Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID live-action movie musical - News & Discussion Thread- Page 3

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 6:01pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Also, her interpretation is directed so it’s not her own creative choice. She can’t just riff anywhere she chooses - it has to be approved in advance. If the creative team agrees to it, then she can do it. Even Deborah Gibson, an award winning pop singer, has spoken about how she had to adjust her singing when she played Belle on Broadway in Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. She was not permitted to add any embellishments to the material. That’s why recording artists work with producers. A good producer knows how to guide a performance. Even an award winning recording artist knows they need to be told when to pull back or go full force. "


We are aware this isn’t a mom-and-pop production.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 6:20pm

I’ve seen the full number and the riff is justified when seen with the entire performance. Halle completely makes the song her own, she really ACTS it and a lot of her acting choices compliment the riff at the end. There’s one particular part she belts that isn’t usually belted and it’s STUNNING. 
 

Personally, I’m glad she’s done something different and quite unique. She’s going to be a stunning Ariel, one we haven’t seen before. 

[Tifa]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 6:58pm

Plannietink08 said: "I’ve seen the full number and the riff is justified when seen with the entire performance. Halle completely makes the song her own, she really ACTS it and a lot of her acting choices compliment the riff at the end. There’s one particular part she belts that isn’t usually belted and it’s STUNNING.


Personally, I’m glad she’s done something different and quite unique. She’s going to be a stunning Ariel, one we haven’t seen before."

I watched the video leak which goes from "girl who has everything" all the way to the end and I personally still didn't care for it. But that's okay, this one just isn't for me. I didn't like Sierra when she was cast either -  she grew on me when I saw the production live but I am just very particular about this role and this song because it's a huge favorite of mine.

Halle is definitely making the role her own and I am glad for those who enjoy it, but I'll stick with the OG. I just wanted to make it clear I was speaking about more than the quick trailer since the leak is circulating around twitter now for anyone who is curious about watching it.

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 5:24am

At first I hated Halle's "be-e-e-e-e" riff, but when I saw the leak it made perfect sense with it! It really is a goregously sung, wonderfully acted, beautifully choreographed and CGI animated scene! I feel like a kid again! Count me in for this movie!

[Seb28]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 6:58am

I must say that I was very excited for this movie, I liked the choices in production and casting they have made so far. I also love the teaser trailer in terms of darkness, music, overall look and semi-realistic approach.

I thought that Halle Bailey was well cast and I think her voice has a beautiful tone, essential for the role.

But I am very disappointed in her approach, pronunciation and riffs. She does not seem to articulate the words properly, like a lazy pop-singer. This is very important to get to the core of a song, word, feeling. Howard Ashman understood this very well. He knew the importance of keeping it truthful and therefore he was so strict about how every word should be sung. Then there is the completely misplaced riff. Whenever Jodi Benson started to go her own way, belting or riffing, she was immediately corrected because Ashman wrote those words for a reason. Especially that last "could be" should be silenced, numbed in stillness and disappointment. The song is not suitable for riffs at all, but that last moment is the least acceptable moment of all the lines in the song.

I have also seen the part before, "what's a fire AND why does it". The "AND" is a misplaced ad-lib in itself and is way too disconnected from the lyric and sound like a soul diva moment for no reason. Then there's the part where she sings "wouldn't I love", and she drags that note, the word (love) down, basically the word "love" is a downward ad-lib in itself, which is really a shame. Because the word love in that melody should embody some kind of longing, reaching, desire and have an upward intention. And after that there is the powerhouse soul diva riff on "explore the shore of abo-ho-hove", which also way too show-offish for Ariel in that moment and comes off as not sincere. And then it is topped off with the "be-eeeh-ieiieyeah" at the end. Shameful. Howard will be spinning in his grave.

Who on earth is allowing this and why do people not realize that this takes away from the sincerity of the moment? Do people really only stay awake or recognize emotions when there is insincerity involved? What has the world come to? 

