Toon Talk: The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning
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But these are minor quibbles; this movie�s main flaw (and even then, it�s not a major one), is its villain. As Atlantica�s version of Yzma from The Emperor�s New Groove, Marina the Governess can�t hold a tentacle to Ursula the Sea Witch. But she does have a droll sidekick (a soft-spoken manatee named Benjamin) and (if the credits are to be believed) costumes designed by � Bob Mackie!?
Although lacking extensive effects work (such as shadows on the ocean floor) that would have enhanced the feeling of being under water, the animation is fine and certainly a lot more fluid then in the sequel. First time director Peggy Holmes uses her choreographer�s eye to give the scenes and, especially, the musical numbers (most notably the show-stopping Calypso standard �Jump in the Line (Shake Se�ora)�) an extra pop.
Holmes� dance background is the focus of the bonus feature Splashdance: A Dancer�s Adventures Under the Sea, which is basically the �making of� featurette. In addition to two deleted scenes, the Disney Song Selection and the Fast Play option, the disc features two extras that set it apart from most.
First is The Little Mermaid: Under the Sea and Behind the Scenes on Broadway. The Tony Award nominated musical�s very first Ariel, Sierra Boggess, takes us on a backstage tour where we meet her co-stars Titus Burgess (Sebastian) and Sherie Rene Scott (Ursula) and see the sets and costumes up close, as well as scenes from the show itself.
And finally, there�s the Mermaid Discovery Vanity Game. In addition to a mermaid sister-themed personality profiler, you can explore all the dressing room vanities of the daughters of Triton to learn more about them, including peeks into their private journals. (Considering the success of the Disney Princess and Disney Faeries merchandise lines, I�m surprised they haven�t taken advantage of these already established characters for a Disney Mermaid line yet.)
Easily surpassing its feeble predecessor in quality and entertainment value, you will be more then satisfied when you take the plunge under the sea � and back in time � for The Little Mermaid: Ariel�s Beginning.
Toon Talk Rating: B+
Coming Soon:
- Jack is back with a special two-disc collector�s edition of Tim Burton�s The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney DVD, now available).
- A special Toon Talk look at the American Film Institute�s
top ten animated movies of all time.
- Sleeping Beauty
reawakens once more on DVD for a two-disc Platinum Edition and, for the first time in high def, on Disney Blu-Ray (October 7).
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-- Kirby C. Holt
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Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ... In addition to his Toon Talk reviews, Kirby is the creator of Movie Dearest, a blog for movie fans.
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted August 27, 2008