Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID live-action movie musical - News & Discussion Thread — Page 10

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I don’t see what’s so wrong about omitting that one verse (no, they did not cut ‘half’ of the number). We already get the point. Ursula is pressuring her. As someone who’s a lifelong fan of the animated film, I had to go back and check the lyrics because it’s not a glaring omission.


Regardless of what the character motivation is (or if it’s obvious or not), women and girls are still being manipulated in real life and are told to be quiet, don’t tell anyone (wether it’s some sort of abuse or just things our society has yet to lift the stigma of), etc throughout their lives. It could be triggering, it could accidentally send the wrong message…it just seems like such an unimportant part of the film and song to be upset over its removal."

They're integral lyrics because Ursula is convincing Ariel why she won't need her speaking voice on land; the old, "it's actually a great bargain for you!" trick. Until then, Ariel isn't sure she wants to make the deal-- "But without my voice, how will I--?" It's what sends her over.

More importantly, the omission displays a lack of trust in the audience for them to discern that what Ursula is saying is wrong. I don't think anyone is taking away the wrong lesson here, especially when it's being "taught" by the villain.

fashionguru_23 said: "Correct. I feel this is an acknowledgement of Howard Ashman. The cover of the Aladdin soundtrack has "Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice", with the next line saying "new lyrics by Pasek and Paul".

i think Disney is very keen on honouring Ashman"

I guess I just don’t get how crediting Menken with music written by Miranda (or P&P in the case of Aladdin) and only crediting Miranda as a lyricist honors Ashman. Maybe I’m just being a conspiracy theorist, but none of these new songs sound like Menken and they do sound like Miranda. Ditto for Speechless from Aladdin. That’s pure Pasek & Paul pseudo-pop, not Menken. Does Menken just have it in his contract that he’s the only one who can be credited with music?

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "
It’s so strange to me that people get upset or surprised when these adaptations are changed.."

Some changes are good in this film and some are pulling down the film.

Most reactions I read online are very objective.

TheQuibbler said: '... the omission displays a lack of trust in the audience for them to discern that what Ursula is saying is wrong. I don't think anyone is taking away the wrong lesson here, especially when it's being "taught" by the villain.'

+1. The cut lyrics were hilarious and clearly not meant to be life advice from Disney.

I haven't seen the new movie yet, but some of these changes sound very misguided. The notion that Ariel didn't sign an agreement and didn't know there was any kind of bargain -- what's the point of that? Are female characters no longer allowed to make any mistakes or errors in judgment? That sounds antiseptic and unreal.

Updated On: 6/1/23 at 12:04 PM

The film will stream on Disney+, beginning September 6.

If a movie that made these numbers flopped than something is majorly wrong with the way studios are producing:

DOMESTIC (52.6%)
$297,102,718

INTERNATIONAL (47.4%)
$267,228,164

WORLDWIDE
$564,330,882

The big industry mystery (part of why unions are on strike) is how streaming will translate into revenue, but when it’s all said and done I doubt the film will end up a deficit for the studio.

QueenAlice said: "If a movie that made these numbers flopped than something is majorly wrong with the way studios are producing:"

Correct!

As a sort of postscript, it's nice to see that the current Finnish production of the stage show has a black actress, Yasmine Yamajako, playing Ariel. I may be reading too much into this, of course; is it "significant"? I haven't been tracking how this role has been cast onstage. But the film remake at least wouldn't have hurt in terms of opening up people's minds to the possibilities for casting this role onstage.

https://hkt.fi/esitykset/pieni-merenneito/