I have a feeling that people like Alan Menken so desperately want to stay current, and that when someone comes with this idea, he automatically thinks that it is cool and that it would make him automatically cool too and he's too scared or ignorant to dare to say anything about it? Or scared to be seen as not inclusive if he won't let the material get trashed by screams, riffs, ad-libs and poor pronunciation?

Another problem with this is that the actual melody is not in the song anymore. Considering she did not sing 1 line as written of all the lines that were leaked online (basically the 2nd half of the song), it could very well be that kids from today will never know the melody.

Edit: I just heard the audio clip of the whole song and she sings other melodies wrong too, "but who cares" for example, she really does not even understand the melody. That is not an ad-lib, just a mistake.

Updated On: 9/11/22 at 06:58 AM

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 8:04am

Seb28 said: "I must say that I was very excited for this movie, I liked the choices in production and casting they have made so far. I also love the teaser trailer in terms of darkness, music, overall look and semi-realistic approach.

I thought that Halle Bailey was well cast and I think her voice has a beautiful tone, essential for the role.

But I am very disappointed in her approach, pronunciation and riffs. She does not seem to articulate the words properly, like a lazy pop-singer. This is very important to get to the core of a song, word, feeling. Howard Ashman understood this very well. He knew the importance of keeping it truthful and therefore he was so strict about how every word should be sung. Then there is the completely misplaced riff. Whenever Jodi Benson started to go her own way, belting or riffing, she was immediately corrected because Ashman wrote those words for a reason. Especially that last "could be" should be silenced, numbed in stillness and disappointment. The song is not suitable for riffs at all, but that last moment is the least acceptable moment of all the lines in the song.

I have also seen the part before, "what's a fire AND why does it". The "AND" is a misplaced ad-lib in itself and is way too disconnected from the lyric and sound like a soul diva moment for no reason. Then there's the part where she sings "wouldn't I love", and she drags that note, the word (love) down, basically the word "love" is a downward ad-lib in itself, which is really a shame. Because the word love in that melody should embody some kind of longing, reaching, desire and have an upward intention. And after that there is the powerhouse soul diva riff on "explore the shore of abo-ho-hove", which also way too show-offish for Ariel in that moment and comes off as not sincere. And then it is topped off with the "be-eeeh-ieiieyeah" at the end. Shameful. Howard will be spinning in his grave.

Who on earth is allowing this and why do people not realize that this takes away from the sincerity of the moment? Do people really only stay awake or recognize emotions when there is insincerity involved? What has the world come to?

I have a feeling that people like Alan Menken so desperately want to stay current, and that when someone comes with this idea, he automatically thinks that it is cool and that it would make him automatically cool too and he's too scared or ignorant to dare to say anything about it? Or scared to be seen as not inclusive if he won't let the material get trashed by screams, riffs, ad-libs and poor pronunciation?

Another problem with this is that the actual melody is not in the song anymore. Considering she did not sing 1 line as written of all the lines that were leaked online (basically the 2nd half of the song), it could very well be that kids from today will never know the melody.

Edit: I just heard her live performance of the whole song and she sings other melodies wrong too, "but who cares" for example, she really does not even understand the melody. That is not an ad-lib, just a mistake."

You really think this film was done in one take like a live performance, and actors were just allowed to do whatever the hell they wanted to, huh. As if a million dollar film is loosey goosey about “mistakes”. Laughable.

[Seb28]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 8:18am

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "
You really think this film was done in one take like a live performance, and actors were just allowed to do whatever the hell they wanted to, huh. As if a million dollar film is loosey goosey about “mistakes”. Laughable."

No, why would you ask that? I have seen the 2nd half of the actual song from the film version with all the riffs and not the right melody, so I was curious about how she would do the first half. The audio clip from D23 was not comforting because aside from the riffs she sang wrong melodies in that first part too. 

I thought that the audio clip was live but unfortunately it was the actual film version. So the actual film version has wrong melody and ad libs.

