The Little Mermaid: Platinum Edition DVD Press Release

[DisneyDVDFAN]

it is very strange my pre order for the Little Mermaid Gift Set is still online showing as IN Process ... at BEST BUY

[Son Of Flubber]

What type of 'knee' you think it is, that is up to the viewer to decide.

That is, in fact, not true. In a later shot you see two of the same 'knee' from a zoom in from above (when the flock of birds are attacking Usrula), thus putting to rest any argument about it being anything but a knee. It's pathetic to know that Disney would still edit this, despite visuals that contradict these ridiculous theories.

Whether or not you personally feel it was ridiculous, Disney felt it was something serious that needed to be addressed. The funny thing is, by Disney digitally erasing the knee it's like they're admitting there really was something offensive/wrong that needed to be corrected. So it only makes them look guilty. Why not just draw a new knee ? They re-animated backgrounds for The Lion King. How hard could it have been to just draw a simple curved line ? Sorry Disney-Fan but your argument doesn't quite hold water. Hmm.... now I want to review that scene on my DVD. I'm curious to see how the priest moves when his 'knee' does.

[Pluto Region1]

For all of you....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NAKQVmZMZBA

Oh man... that was fantastic! Thanks for posting this. I had recorded the audio only since I was running my tape recorder but I bet the quality is horrific. Whoever recorded this did a great job!

I just realized I'M GOING OUT OF TOWN THE DAY OF THE RELEASE!!! HOW AWESOME! I can get it! But how do I hide it?

Now how can we help nachonaco? Perhaps it is time for another UD petition to nach's parents about why can't nach buy Disney DVDs?

Seriously, just hide the DVD in your luggage. I think your parents need to get some counseling because if this is how extreme they are about some Disney DVDs they need help! They should be grateful you are interested in Disney vs. some pretty horrible things that teenagers can get into or involved with.

[Pluto Region1]

The funny thing is, by Disney digitally erasing the knee it's like they're admitting there really was something offensive/wrong that needed to be corrected. So it only makes them look guilty. Why not just draw a new knee ? They re-animated backgrounds for The Lion King. How hard could it have been to just draw a simple curved line ? Sorry Disney-Fan but your argument doesn't quite hold water. Hmm.... now I want to review that scene on my DVD. I'm curious to see how the priest moves when his 'knee' does.

would have loved to meet a fellow UDer at El Capitan.

Oh well. There is a whole thread about this somewhere because I remember posting about this "knee" business as one of my very early posts at this website. Even though it is not an erection, perception is everything, image is everything and if this "knee legend" becomes widely known, it is no surprise that Disney would do something to deal with that scene in the movie. They don't like controversy like that.

it is very strange my pre order for the Little Mermaid Gift Set is still online showing as IN Process ... at BEST BUY

I'm wondering if you are not just in "back-order hell" right now...

Imagine this: Even though Disney has no plans to release a gift-set edition, Best Buy has the option up as an actual "live" option and your order just sits there as a back-order until if and when Disney ever puts out a gift-set.

If it was me, I would be worried about this.

[Lucylover1986]

Thanks for posting the video clip. Too bad it's so out of sync though. Jodi's voice has changed quite a bit too, she doesn't sound too much like she did in the movie anymore. I wonder how she'll sound in The Little Mermaid III then? I'm a little nervous.

[slave2moonlight]

Wow! I loved that! Jodi Benson will always be a dreamgirl of mine because of that incredible voice!!!! Ha, I actually bought one of those overpriced autographs of her at Disney World when I was a teenager. I love her and Ariel so much!!!

[MerXAN]

You're all welcome, guys! I know you'd be thrilled to see Jodi's performance at the El Capitan.

[DisneyDVDFAN]

yeah i am wondering that same thing too Back order LOL I emailed them a bunch of times but their CS is really the worst ... I will call them today and get it cancelled ...

[Jules]

I am SOOO looking forward to this release. I e-mailed "Exotique DVD Shop" (a DVD store in Malta) and they told me they'll have it on the day of the release. If not that day, then soon.

By the way, I was rather shocked by nachonacho's situation, but I don't really know what a "paedophile" means. Can someone please explain?

[jediliz]

Thanks for posting the video clip. Too bad it's so out of sync though. Jodi's voice has changed quite a bit too, she doesn't sound too much like she did in the movie anymore. I wonder how she'll sound in The Little Mermaid III then? I'm a little nervous.

Its been 17 years.........what do you expect?


This is really cool. I didn't know what Jodi Benson looked like.

[Disney Princess Ariellen]

The censorship in Aladdin:

1) The characters : When Aladdin was released in theaters there were complaints that it was unfair that only the main characters like Aladdin and Jasmine spoke perfect English while the rest of the characters such as the palace guards spoke with heavy accents. As a result after Aladdin's original release all the characters that spoke with an accent were redubbed so they too spoke perfect English. The original dub has not been released since the original theatrical run.

What is your source for this information, Son of Flubber? I would love to read into this further; I'd never heard this before.

[Disney Princess Ariellen]

Its been 17 years.........what do you expect?

