffer the same fate if they encountered and fraternized with humans.

Moreover, unlike the character in the 1989 Disney original, King Triton has a more direct connection to The Little Mermaid’s villain, Ursula, in the remake. Even if it didn’t thoroughly delve into the reasons behind Ursula’s animosity toward King Triton, making her his sister made Ursula’s revenge against Ariel personal, as Ursula and King Triton’s shared past must have included reasons that motivated her objective to take not just any throne, but King Triton’s own crown and trident. The Little Mermaid’s changes not only make sense within the universe already built by the 1989 Disney original, but they also enrich it, including those involving King Triton.

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Source: screenrant.com/little-mermaid-remake-plot-hole-fix/

The Little Mermaid Remake Closed A Major Plot Hole From The Original With Controversial Change
BY
ADRIENNE TYLER
PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO
The Little Mermaid remake made a change to Ursula and Ariel's deal that subtly fixed a major plot hole left by the animated version.


Little Mermaid remake Eric animated Ursula live action Ariel

SUMMARY
The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid fixed a plot hole from the original movie by changing Ariel's deal with Ursula.
In the original movie, Ariel's inability to communicate with Prince Eric due to losing her voice created a plot hole that confused viewers.
The live-action remake solved this issue by omitting the contract and having Ariel give Ursula a scale instead, making the whole process more personal and allowing Ursula more control over Ariel.

Disney brought Ariel and company to life in its live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, and one change subtly fixed a major plot hole left by the original animated movie. Disney continues riding the wave of the live-action trend, and its most recent release is The Little Mermaid, a remake of the 1989 animated classic. Directed by Rob Marshall, The Little Mermaid stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and though it wasn’t a big box office success, it’s becoming a hit on Disney+.

The Little Mermaid took the premise of the animated movie but made a couple of changes to adapt it to the live-action format and fix a couple of issues about the original that have come to light. The Little Mermaid, then, sees mermaid Ariel, who is fascinated by the human world, making a deal with sea witch Ursula to become human and be with Prince Eric. Among the changes the Little Mermaid remake made is the deal between Ursula and Ariel, and through this, it fixed a plot hole from the original movie.

Little Mermaid Remake Gave Ariel No Chance To Communicate With Eric


the little mermaid ariel eric

In the animated version of The Little Mermaid, Ariel literally signed the deal with Ursula, as the sea witch gave her a contract. Thanks to that, Ariel voluntarily gave her voice to Ursula in exchange for legs, leaving her completely mute. Once among humans and meeting Prince Eric, Ariel struggled to let him know her name, and it was thanks to Sebastian during the “Kiss the Girl” musical number that Eric learned her name, as Sebastian whispered it to him. This made way for a plot hole that has been a topic of debate among Disney fans: why didn’t Ariel write her name to Eric, if she was shown signing her name on Ursula’s contract?

Viewers have come up with possible explanations for why Ariel didn’t write her name to Eric, with some of them suggesting she was unaware she could also write outside the water or that there was a loophole in Ursula’s deal that prevented Ariel from communicating in written form. Others have argued that Ariel writing to Eric, even if it just was her name, would have gone against the contract, as she had to get a “true love” kiss from the Prince.

The Little Mermaid remake skipped this problem by omitting the contract and instead having Ariel pull a scale from her tail for Ursula to use in her spell. This makes the whole process a lot more personal and dangerous, as Ursula is a witch, and by adding something that comes directly from the person (or mermaid), like a scale, Ursula had a lot more control over Ariel, as seen in one key change she made to the deal.

How The Little Mermaid Remake Changed Ursula & Ariel’s Deal


the little mermaid ursula ariel and prince eric

The terms of the deal between Ursula and Ariel are the same in the animated version and the live-action remake: Ariel will be human for three days, and if she wants to remain human, she has to get Eric to give her a kiss, but it has to be true love. However, in the animated movie Ariel remembered the deadline and what she needed to do, but in the live-action remake, Ursula added one final detail to the spell, which made Ariel not remember the deadline nor that she had to be kissed by Eric. Sebastian learned this when he mentioned the kiss to Ariel and her mind went completely blank, making it harder for Sebastian to get Ariel and Eric to fall in love and kiss before the third day.

Of course, this made it easier for Ursula to mess with Ariel and enchant Eric while posing as a human named Vanessa, but she wasn’t counting on Sebastian, Scuttle, and Flounder figuring her plan out and letting Ariel know. The Little Mermaid live-action remake made the deal and spell more complex and dangerous, but it subtly fixed a decades-long plot hole.

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Source: www.cbr.com/little-mermaid-remake-fan-criticism/#the-climax-isn-39-t-as-pressing

15 Valid Reasons Fans Didn't Like The Little Mermaid Remake
BY
JORDAN IACOBUCCI
UPDATED 7 DAYS AGO
Disney's The Little Mermaid is now streaming on Disney+, and fans have some valid concerns about the live-action remake of the classic animated movie.


