xxhplinkxx wrote:I guess those storyboards that were floating around a while ago were never used, which is sad.
Or, not official in the first place. Was he listed in the credits?
slave2moonlight wrote:Oh yeah, I keep forgetting to mention this, but it's funny how directors are. The one scene in which Flounder actually acts like Flounder in Little Mermaid 3 is among the deleted scenes...
I was just about to come here to say that!
Disney's Divinity wrote:If this movie's not what we deserve, I'm going to say something.
Perhaps
Vermin Friends avoided replying because, at this point, you're just battling opinions. You've said nothing
I agree with, so I can certainly see why he avoided responding.
And I'm sick and tired of hearing people complain about Ursula not being in this. Sure,
AB could've been this and it could've been that, but the fact is it
wasn't. Judge it for what it is and don't hold it under the lens of some non-existent story, that would
supposedly have been great, you've created in your minds.
Yeah... I'm really sorry,
Disney Duster, but at this point (with no chance of another prequel, any light on Ursula's banishment), being optimistic is pretty pointless, since there's nothing that we can do. Like
Disney's Divinity said, I think we should judge TLM3 for what it is, not what it could have been. However...
Disney Duster wrote:I guess I'll have to rent this soon.
Vermin Friends wrote:About Marina being Ursula: In the original film, Ursula says "in my day, we had fantastical feasts- back when I lived in the palace" implying that Ursula was living in the palace before Ariel's "day" or time. However, Marina would not have been living in the palace if the only reason why she was there was to watch over the girls (presumably after Athena died). Therefore, Ursula must've been around much earlier.
Yes,
implying. It is not hard proof that Ursula didn't live around Ariel's time. Being in the palace when Ariel was young would still be Ursula's "day" from long ago. If Ariel was six when Ursula was banished, it would still have been a decade ago, a long way back, back in her day. Also, why are you counting Marina, or TLM3 at all? That's not canon, and neither is the series (I just used it in case you cared about it). I was talking about what can be found in the original film that says Ursula couldn't have been around when Ariel was born. There is nothing.
And if you consider this movie that messes with Flounder, Sebastian, Triton, and even Ariel's characters (music is so prcious to her...that she misses rehearsals and concerts and gives up her voice to explore the human world which she doesn't talk about at all in this prequel?) to be part of the canon...WOW. They are making this thing now, way after the first movie, and not with the people that made the first movie, except Jodi, getting paid to voice the mermaid according to how they wrote her. Hopefully you don't consider TLM 2, with Ariel's character equally messed with to be strict and anal like her father and less Eric or land-loving, to also be canon.
First of all, so what if I consider TLM, TLM2, TLM3 and the series cannon? I don't really care that you don't, but I don't go around telling you what to think. Also, do you not know the definition of the word "imply"?
Okay. I just watched it, and much to my surprise, I did not enjoy it (or at least, not as much as I hoped to). I'm not sure if it was because I spoiled myself by watching so many clips from the movie (a several dozen times) before it was even released, or if the movie itself just isn't that good...
Basically I agree with almost everything
slave2moonlight said:
slave2moonlight wrote:Watched Little Mermaid 3. Didn't get to till tonight. It's as I heard, really nicely done visually, but really bad about not seeming true to the story/characters. I mean, it is just hard to believe that they go from the events of this one to the events of the real movie (though I don't know why people say the real movie picks up RIGHT after that one; could be a year or half a year inbetween). And Flounder is this Baloo/King Louie wannabe in this one. Kinda weird. Ariel is awesome though and in character (though it feels like this happens in an alternate universe), and it gives you a lot of stuff about the sisters, who are way freakin' hotter here than in the real movie. As far as prequels go, the TV series, which this completely disregards, works much better. This has got some fun stuff though, but that manatee sidekick of the villain's was really annoying to me, and the original songs were forgettable. Also, I love Jim Cummings, but he didn't sound like Triton at all and could only pass for a much older Triton than the original. I did come out of it loving Arista (not as much as Ariel of course). Also really enjoyed the bonus about the Broadway show (but I've been wondering forever, what are those things on the actors' foreheads sometimes? They look awful! I've wondered since I first saw footage of the show.)
Especially about liking Arista- she's now my favorite of Ariel's sisters, I love the way the developed her character. I actually sorta liked Benjamin except at the end, when he's dancing- his face looked really weird. As a comic relief, I LOVED him compared to the band. I can not stand that turtle. And Flounder... oy.
