My Thoughts on "The Little Mermaid" (2023)

Hello, everyone.

Just wanted to drop by and share my thoughts on the 2023 version of The Little Mermaid.  I must warn you, if you haven't watched this film, turn back immediately, because there will be spoilers.

For starters, Halle Bailey was an excellent cast choice for the main character.  Ariel was re-imagined incredibly well, and Halle's voice when singing the memorable songs we all know and love did the role justice.  I'm sure Jodi Benson (the original voice for Ariel) would be thinking the same thing if she did watch the movie (and I'm sure she did.).

Anyway, I also like how Scuttle had a focal point in the movie.  Giving this character her own song proves how much Disney seems to like the supporting characters.  But seriously, did they have to make Scuttle a female?  That's one of the changes I could have done without.  I understand Awkwafina was a female singer, but I'm sure a male with the same inflections as Buddy Hackett could have been found to re-create him.  But... Scuttle's song, i.e. The Scuttlebutt, did more than make up for that change.  In my opinion, that was my favorite new song in this movie.

Finally, I give props to Disney for giving Ariel the role of defeating Ursula.  That change, in my opinion, was the best, because it gave the mermaid Princess a chance to show her fans what she was made of, not like the original 1989 film, where she did practically nothing besides throw Ursula off-balance and make her destroy Flotsam and Jetsam.

If anyone has any opinions on this film, I'd surely like to hear them, whether they be positive or negative, but whatever you do, please try not to bash this film and say you prefer the 1989 version.  I will not have anyone bashing this film that Disney worked so hard to create.

Thank you, everyone, and as always, keep smiling, and keep dreaming.