Ariel (Halle Bailey) looking up; Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) poster for The Little Mermaid (2023)

Disney's new live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is finally in theaters, reimagining the classic original 1989 animated movie. Joining scores of Disney's other live-action remakes, 2023's The Little Mermaid is already drawing conflicted reviews from critics and fans alike.

While certain parts of the new film, including Halle Bailey's charming performance as Ariel, have drawn praise, other aspects haven't resonated with viewers. There are several valid reasons why some viewers haven't responded well to The Little Mermaid upon the film's premiere.

Updated October 12, 2023 by Jordan Iacobucci: Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has officially landed on Disney+, giving audiences a chance to revisit the fresh take on an old classic. Although the film has been praised for several of its additions to the original movie, some fans have several valid complaints about the remake.

15
The Live-Action Film Cut Several Original Songs


Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid smiling.

The Little Mermaid reimagines several classic Disney songs, but not every track from the original film is present in the remake. Some of the movie's lesser-known songs, including Chef Louis' ode to fish, "Les Poissons," and "Daughters of Triton," are nowhere to be found in the 2023 live-action remake.

While 2023's The Little Mermaid keeps the best-loved songs from the original film, it is difficult for viewers to part from any track written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. The filmmakers may have had their reasons for cutting both songs, but the movie doesn't feel the same without them.


14
The Little Mermaid's New Songs Don't Always Fit


Scuttle, Flounder and Ariel examine a fork in Disney's Little Mermaid.

Like several other Disney live-action remakes before it, The Little Mermaid includes several new songs in addition to the classics from the original movie. The film's soundtrack features four new songs from original composer Alan Menken and Hamilton writer Lin-Manuel Miranda which, while catchy in their own way, don't always fit the tone of the 1989 movie.

The Little Mermaid's new songs are far from the worst Disney songs ever released, with many great moments. Still, they also pale in comparison to the magic created by Howard Ashman's original lyrics. In an original film, Miranda's tracks might be hailed as modern classics, but they feel out of place compared to those written by Ashman.

13
King Triton's Kingdom Is Far Less Glamorous


Ariel's sisters visit Triton in The Little Mermaid (2023).

The original animated movie features King Triton's kingdom in all its glory, including his glorious palace and the surrounding villages of Merfolk. However, The Little Mermaid's live-action remake severely tones down Triton's kingdom, only depicting the king sitting on the ocean floor on a throne made of coral.

The alteration to Triton's kingdom removes one of The Little Mermaid's most iconic set pieces, making the underwater Merfolk civilization quite underwhelming. What Triton's kingdom is replaced with also proves far less visually interesting than in the animated film.


12
Ursula's Iconic Spell Was Changed


Melissa McCarthy as Ursula with her eels in The Little Mermaid.

2023's The Little Mermaid makes a somewhat puzzling change to Ursula's spell. Trading Ariel's voice for human legs, Ursula gives the mermaid three days to get true love's kiss from Prince Eric before her contract expires. However, Ursula also wipes Ariel's memory of this clause, leaving only Sebastian and Flounder aware of the necessary kiss.

This change only complicates the film's plot, adding nothing of substance to the story. Most events occur exactly like in the original, with Ariel's amnesia doing little to hinder the mission to kiss Prince Eric. As such, changing Ursula's spell doesn't make much sense in the context of the new film and proves to be entirely unnecessary.


11
Flounder and Sebastian's Character Designs Don't Work


Flounder in The Little Mermaid remake looking to the side.

While The Little Mermaid brings animated characters like Ariel, Ursula, and King Triton to life brilliantly, other characters in the new film aren't treated with as much reverence. For example, Flounder and Sebastian, two of Disney animation's most beloved animal sidekicks, don't look nearly as good as other characters.

The animal characters in The Little Mermaid suffer from a similar problem as those in 2019's The Lion King in that their designs are far too akin to real-life animals. While the CGI used to create these characters is impressive, it is difficult for audiences to relate to the soulless features of Flounder and Sebastian when compared to their adorable cartoon counterparts.

10
The Original Writers of The Little Mermaid Got No Credit


Ariel laying down next to Flounder in The Little Mermaid.

A common and unfortunate pattern with Disney's live-action remakes is that the films fail to appropriately credit the original animated movies' writers. While The Little Mermaid does indeed include the names of original screenwriters John Musker and Ron Clements, they are buried in the end credits, long after the 2023 film's writer, David Magee.

While Magee's work on The Little Mermaid shouldn't be understated, the film also follows the script for the original movie quite closely, much more so than other live-action remakes before it. The film should credit the original screenwriters appropriately, having used so much of their work for the remake. With a writers' strike occurring at the time of the film's release, this was a rather tasteless move on the part of Disney.


9
The Climax Isn't As Pressing


Eric from The Little Mermaid next to an image of Ariel in the sea.

The third act of The Little Mermaid makes a significant change to the original. In the 1989 film, after the villainous magical sea witch Ursula transforms herself into the beautiful Vanessa, she and Prince Eric are to be married at sea on the last day before Ariel's spell wears off. In the new film, however, the wedding is exchanged for a mere engagement party that takes place on land rather than at sea.