In the five minute sneak peek, whenever Triton's lines would come up, my head would immediately connect it with Tigger, and as a result, I would see Tigger shouting at Ariel or whatever. However, when I watched it, I barely noticed it, and although I wish they brought back Kenneth Mars to reprise his role, Jim Cummings wasn't all that bad.
Sebastian... I really hate to say this, but I've never really liked his character (ever), or his songs (which I feel are slightly overrated. Don't get me wrong, I love Alan Menken and Howard Ashman & their work, but); I'm sorry to say it, but it's the truth. I think he's overused as the comic relief (in all 3 movies and the TV show), and IMO just isn't that funny to begin with. I did like how he used terms from the original, "jumping jellyfish", and in the deleted scene "you give them an inch, they swim all over you". I also liked his scene with Ariel in the crystal cave (I guess that's what it is), where she finds the music box.
Speaking of, how could it have been thrown while closed, open while falling, and then ten years later be closed again? And what about when Ariel was unconscious? It slips out of her hand, rolls away and then pops open? Oh and then the ending when Triton uses it to magically restore the kingdom... I didn't really like that. It reminded me of the animation done on Cinderella 3's "Perfectly Perfect" magic (like when Cinderella and Charming's clothes are changed magically... not very nice, IMO). Also, what was with those gold balls? Looked like placeholders that were never replaced... Hmm...
Ariel was great, and I'm so glad Jodi fought to keep her in-character.
For the most part, I strongly agree with all the positive points that
Disney's Divinity made:
Disney's Divinity wrote:As for the good things:
- I loved the scenes with Triton and Athena interacting. When she reaches up and caresses his face in the sunset, I so "awwwed." Also, her death was done so-so to me. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. It's likely she thought the ship wouldn't hit her and that she could simply swim underneath it. Just an accident that happened.
- The dialogue, for the most part, was very well done. A lot of times with sequels, the worst part is the unnecessary chatter or horribly-done conversation, and Ariel's Beginning thankfully avoided it for the most part. The only moment that I can think of this happening is when Ariel says "I can't stay here without music" (or something along those lines). I thought Ariel had good reasons to leave, but that's a stupid way to put it. Besides that part, I loved it.
- There were so many great moments (from Marina waking the girls up to Ariel singing "I Remember"), but my favorite was when Ariel fights with Triton ("I may not remember much about my mother, but I know she wouldn't have wanted this..." PERFECT!) and retreats to her room. From here to the moment she leaves the palace, everything's perfect. The way she looks in the mirror, the fact that her sisters don't support her (I thought they would've went hunky-dory and made them go, "Poor Ariel! I know--I know!"), Triton visiting the statue and the music in the background all go together perfectly.
- The animation was extremely well-done. Any spots where there was imperfection moved quickly enough that you didn't have to endure them. The only thing that annoyed me was the lack of fluidity in the hair and tails, but that didn't really stand out enough to bother the experience. Also, the backgrounds were gorgeous!
And even two of the "bad moments":
Disney's Divinity wrote:- The introductory shot is kind of strange, with the flat ocean and then it shows the merfolk as if they're above and below the ocean at the same time. Once it gets off that shot, the beginning's really good.
- Marina is a really great character (most likely my favorite to come from a sequel) up til the point that she sets the eels loose. It's just a bit too extreme and, even though she obviously had temper issues, she really wasn't enough of a loose canon to go that far.
About the opening shot, I think it's because the cast shadows making it look like they're hovering over the water, but they're also tinted with a little blue, giving them the look as if they were under the water. I also didn't like how they fade in and fade out, but I didn't mind too much, I still thought it was nice.
I didn't like the climax, though. There was just too much comic relief, not enough drama for me, or at least not as much as I was expecting. I also thought Flounder's slow-motion kick at the kelp a few minutes before was SO unnecessary, but I think that's rambling.
And about the DVD- I read the UD review, and there doesn't seem to be any easter eggs with this release... why not?
So for my personal closing thoughts: TLM is so much a part of my childhood, and is one of the biggest things that helped shape me into the person I am today. Seeing how it all began is an extra treat for me, and any other TLM fan. Sure it does have its flaws (I never said it didn't or won't), but for the most part, it is a pretty good prequel. The score is beautiful, the [original] songs are pretty nice (I don't really care for the club's songs), the animation is really beautiful (IMO, at least).
Like the UD review said, if you're a TLM fan, you should definitely pick it up. If you're not, you should at least rent it and give it a try. Hope someone agrees with the points I've made?
I say to each his own on this one. If you don't consider it cannon, then don't. Don't like it, then don't watch it..... If you do, then that's all fine and dandy but that doesn't make anything "official." 
I Remember (Reprise)
