Entertainment Review: Disney’s The Little Mermaid – 2023

This post was originally published on my Patreon page.
Hello, dear friends. On Thursday, we went to the cinema to watch the premiere of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the recently released live-action adaptation of the 1989 classic animated film of the same name.
While at first glance the basic storyline remains the same, there have been several changes that Alina and I believe have improved this beloved adventure under the sea. In the original 1989 cartoon, which we actually rewatched this morning, Ariel is portrayed as a naive young girl who falls in love with Prince Charming.
However, in the 2023 version, Ariel is depicted as a smart, powerful, independent, and beautiful young woman driven by her curiosity and desire to explore the world above. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but I must say it is much better written than the previous version. To my surprise, over 400 people, mostly Norwegians who are not usually easily impressed, gave a standing ovation at the end of the show. This is the first time I’ve witnessed such a reaction in Oslo’s cinemas.
The story has been reimagined for modern audiences, which is undoubtedly a great thing. The cinematography is stunning, the casting is perfect, the acting is flawless, and the songs have been rewritten, with some exceptional new additions. Notably, the project involved talented and award-winning individuals, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, a three-time Tony Award winner. So, I guess it comes as no surprise that Disney has rediscovered the magical touch they seemed to have lost for a while.
The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Haueras as Prince Eric, Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, plus Oscar winner Javier Bardem as King Triton and two-time Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy as the evil sea witch Ursula.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a truly magical adventure that successfully brings to modern audiences this timeless story. In this new rendition of The Little Mermaid we witness how cultures, people, and times evolve, reflecting the normal and expected changes in our society. As we find ourselves in 2023, proper representation has become imperative, stereotypes need to be thrown out the window and stories, even those from Disney, need to evolve and be more relatable than ever before.
Disney’s 2023 movie takes us on a truly enchanting journey under the sea and above the waves, effectively presenting this reimagined tale of Ariel, a princess who surpasses her predecessor in every aspect. What surprised me is that even after three days, Alina and I are still engrossed in discussions about the brilliant changes made to the story, which we believe better capture the essence of today’s reality. We highly recommend watching the movie and sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Victor Dima
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