While this alteration may seem relatively minor in the face of the film's other changes, the climax stumbles as a result. The original movie tied all of its storylines up neatly in one final action sequence at sea, whereas the live-action remake must take great pains to get its main characters out to sea for their final battle with Ursula. As a result, the film's ending feels a bit clunkier than the original, even if the action is just as harrowing.


8
Vanessa's Role Feels Rushed


Vanessa in the original Little Mermaid; Jessica Alexander; Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) with tentacle

Get Even star Jessica Alexander has a brief role in The Little Mermaid, portraying Vanessa, Ursula's human counterpart. Vanessa follows the same general story beats as the original, but it all feels far more rushed. The character is just barely introduced before Scuttle realizes her true identity and puts events in motion to break Ursula's spell.

Vanessa is a standout part of The Little Mermaid's third act, even if her screen time is severely limited. The film would have benefited even more from her character by expanding her role therein, taking the time to fully explain the spell she cast over Prince Eric rather than waving it off as another hurdle to overtake before the film can end.


7
The Little Mermaid's Musical Numbers Aren't As Fun


Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), & Ariel (Halle Bailey) from The Little Mermaid.

Like many other animated Disney movies, The Little Mermaid's musical numbers are bright, fun, and colorful. While the live-action version attempts to inject the same energy in songs like "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl," nothing in the new movie relatively measures up to the original.

While each musical number is accompanied by colorful imagery that is quite enchanting in its own right, The Little Mermaid's original musical sequences are far superior. Songs like "Under the Sea" just aren't the same without the big band of sea life accompanying, no matter how hard the live-action remake may try.


6
The Movie Is Too Long


Ariel, surrounded by King Triton and Ursula in The Little Mermaid.

One major criticism of the 2023 version of The Little Mermaid is that it is simply too long. The new film clocks in at 2 hours and 15 minutes, about 50 minutes longer than the original. While the live-action remake uses this time to flesh out certain characters, not all of its extended runtime is used wisely.

The Little Mermaid would have been justified with a slightly longer runtime than its original, but it clearly didn't need an extra hour. The extra time stretches the material too thin, forcing audiences to sit through extra hijinx that weren't necessary in the first place.


5
Lovable Fan-Favorite Characters Were Cut


Chef Louis from the original animated The Little Mermaid.

In addition to cutting several memorable scenes and songs from the original film, 2023's The Little Mermaid also leaves several iconic characters on the cutting room floor. Most notable of these is Chef Louis, whose catchy song "Les Poissons" is also absent from the film. Also missing are Ariel's original sisters, Attina, Alana, Adella, Aquata, Arista, and Andrina, who have been replaced with characters of different names.

The Little Mermaid may have cut back on these characters in order to save time, devoting more screentime to the budding romance between Ariel and Prince Eric. Even so, leaving even one memorable character behind in a live-action remake is enough to leave some fans unpleased.


4
The Little Mermaid Introduces Prince Eric's Mother


Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina in the little mermaid

One surprising complaint that has often arisen since The Little Mermaid's release is that the remake changes Prince Eric's parentage. In the original film, Eric's parents are never shown but are implied to have died long ago. In the 2023 remake, however, Eric is the adopted son of Queen Selina, who is still alive and well during the events of the film.

Selina's inclusion doesn't affect the story too much at first glance, but does change one key relationship therein. Whereas Grimsby, Eric's butler, operates as the prince's sole parental figure in the original film, this is not the case in the live-action remake. Instead, Grimsby's hand in raising Eric is all but nullified by Selina's presence, making his character somewhat less important as a result.


3
The Little Mermaid Has Some Lighting Issues


Ursula in The Little Mermaid 2023

The Little Mermaid's arrival on Disney+ has allowed audiences to view the movie under different circumstances than during its theatrical run, highlighting additional issues not noticeable before. With regular television and computer screens playing the film, it becomes clear that the film is at times too dark to see.

This is actually a complaint that carries over to many modern movies today, which often leave audiences in the dark (quite literally) for effect. This often forces audiences to frantically turn up the brightness on their televisions and computers in an effort to even make out what is happening onscreen.


2
Iconic Moments Don't Always Translate Well


Halle Bailey sings as Ariel on top of a beach rock in The Little Mermaid.

Like many other remakes of classic films, The Little Mermaid sometimes falls short of living up to the iconic moments of the original film. It is very difficult to make the same scene iconic twice, as Disney's live-action projects have often proven. Unfortunately, The Little Mermaid is no exception to this rule.

The most notable example of this unfortunate trend is Ariel's scene on the rock as she sings the final bars in the reprise of "Part of Your World." In the 1989 film, the splashing waves behind Ariel became an iconic setpiece. The remake, however, fails to capture the magic of the scene, leaving audiences yearning for the original.


1
Live-Action Remakes Are Getting Old


Belle (Emma Watson) & Beast in Beauty and the Beast; Ariel (Halle Bailey) in The Little Mermaid

Although Disney's live-action remakes often earn big returns at the box office, it is becoming clear that fans are rapidly running out of patience for these films. After a less-than-stellar box office run compared to its predecessors, The Little Mermaid stands as proof that audiences may be done with live-action remakes.