Updated On: 9/11/22 at 08:18 AM

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 9:05am

Some of the more... hyperbolic... responses to Halle Bailey's casting make me think of the Martin McDonaugh play A Very Very Very Dark Matter.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 11:44am

After seeing the teaser and the leaked clip, I have a good amount of hope that this movie will turn out to be actually decent. Halle did a really great job making the song her own and she really does act the heck out of it.

Far and beyond better than what Emma Watson did as Belle, which was a very terrible casting choice.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 1:26pm

The desire of some for this movie, and in particular Halle's performance, just be a mimic of the animated film is very boring... 

K, got it. They've changed things from the animated movie and you're free to not like that but saying Howard Ashman is rolling in his grave? Get the **** over yourself.

[Dark_Vader]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 2:28pm

The uproar over Halle Bailey's casting in this film is disturbing. It's also happening with the casting choices for House of the Dragon and Rings of Power. 

No matter how these objectors try to justify their views it is blatant racism. Where was it ever written that any of these characters had to be specifically white? 

These are tales that are rooted in fantasy! The racist backlash to people of color in fantasy is rooted in a larger desire to erase us from all facets of society.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 2:29pm

I just don’t understand all of these Disney remakes. Like I tried to watch The Lion King-the live action with the animals…I didn’t get through it. 
 

Beauty and The Beast-remind me, did that do well? 
 

Aladdin-box office success? 
 

They need to come up with new ideas. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 2:47pm

Seb28 said: "I also love the teaser trailer in terms of darkness, music, overall look and semi-realistic approach."

Oh, you're the one. I'm hopeful for Halle, nervous about the other actors and tired of seeing this same drab aesthetic. I don't have a lot of faith in Rob Marshall these days.

Also, yes, hearthemsing22, B&tB and Aladdin made a ton of money. That's why they keep doing this.

[Dark_Vader]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 2:53pm

hearthemsing22 said: "I just don’t understand all of these Disney remakes. Like I tried to watch The Lion King-the live action with the animals…I didn’t get through it.


Beauty and The Beast-remind me, did that do well?


Aladdin-box office success?


They need to come up with new ideas."

 

Beauty and the Beast's 2017 live action remake is the highest grossing live action musical of all time. The film earned $1.263 billion worldwide.

Aladdin's 2019 live action remake earned $1 billion worldwide. 

The Lion King's 2019 remake earned $1.6 billion worldwide.

There is money to be made even if the film's themselves are mediocre to some. 

 

 

 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 2:56pm

Dark_Vader said: "hearthemsing22 said: "I just don’t understand all of these Disney remakes. Like I tried to watch The Lion King-the live action with the animals…I didn’t get through it.


Beauty and The Beast-remind me, did that do well?


Aladdin-box office success?


They need to come up with new ideas."



Beauty and the Beast's 2017 live action remake is the highest grossing live action musical of all time. The film earned $1.263 billion worldwide.

Aladdin's 2019 live action remake earned $1 billion worldwide.

The Lion King's 2019 remake earned $1.6 billion worldwide.

There is money to be made even if the film's themselves are mediocre to some.





"

Okay. So that’s my bad ha! Still. While I understand the money side-it’s unnecessary. Come up with new ideas folks!! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 9:06pm

I don’t think Disney has made one good live-action “remake” so far, so my hopes for this are not very high. 
 

THAT SAID - The videos of parents showing their black daughters the trailer, and the reactions they’re capturing has had me in tears for like 48 hours. The best thing all week. 

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 9:57pm

I dislike nearly every thing Disney puts out, and the riff drives me crazy too, but Halle seems very charming and has a good voice. 

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 10:04pm

Seb28 said: "I
Another problem with this is that the actual melody is not in the song anymore. Considering she did not sing 1 line as written of all the lines that were leaked online (basically the 2nd half of the song), it could very well be that kids from today will never know the melody.

I'm not sure what you were listening to because the melody is sung exactly as written for most of the song. 

And given that there's the original movie, the Broadway cast recording and the live TV presentation which all sing the song exactly as written it's hardly the greatest travesty if one version was to be slightly different. I'm sure kids from today will still know the melody. 