Oh, don't say that, you're making me feel old! When I was working at WDW, I got stunned incredulous stares from little kids when they'd buy something with Ariel and I told them I could remember seeing The Little Mermaid in the movies when it was new.

I think Jodi sounds quite a lot like Ariel still...an internet recording isn't going to have perfect sound, and a live performance is different than a recorded one.

I met Jodi 6 years ago, and remember thinking it was amazing to listen to her speak. Her 'natural' speaking voice is much lower than Ariel's, and she talked about how she came up with what Ariel would sound like and all of the sudden, there she was speaking in that excited 16-year-old voice with all of Ariel's excitement and energy in her face. She's an incredibly sweet woman.[/i]

[DisneyDVDFAN]

it is very strange my pre order for the Little Mermaid Gift Set is still online showing as IN Process ... at BEST BUY

well called and they still had no idea so i cancelled it ...

now to buy it in the store when it comes out

[Son Of Flubber]

The censorship in Aladdin:

1) The characters : When Aladdin was released in theaters there were complaints that it was unfair that only the main characters like Aladdin and Jasmine spoke perfect English while the rest of the characters such as the palace guards spoke with heavy accents. As a result after Aladdin's original release all the characters that spoke with an accent were redubbed so they too spoke perfect English. The original dub has not been released since the original theatrical run.

What is your source for this information, Son of Flubber? I would love to read into this further; I'd never heard this before.

When Aladdin was playing in theaters I didn't plan to watch it. I figured I should just wait til it comes out on home video and watch it then. Then one night I was watching KCAL 9 News and there was a story that Aladdin is racist. I thought to myself "WTF?! How could this Disney movie be racist ?" In the report, there were complaints from arab communities that it was unfair & racist that only Aladdin & Jasmine spoke perfect english while other characters had accents. So Disney decided to redub the movie for its upcoming home video release. During the redubbing they'll also change a lyric to one of the songs that some viewers felt was too dark & violent. Once I heard the news story I went to the closest movie theater and saw the film before it was altered. Sure enough, there was the "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face" in Arabian Nights and the characters had accents. I distinctly remember the palace guard saying " I"ll have your hands for a trophy, street rat ! " with a heavy accent. Sadly that was the only time I got to see the original version of Aladdin.

Anyway, that's how I know.

[Disney-Fan]

Sorry Disney-Fan but your argument doesn't quite hold water.

Well, if visual frames don't hold water, then what does? It's a fact that when seeing that knee from a different perspective, there is no doubt about what it really is. It's not about what I feel is ridiculous, it just is. Plain and simple.

[The Little Merman]

I am SOOO looking forward to this release. I e-mailed "Exotique DVD Shop" (a DVD store in Malta) and they told me they'll have it on the day of the release. If not that day, then soon.

By the way, I was rather shocked by nachonacho's situation, but I don't really know what a "paedophile" means. Can someone please explain?

Pedophilia or paedophilia is the paraphilia of being sexually attracted primarily or exclusively to prepubescent or peripubescent children. Persons with this attraction are called pedophiles.

Now that I read the formal definition of the word, I'm absolutely appauled at nachonaco's parent's comments. A love for the Disney culture does not insinuate that of being sexually attracted to children at all.

*tlm

[Jules]

Now that I read the formal definition of the word, I'm absolutely appalled at nachonaco's parent's comments. A love for the Disney culture does not insinuate that of being sexually attracted to children at all.

I perfectly agree. It is a shocking statement and an offensive accusation (not to mention insult) to nachonacho and all loyal Disney fans. Personally, I'd expect people like friends at school (who think they're all cool and everything) to spout something like that...not parents!!

P.S. Thanks for providing the definition, Little Merman.

[Disney Princess Ariellen]

[ I distinctly remember the palace guard saying " I"ll have your hands for a trophy, street rat ! " with a heavy accent.

That line is still in the movie...Jim Cummings plays the guard, Rasoul, and to my recollection, he always has. I saw the movie 4 times in its original run; granted, it was a long time ago. I knew that the lyrics of "Arabian Nights" were altered; I remember that story being all over the news, but I didn't think that they had rerecorded other character voices. I didn't think that any other alterations were made to the movie until they edited the 'controversial' balcony scene for the DVD.

[Son Of Flubber]

Sorry Disney-Fan but your argument doesn't quite hold water.

Well, if visual frames don't hold water, then what does? It's a fact that when seeing that knee from a different perspective, there is no doubt about what it really is. It's not about what I feel is ridiculous, it just is. Plain and simple.

I understand where you're coming from but even if there were similar visual frames later on that show the line as a knee, the first time we see the knee it can be misperceived as his penis getting aroused. That's how Disney perceived it so they altered it. No knee, no confusion. That's to Disney is more plain and simple than trying to force people to perceive the films imagery a certain way.

[Son Of Flubber]

[ I distinctly remember the palace guard saying " I"ll have your hands for a trophy, street rat ! " with a heavy accent.

That line is still in the movie...

Yes it is, but, it's redubbed so the guard does not have the heavy accent.