While it isn't The Little Mermaid's fault that it comes after a string of hit-and-miss remakes, its shaky returns should warn the company of pushing things too far with its future endeavors. Nevertheless, with live-action remakes of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Snow White, and more, on the way, it seems Disney isn't willing to stop until all of its classic films have been reimagined--for better or for worse.

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Source: www.theridernews.com/the-new-little-mermaid-is-better-than-the-original/

The new ‘Little Mermaid’ is better than the original
2 days ago 2 minutes read
By Sophia Porter

“The Little Mermaid” starring Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King is absolutely beautiful, and I am tired of everyone ignoring this fact.

Every time I have watched this movie, I mention how I could write an essay on how perfect this film is. Here’s my chance.

First off, I am in love with Jonah Hauer-King and his Mr. Darcy-esque approach to Prince Eric. His elevated personality and overall depth as a character that was developed in this live-action adaptation blew me away. I loved the insight we got into his world and the people within, especially Grimsby, the loveliest old man ever. Grimsby saw Eric’s feelings towards Ariel, ones he had yet come to terms with, and helped him along to realize how Eric truly feels about Ariel.

The most important fact of the entire film is that Halle Bailey is simply Ariel. When we are introduced to her she exudes mermaid energy: her long, colorful locs; sweet demeanor and restless adventurous spirit. She has become the perfect mermaid princess for new generations. Don’t even get me started on the vocal choice she made to opt up in “Part of Your World,” or her new song, “For the First Time.” To achieve being a real mermaid, one must have their own siren song, and Bailey did just that.

Pure genius was sprinkled in one moment that created a ripple effect for the rest of the film. Having Ursula, played by the magnificent Melissa McCarthy, and adding to the spell on Ariel that she will not remember that she needs to kiss Eric. In the original, Ariel was constantly looking to get close to Eric and seduce him, whereas in the 2023 version, Ariel is still attracted to Eric, but does not act on it. Instead she is authentically herself, as is Eric, which ultimately draws him to her.

Hauer-King’s Eric is developed in a way that helps audiences understand why Ariel falls for him in the first place. He is gorgeous, but love is more than what’s on the surface. When she discovers that Eric’s library is filled with knick-knacks of the sea, she is reminded of her grotto, which is filled with trinkets from the human world. They both share the same passion to escape and go explore the world. Even the music that plays behind the scenes sounds like sister tracks. These two were literally ‘written in the stars’ through the director and composer’s choice of paralleling the two in all their actions.

“Kiss the Girl” has raised my expectations of dating to an astronomical degree. The scene is already cute enough with Scuttle, Sebastian and Flounder making appearances, but Eric amplifies the sweetness of the scene through his gentleness towards Ariel, who is still oblivious of his feelings. Then, as the music breaks for a moment, Eric begins teaching Ariel where the constellations are. She then teaches him how to say her name through the stars he showed her. Are you joking? I, too, am teaching myself where constellations are so I can woo a man by teaching him how to say my name through the stars.

If you have yet to see this movie, do not walk—run to your laptop, Roku or whatever you use to watch Disney+, and watch these two sea rovers fall in love.

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Source: www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/disney-changes-little-mermaid-story-31212665

Disney changes The Little Mermaid story so it doesn't scare children and creep out adults
Disney's version of The Little Mermaid skips over major plot points made in the original 1837 narrative depicting a 14-year-old's quest to find true love on dry land

Disney's The Little Mermaid differs from the original 1837 narrative


Disney's The Little Mermaid differs from the original 1837 narrative (Image: DISNEY)
NEWS

ByValerie Browne
17:00, 17 Oct 2023

The live-action adaptation of Disney's iconic underwater classic, The Little Mermaid was released this year. We all know and love the classic Disney story, but not many realise the original story is much darker.

The original 1837 narrative depicts a 14-year-old mythical creature on her journey to find true love. She isn’t given a name, she is simply referred to as the Little Mermaid throughout the book. The sea Princess abandons her life living under the sea in search of a Prince, a plot thread carried over into the Disney movie.

Yet, the torture and torment the mermaid endures to achieve her goal, however, is not something a Disney picture would include. The Little Mermaid pays a visit to the Sea Witch, Ursula, and strikes a deal. In exchange for her beautiful singing voice and tongue, Ursula gives her human legs.

Despite her ability to walk on land, the former mermaid’s every step using her human legs feels like she is being pricked by sharp knives. Author, Hans Christian Andersen, wrote that the Little Mermaid’s doesn’t have a soul, which may have inspired the Disney villain’s song 'Poor Unfortunate Souls'.

“A mermaid has not an immortal soul, nor can she obtain one unless she wins the love of a human being.” Wrote Andersen in his less than child-friendly Danish novel. In order to survive and attain a soul, the Little Mermaid must win the Prince's affection.

However, unlike the happy ending we saw in Disney's adaptations, the Little Mermaid fails her mission. In the original tale, the Prince marries another woman. The Sea Witch then gives the heartbroken Little Mermaid yet another ultimatum.