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 2:12am

Dark_Vader said: "The uproar over Halle Bailey's casting in this film is disturbing. It's also happening with the casting choices for House of the Dragon and Rings of Power.

No matter how these objectors try to justify their views it is blatant racism. Where was it ever written that any of these characters had to be specifically white?

These are tales that are rooted in fantasy!The racist backlash to people of color in fantasy is rooted in a larger desire to erase us from all facets of society."

You can setting up a strawman argument that no one in this thread made. A lot of those "racist people" here would be ecstatic if they cast Hailey Kilgore instead of Halle Bailey.

[Dark_Vader]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:12am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Dark_Vader said: "The uproar over Halle Bailey's casting in this film is disturbing. It's also happening with the casting choices for House of the Dragon and Rings of Power.

No matter how these objectors try to justify their views it is blatant racism. Where was it ever written that any of these characters had to be specifically white?

These are tales that are rooted in fantasy!The racist backlash to people of color in fantasy is rooted in a larger desire to erase us from all facets of society."

You can setting up a strawman argument that no one in this thread made. A lot of those "racist people" here would be ecstatic if they cast Hailey Kilgore instead of Halle Bailey."

I never claimed anyone on this thread made that argument. But it is being made on social media - and that is a fact.

Get a hold of yourself. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:15am

Dark_Vader said: "The uproar over Halle Bailey's casting in this film is disturbing. It's also happening with the casting choices for House of the Dragon and Rings of Power.

No matter how these objectors try to justify their views it is blatant racism. Where was it ever written that any of these characters had to be specifically white?

These are tales that are rooted in fantasy!The racist backlash to people of color in fantasy is rooted in a larger desire to erase us from all facets of society."

So me saying I don’t understand the point of a remake is me being racist? No, I said that about The Lion King, which I tried to watch and it was just…weird seeing the real animals talking. Ooof. I’ve said that about Beauty and the Beast (.Emma Watson version) This does not mean I’m racist. 

Updated On: 9/12/22 at 08:15 AM

[Dark_Vader]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:19am

hearthemsing22 said: "Dark_Vader said: "The uproar over Halle Bailey's casting in this film is disturbing. It's also happening with the casting choices for House of the Dragon and Rings of Power.

No matter how these objectors try to justify their views it is blatant racism. Where was it ever written that any of these characters had to be specifically white?

These are tales that are rooted in fantasy!The racist backlash to people of color in fantasy is rooted in a larger desire to erase us from all facets of society."

So me saying I don’t understand the point of a remake is me being racist? No, I said that about The Lion King, which I tried to watch and it was just…weird seeing the real animals talking. Ooof. I’ve said that about Beauty and the Beast (.Emma Watson version) This does not mean I’m racist."

Nowhere in my post did i mention you and my post was not directed at you.

What is wrong with you? 

[Dark_Vader]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:27am

And just to be clear my post was not directed at anyone else on this thread. I was just bringing up a point of discussion regarding this film.

So please don't @ me. 

Chill. 

[Seb28]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:28am

Dark_Vader, so why not react on people here and what is discussed on the board? Because all I see here on the board is objective talk about her voice, choices, direction, etc, just like it happens with any leading lady or bad remake. It is almost as if you are not interested in the actual artist at all. Or the movie for that matter.

Updated On: 9/12/22 at 08:28 AM

[Dark_Vader]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:39am

Seb28 said: "Dark_Vader, so why not react on people here and what is discussed on the board? Because all I see here on the board is objective talk about her voice, choices, direction, etc, just like it happens with any leading lady or bad remake. It is almost as if you are not interested in the actual artist at all. Or the movie for that matter."

Why are you assuming things about me that are not true. I *am* interested in the artist and the movie. Case in point: I posted something that was happening on social media that was relevant to this movie and the casting of Halle Bailey.

I have no objection to how she chose to perform the song that everyone is seemingly  so upset about. 

 

 

Updated On: 9/12/22 at 08:39 AM