The Little Mermaid [DVD]

In perfect condition. A disney classic.

Walt Disney was one of the few undisputed giants of popular culture, along with those amazing Brits Charlie Chaplin and John Lennon. His presided over the creation of 6 or so cartoon movies I regard as immortal (Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp and The Jungle Book is my list, not forgetting Mary Poppins, which isn't a cartoon). And then he died and the Disney studio slumped into mediocrity. They lived off the legacy he created.And then this film came along and it was so completely wonderful, I remember taking my family to see it and, for the first time since that cursed Star Wars created the endless sequence of end credits, I sat through all the credits to listen to the music again.It was immediately obvious that a new genius of the order of Walt Disney had come along, because here was a film that almost stood abreast of his greatest creation Pinocchio, that most completely wonderful movie.. What wasn't obvious was that the wonderful Howard Ashman was already then dieing, would barely limp through his next movie Beauty and the Beast, and would only get around to composing half of the libretto for Aladdin before giving up the ghost. But what a legacy he left behind!And how great of the Disney studio that they keep on honouring him, with the fond recollections in the extra features of their disks (and how very opposite the treatment Warner Brothers gave him in their recent remastering of his only other movie, Little Shop of Horrors, for which he isn't even mentioned once in the endless end credits even though he wrote all the lyrics and the screenplay).And this is the best of the lot because, one day during the development of The Little Mermaid, he gave the Disney team a lecture on the nature and structure of great musicals that feature female leads - an archetypal analysis. And here, for the first time, are extracts of that filmed lecture, plus people remembering it and commenting on it and how it influenced their future thinking. It is such a treasure for those who appreciate the really creative few among us, who just know things.My only complaint is that they did not present the lecture in full. Hint, Disney: Criterion would have done this.The film, like Pinocchio, has a profound moral core yet is a joy to watch. It is perfect in its structure without ever being wearisome - entirely predictable in every way yet a delight to see unfold.Indeed, this film and the lecture stand at the opposite end of the spectrum to the recently released and hugely over-rated Frozen, which, no matter how beautifully made and wonderful visually, is structurally flawed, dated, sexist and unpleasant in its core. Releasing Frozen almost at the same time as the Ashman lecture is curious indeed, because Disney could have followed his advice, particularly in regards to the main song Let It Go, and would have had a much better movie.

The Little Mermaid is one hour and twenty-five minutes and was released in theaters on November 14, 1989. This was the 28th animated film to be released by Disney Studios and the first of ten movies of the Disney Renaissance era (1989 to 1999). The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel who is bored with life under the sea and wants to know more about the human world. One evening Ariel rescues Prince Eric from drowning and brings him to shore. Before she leaves Prince Eric sees her face and hear hers voice for a brief moment. When her father, King Triton, hears about this, he goes into a hissy fit and destroys Ariel collection of human artifacts. Ariel is in tears and a pair of eels named Flotsam and Jetsam convinces her to see Ursula. Ursula strikes a deal with Ariel. She gives Ariel three day for the Prince to fall in love with her and it must be love true kiss and she has to do this without her voice. Prince Eric and Ariel come close but are foiled by Flotsam and Jetsam. Ursula sees this and turns herself human and uses Ariel singing voice to trick Prince Eric. Prince Eric and Ursula are about to tie the knot when the cavalry comes to the rescue. The shell that is holds Ariel voice in broken and she gets her voice back but it is too late. Ariel changes back into a mermaid and Ursula takes her back to sea. Prince Eric not wanted to loose her again goes after and a good old Disney fight\rescue breaks out and you know the rest of the story.Some trivia about this movie; this was the first fairy tale movie since Sleeping Beauty and the last movie to use hand-painted cels and analog camera. This was the first Disney movie to receive an Academy Award since Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The two Academy Awards the movie won were for Best Music, Original Score and Best Music, Original Song (Under The Sea). Kiss the Girl was also nominated for Original Song. The Little Mermaid also won two Grammy and Golden Globe awards. The Little Mermaid is a wonderful movie and gets an AAAAA+++++.DVD FEATURESChapter SelectionSet UpA. Spoken Languagesa. Englishb. Frenchc. SpanishB. CaptionsFilm RecommendationsA. PinocchioB. MulanC. The Lion King II: Simba's PrideD. 101 DalmatiansE. Peter PanF. The Jungle BookG. Lady and the TrampH. HerculesPlayVHS FEATURESPreviewsA. MulanB. A Bug's LifeC. Melody TimeD. The Spirit of MickeyE. Pocahontas II: Journey to a New WorldF. Lady and the TrampMusic Video* Part of Your World

Have an old DVD system in my car. Grandkids wanted Little Mermaid, of course. No issues with delivery, plays well, and all is good. Highly recommend.