To ensure her survival she must murder the Prince, her lover, which the Little Mermaid agrees to. However, when she comes to commit the crime, she cannot bring herself to kill him and chooses to die herself instead.

She then dissolves into foam but is offered one small reprieve. As her spirit floats in the sky, she eventually earns a soul by carrying out good deeds for 300 years before ascending into heaven. It's no surprise that Disney decided to make some adjustments to the film that's aimed at children.

But the Little Mermaid's fate wasn't the only dark plotline that featured in the Danish author's tale. In the original novel, the sea creatures are not innocent. The mermaid's sisters boast about luring sailors into the water and ultimately their deaths.

And unlike Prince Eric, the Prince in the original story isn't family-friendly. The book describes him as being entertained by female slaves at his palace and his affections for the Little Mermaid are rather creepy. At one point, he even admits he loves her "as he would love a little child."

[yougottaloveariel]

Reply to the 15 valid reason article

15 Cut songs All live action Disney films do this and obviously not all will be happy with this which brings us too

14 New songs do not fit Personally the only new song that is bad is the Scuttle Rap which is a very minor thing Rap has been controversial since it's debut along with Heavy Metal Grunge and Punk and even Bubblegum rock

13 Tritons Kingdom IS RATHER DRAB along with the Trident Apparently more effort was put into casting Ariel then other aspects of the film Even Ariel's collection is rather lackluster

12 The spell was changed due to in simplistic terms "The PC Police" People who do not like things in entertainment and some SOMEHOW succeed in getting their way From Apu all but disappearing from the Simpson to never seeing Song of the South EVER again There are SOME merits here cause many people including Disney Studio see more then simple shortcomings in Ariel's character BUT more often then less the criticisms are UNFOUNED and seem NOT to apply to all characters We all could do 40 page articles on this subject

11 A critique I have to agree with One of the factors of 1989 version or ALMOST any animated film are the characters human or otherwise Flounder here gets the worst treatment he is to realistic and is nothing more then a voice and does not leave the impression of loyalty and childlike attributes seen in 1989 Sebastain and Scuttle fare a wee bit better probably because the can go to both land and sea where as Flounder can not

10 From what I can gather Ron Clements and John Musker did not seem to enthusiastic about the live action version anyway BUT as stated the film of 2023 follows 1989 film and seems to discredit it as well at times

9 Have to agree with this due to some of the changes in the live action film though some changes WERE justified such as the touring of the kingdom and rowboat scene

8 In both Disney versions Vanessa is the other woman who takes credit for saving the Prince which is valid due to the circumstances in the story The same applies here though Depending on the writing as well as the viewpoint of the person reading watching said piece of entertainment

7 Musicals can be quite effective animated or otherwise In this case 1989 wins hands down for Nothing Is Impossible in Animation Despite this statement opinions on quality different as the colors of a rainbow

6 Again A personal preference Both films work fine but there are times when a vid play is well TOO FREAKIN LONG Think Titanic Avatar

5 Chef Louis scene is personal preference with audiences Some love it others........... The only way it would have worked in 2023 would have been the cooking school version like Broadway As for Ariel's sisters they get the bums rush worse then the love/HATE relationship that Disney has with Ariel Marketing suggests that Ariel's sisters in 2023 WOULD PLAY a big part Only one line about being in Love is their only contribution along with ethnic diversity

4 Erics mother In a recent novelization of 1989 film it is revealed that Eric has A SISTER AND Mom and Dad are alive as well For years we thought that the song order of Ariel sisters was the age but NOTHING is carved in stone with LM apparently we can easily have a discussion group about differences in the films TV series Comics books ABND ALL OF THIS before live action film

3 Anyone on this board SCUBA Dive? I myself was in a controlled setting in a shark tank at an aquarium well lit BUT if the scenario was real lighting would have been a factor The deeper you go underwater the darker it gets nit to mention the ocean pressure They tried to hard with the realism since in real life light is needed to SEE things Even films TV take liberties with this with ANY setting yet complaints are non existent

2 YES from the printed page to visual how do you represent something ESPECIALLY when its an environment some people may NEVER see Though the rowboat scene in 2023 improves on 1989 others do not As Disney has stated Hallie's performance is NOT to be understated Again Peoples opinions vary

1 Because of Angelina Joliee WE ARE STUCK with theses live action films     for now   AND SINCE racial diversity is STILL an issue in the 21st century there were still be problems One GOOD thing came from the 2023 film though . People STILL CARE about the animated Ariel possibly for the wrong reasons this includes the Disney studio itself Hence the love/HATE relationship it continues to have with the film  (They couldn't get Ariel's eye color right in the 100 short  among other things over the years

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Source: collider.com/the-little-mermaid-2023-changes-from-original-movie/

Everything 2023's 'The Little Mermaid' Changes From the Original Disney Classic
By
Aidan Kelley
Updated 19 hours ago

The Halle Bailey-led reimagining makes quite a few tweaks to the 1989 Disney classic, which you can now check out on Disney+.


Halle Bailey as Ariel underwater
The Big Picture

Halle Bailey's The Little Mermaid enhances the original story with changes that capture the magic of the original while adding depth to the remake.
Notable changes include Ariel's sisters becoming leaders within the kingdom instead of singers, Scuttle being a gannet instead of a seagull, and Ursula being King Triton's sister and Ariel's aunt.
The 2023 version expands on Ariel's mother's backstory, reveals Eric as an orphan who became a prince, features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and has Ariel herself dealing the final blow to Ursula herself.

Director Rob Marshall dove head-first into Disney's live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaid, both paying homage to the original animated classic and updating the movie's narrative for modern audiences. Starring Halle Bailey, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy, this live-action movie sticks pretty close to the 1989 film it's based on (and the original Hans Christian Andersen novel). Making any sort of tweak to an iconic story like The Little Mermaid is always a risky maneuver, but in the case of this vibrant musical, the changes here help make 2023's The Little Mermaid one of the better remakes to come from the Walt Disney Company. Critics have overall been kind to the live-action adaptation, Collider's own Ross Bonaime praising it as, "a rare Disney live-action remake that captures the magic of the original."

Disney has made changes in their many live-action remakes before. Some have felt rather harmless and benign, like changing the lyrics of certain songs or just removing any musical elements outright. Others have added some meaningful context and standout moments, such as Mowgli (Neel Sethi) choosing to remain in the jungle in The Jungle Book, Genie (Will Smith) wanting to be a human instead of being free in Aladdin, and Captain Hook (Jude Law) getting a sympathetic backstory in Peter Pan & Wendy. Tim Burton's live-action Dumbo with Colin Farrell and Michael Keaton, however, missed the mark. The Little Mermaid also makes quite a few minor but effective changes to the animated story fans know and love. To see what's different this time around, read below to see all the changes that The Little Mermaid makes from the original 1989 film.


The Little Mermaid 2023 Poster

The Little Mermaid (2023)

The youngest of King Triton's daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land.

Release Date
May 26, 2023
Director
Rob Marshall
Cast
Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem
Runtime
135 minutes

Ariel's Sisters Are Future Leaders Instead of Singers


Jodi Benson as Ariel with her sisters in 'The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning'
Image via The Walt Disney Company

The original The Little Mermaid begins by introducing six of King Triton's (Kenneth Mars) seven daughters. They're all in a musical performance in the underwater city of Atlantica, orchestrated by the court conductor and King Triton's most trusted advisor, Sebastian the Crab (Samuel E. Wright). The performance is supposed to conclude with a grand finale from Triton's youngest daughter, Ariel (Jodi Benson), but when the rest of her sisters introduce her, the young princess is nowhere to be found. The remake sees Triton's (Bardem) daughters taking on a much more active and responsible role in the underwater kingdom. Instead of being performers in a show, Triton's daughters are all being taught to be responsible and stalwart leaders of the kingdom, with the king summoning his daughters for an annual meeting to prepare for the upcoming Coral Moon festivities. However, Ariel (Bailey) is missing from this gathering as well, choosing instead to explore shark-infested shipwrecks just like in the original.


Awkwafina's Scuttle Is a Gannet Instead of a Seagull


The Little Mermaid Scuttle Awkwafina
Image via Disney

In both the original and the remake, much of Ariel has a keen fascination with the surface world, which is obviously a key component in her character and overall storyline. In the 1989 movie, Ariel seeks information on the gadgets and gizmos and trinkets she finds at the bottom of the ocean through her friend Scuttle (Buddy Hackett). The bird-brained seagull is certainly enthusiastic, but not exactly well-versed in how things work on the surface, describing forks used for eating as "dingglehoppers" used for brushing hair. Scuttle (Awkwafina) is just as ditzy in the live-action remake, but she's an entirely different bird species this time. Instead of being a seagull, Scuttle is a Gannet, an aquatic oceanic bird capable of going underwater for more extended periods of time. This allows the comic relief character to communicate with Ariel and her other companions under the sea rather than up on land.


Melissa McCarthy's Ursula Is King Triton's Sister and Ariel's Aunt


melissa-mccarthy-the-little-mermaid-1
Image via Disney

The sea witch Ursula (Pat Carroll) clearly hates Triton, but the reasoning for why isn't made explicitly clear. Basically, all the original film shares about her history with the kingdom of Atlantica is that she once lived in the palace before being banished by the King of the Seven Seas. Since that point, Ursula has lived in the depths of the ocean to plot her revenge, making unfair deals with underwater denizens, and turning those who cross her into her disgusting living garden. Melissa McCarthy's version of Ursula's past isn't expanded upon too much in the 2023 remake, but she does get a surprising familial connection to the royal family. Instead of being a random person who lives in the castle, Ursula is the sister of King Triton, which of course, makes her the aunt of Ariel and her sisters. It isn't made explicitly clear whether Ursula and Triton are biological or adopted siblings, but it's clear that their mysterious falling out has led to a lifetime of resentment. Ursula is also far more ruthless in this version. Instead of turning her victims into meager plant monsters, the skulls, and skeletons in her lair imply that she simply murders those who cross her instead.


The Live-Action 'The Little Mermaid' Explains That Humans Killed Ariel's Mom


Ariel in The Little Mermaid
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Another element of the 1989 original that isn't expanded upon too much is the fate of Ariel's mother. It's evident that King Triton is struggling to be a single parent to his seven daughters, especially when it comes to his rebellious youngest daughter Ariel. It wouldn't be until the straight-to-video prequel, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, where we would learn that Ariel's mother was tragically killed in a freak accident when a human ship ran her down. Humans are also revealed to be the cause of Ariel's mother's death in the 2023 version. However, it's implied that a single human was responsible for the mermaid queen's death rather than a ship-based accident. The film doesn't go any further than that, but the conversation seems to indicate that Triton's wife was killed deliberately rather than accidentally.


Eric Is an Orphan Who Became a Prince in 2023's 'The Little Mermaid'


halle bailey and jonah hauer king in the little mermaid
Image via Disney

Ariel isn't the only character who is given a more complex family history in the 2023 remake. The handsome Prince Eric (Christopher Daniel Barnes) isn't given too much to do in the original. He's simply a kind-hearted member of the nobility whom Ariel falls in love with after saving him. Apart from his love of the ocean, we don't learn much about his backstory or wants and desires — Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) is given a lot more to do in the 2023 version. For starters, we learn that he's not only an orphan, but one that came to the shores of his future kingdom via a shipwreck at a young age. His adoptive mother, Queen Selina (Noma Dumezweni), also acts as a new parallel to King Triton, also being very concerned and protective of their child. Eric's mysterious past also functions as a compelling reason why the prince wishes to explore the uncharted ocean, likely so he can potentially find his real parents if they're still out there.


'The Little Mermaid' Features Original Songs From Lin-Manuel Miranda



Hamilton creator and Moana songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda attributed three original songs to the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. The first is an all-new power ballad for Prince Eric. Shortly after being saved by Ariel and wanting to find the mystery woman who saved him, Eric sings the song "Wild Uncharted Waters" as he laments how important it is that he finds this remarkable woman.

Ariel also gets another new song during one of the film's unique sequences. Titled "For the First Time" (not to be confused with the similarly titled "For the First Time In Forever" from Frozen), Ariel "sings" the song when she's first brought into Eric's castle. This is presented as an internal monologue, since Ariel isn't capable of speaking after giving her voice to Ursula just hours earlier. Her singing is passionate but also skeptical, since Ariel must have Eric fall in love with her without saying any words. Finally, there's the most eloquently titled song of all: "The Scuttlebutt." Yes, it wouldn't be a Lin-Manuel Miranda soundtrack if there weren't at least one rap song, and we get that when Scuttle comes to tell Ariel and Sebastian (Daveed Diggs) some big news. That news ends up being Eric wanting to get married to a disguised Ursula, but it takes a while for Sebastian to extract that information since the bird won't stop singing about her "Scuttlebutt."

Ariel Deals the Final Blow to Ursula Instead of Eric


the-little-mermaid-melissa-mccarthy-social-featured-2
Image via Disney

The final battle of the original film sees Ursula gain massive power when she steals King Triton's trident, ready to exterminate all who cross her. First on her list is Ariel, who is powerless as the deceptive sea witch is about to erase her from existence. Thankfully, Eric arrives with his ship in just the nick of time, impaling the gargantuan tyrant with the bow of his ship. The 2023 version follows a similar series of events but with one crucial change. Eric still helps in the fight, distracting Ursula long enough for Ariel to devise a solution. Using one of the shipwrecks that were brought to the surface by Ursula's typhoon, Ariel is the one to use a massive vessel to impale the monster instead, saving her beloved Eric.

The ending of the 2023 film is largely the same. Triton learns his daughter is capable of making her own decisions. He grants her wish to become a human, and Ariel and Eric live happily ever after. However, instead of ending their story with a happy marriage, this is just the start of another new journey. The two decide to spend their new life exploring the uncharted waters of the ocean, hoping to one day be a part of a whole new world of possibilities where no man (or mermaid) has been before.

Stream The Little Mermaid live-action movie on Disney+ in the U.S.

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Source: collider.com/the-little-mermaid-ending-explained-live-action/

‘The Little Mermaid’ Ending Explained: What Happens to Halle Bailey's Ariel?
By
Aidan Kelley
Updated 3 days ago

Melissa McCarthy, Halle Bailey, and Javier Bardem star in the live-action 'The Little Mermaid' now on Disney+.


Halle Bailey in 'The Little Mermaid'
Image via Annamaria Ward


The Big Picture

The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid received praise from critics for its vibrant visuals and outstanding performances.
The climax of the remake closely follows the original 1989 animated film, with Ariel ultimately defeating Ursula.
The film ends with Ariel and Eric getting married and embarking on a new adventure together, exploring uncharted waters on their own ship.


As a famous crustacean once said, "The seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake," and so is all the money that Disney's 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid made in its theatrical run. While many of Disney's live-action updates of their classic animated films, including Tim Burton's Dumbo from 2019 with Michael Keaton and Colin Farrell, Robert Zemeckis' Pinocchio with Tom Hanks, and Guy Ritchie's Aladdin with Will Smith as the Genie (the beloved character made famous by Robin Williams) have been extremely hit-and-miss, Rob Marshall's The Little Mermaid has been praised by critics as one of the better remakes from Disney. Not only are there some great vibrant visuals that stay true to the original, but the movie is also packed with outstanding performances, including a flawlessly cast Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and a sensational breakout role for Halle Bailey as Ariel.

However, perhaps the biggest question for Disney fans is how the film ends. After all, while not the norm, Disney has taken creative liberties with their remakes before, even with the way they end. 2016's The Jungle Book proved that by having a completely different conclusion. Instead of the story's main character living with the humans in the village like in the 1977 original, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) remains in the jungle with his animal friends and family. Does The Little Mermaid also make changes to the ending from the 1989 classic that preceded it?

The youngest of King Triton's daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land.

'The Little Mermaid's Climax Is Nearly Identical to the Original

While there are a few tweaks to the story from the 1989 version, such as Ursula being Ariel's aunt in the 2023 film, the climax of The Little Mermaid remake is pretty much identical to the original animated classic. The third act officially begins when Ursula, using the voice she swindled out of Ariel, disguises herself as the beautiful Vanessa (Jessica Alexander) and enchants Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) into thinking that she's the mystery woman who saved him after his shipwreck. With news following that Eric is getting married, Scuttle (Awkwafina) tells (or rather, raps) the news to the still-mute Ariel, only for the young princess to discover that another woman has been betrothed to her one true love.

It doesn't take long for Ariel to realize that Vanessa is Ursula in disguise, and with the help of her friends, is able to reveal that truth to Eric. Unfortunately, Ariel isn't able to share a "True Love's Kiss" before sundown, thus meaning that Ursula wins. The sea witch drags Ariel back into the depths of the ocean after the princess turns back into a mermaid, eventually coming face to face with her estranged brother, King Triton (Javier Bardem). The ocean king quickly realizes that the only way to save his daughter and earn her freedom is to relinquish his all-powerful Trident to Ursula. Once he does, Ursula sticks her trusted eels, Flotsam and Jetsam, on Triton, dragging his powerless body down to the abyss.


Ariel Is the One to Defeat Ursula, Not Eric

A small but significant change to the original film is who gets the last laugh during the final battle with Ursula, this time with Ariel being the one responsible instead of Eric. The prince does prove to be a helpful ally in the conflict, hurling a spear at Ursula to get her attention. Now armed with the power of the Trident, Ursula fires a beam of energy at him and Ariel, accidentally killing her pet eels in the process. Bloodthirsty for revenge, Ursula uses her new powers to turn into a massive sea monster, creating a virtual monsoon in which the protagonists are now trapped.

Ursula quickly sets her sights on Eric, the Prince now marooned on a jagged rock. While the ocean is in chaos, various shipwrecks that were stuck at the bottom of the ocean are now being brought up to the surface. Ariel finds herself on one of these ships and makes her way to the vessel's helm. Right before Ursula is about to kill Eric, Ariel turns the ship to port and impales Ursula with the sharp bow of the ship. A brutal Disney villain death that's virtually identical to the original, with the exception being that Ariel and Eric's roles are reversed.


'The Little Mermaid' Ends With Ariel and Eric Getting Married

In the aftermath of Ursula's defeat, Eric and Ariel don't feel like they've gotten a happy ending. With Eric back on the surface and Ariel still desperate to be a human, all seems to be lost. This doesn't go unnoticed by King Triton, who sees that his beloved daughter is now more depressed than ever. After a reality check from his royal advisor, Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), the strict but good-hearted monarch realizes that his little mermaid is not so little anymore. He uses his power to grant Ariel her wish to become a human, with zero strings attached. Almost immediately after getting her permanent land legs, Ariel and Eric finally reunite, sharing a long-overdue kiss of true love.

As you'd probably expect, especially if you love the original film, Ariel and Eric end the film as husband and wife, though this proves to be only the start of their new lives. Earlier in the film, Eric is facing a conflict with his mother, Queen Selina (Noma Dumezweni). The Prince wants to explore the uncharted seas, but the Queen thinks it would be best if they kept to themselves and the rest of the kingdom. It's not all that different from the initial position between Ariel and her own parent earlier in the film. In the end, Selina realizes her son is capable of making his own decisions, and gives him and Ariel the ability to travel the globe on their own ship, looking for plenty of new adventures in uncharted waters on the high seas. When Ariel and Eric are about to embark on their expedition, Triton, Ariel's sisters, and all the other loyal citizens of Atlantica come to bid the princess and her husband farewell. This brings a tear to Ariel's eye, leading her to hug her father for one last time. A final familiar visual ripped straight from the classic animated masterpiece that inspired it.

The Little Mermaid is available to stream on Disney+.