The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition - Fall 2013

[Warm Regards]

What a marvelous idea. Enjoy the timeless classic, The Little Mermaid, by hauling in your iPad and playing games that detract from the actual movie.

[Atlantica]

Oh blimey ......

The point of this is what ?? Great job Disney, great job

[Disney's Divinity]

So…you’re not allowed to enter if you don’t have an iPad/etc. or can you? I know it’s required to experience all the interactive parts of the experience, but couldn’t you just see it without all that? The TN showing is just a little over 4 hours from me. I wouldn't mind visiting NY, but I don't think I'd have the money by September (because I'd want to take the time to explore everything there while I'm visiting, and that takes $$$. ).

[Atlantica]

Yeah, you can be boring and not see it with the app ... but WHY would you want to ? The movie is average at best without it ....

[Warm Regards]

Plus I can imagine all those other people with their iPads would be noisy, thereby making watching the movie itself frustrating and make you question when it became acceptable to use electronics in a movie theater.

[Disney's Divinity]

I checked the GA one, because I wondered the distance from me for that one, but about 3 hours more than the TN theater. If I can't see it without the iPad, I might as well not go. I'm not throwing $500 at an iPad that I likely would never use.

[Atlantica]

You do not need one to watch the film. Don't worry.

[DisneyJedi]

Well, at least it's seeing a theatrical rerelease. Too bad it's nowhere in Ohio.

Guess I can use this as an excuse to see my sister in New York around that time.

[Kyle]

I wouldn't be surprised if very few people actually bring their ipad. If they even have one. your average person just wants to watch a movie. This isnt exactly a common thing theaters do. You might even see people getting mad at those using their ipads during the movie being completely oblivious that the whole point according to Disney is to use it.

I see this as more of a test than anything. Their probably just trying to think outside the box of conventional movie experiences, trying to see if theres any appeal there. I knew it would see a theatrical release in some shape or form. I'm still expecting a proper wide release though for at least 2 weeks.

[Flanger-Hanger]

It's playing at Downtown Disney CA, but not FL? It it was I'd go see it (not with an ipad, but you know, to actually watch the movie).

[DancingCrab]

And now we know exactly what it was that Pat Carroll was talking about when she said she recorded stuff where Ursula tries to get the audience to use their ipads to sell their souls to her.

This sounds like it's going to teach AMAZING theater etiquette to children .....

[thelittleursula]

And now we know exactly what it was that Pat Carroll was talking about when she said she recorded stuff where Ursula tries to get the audience to use their ipads to sell their souls to her.

I can't even....

All this ipad thing and this is just... so stupid.....

Not only this but the " Soul Selling " is going to make the complaints about TLM even worse. My childhood feels destroyed.

[PatrickvD]

Wow, this is truly stupid.

That is exactly how I do NOT want to watch a movie.

Why don't they understand that the reason ticket sales are declining is because they are overpriced and the people around you won't shut the hell up??? This is overpriced and a group of kids is screaming and waving their iPads around....

That sounds like the worst theater experience imaginable.

[Atlantica]

I honestly don't understand either.

There is nothing I find more annoying than seeing people take out their phones and start using them in a cinema - the light is too jarring, and you think 'Damn, you have just paid £10.50 to go see a movie and you are just gonna bring out your phone and start texting'. Makes no sense.

Hopefully, if Disney just has this sign for the ipad part of the film in the cinema when you actually get there, it might be that not many bring their ipad, if at all. What will spoil it all is if Disney tack it on to the end of their TV spot ads, encouraging this nightmare to happen.

This release can not have been more crap from Disney - cancelled cinema release, no new extras of note, Ariel being removed from her parade slot in Paris, now a botched cinema - going experience with kids and their ipads, in it's teeny theatrical run.

Really not amused.

[Marky_198]

All I've done in the past years was say that I'll support the filmmakers' decision on how to present the film. That's their right. Not the audience's. Not the consumer's. Not yours.

Why is this point so important to you? Of course it is their right. It is their choice to change or ruin the film as they like.

The point is, that the world, we, the audiences can be very disappointed, because it is not the film we love anymore.

Even when it actually looks like the LaserDisc, as is this current case with The Little Mermaid. Because they have the credentials to present it that way. You don't.

I get it, they do, we don't. But why are they presenting it in the original way again now? Were they unable to do it with the SE? Was the SE not what they actually wanted? Were they disappointed with their choice? Or were they just disappointed that they did not have the right restoration tools for the SE?

Or did they just find out people were not buying the film anymore and give the original look a shot now, to see what it does?

I'm just curious, because the SE is clearly not what they wanted.

[rodis]

Or did they just find out people were not buying the film anymore and give the original look a shot now, to see what it does?

The PE is second only to TLK in sales of all the PE's so that's most likely not the reason.

[Atlantica]

Do you know the sales figures of all the Platinums ?

[disneyftw1]

It appears The Little Mermaid will get a limited U.S. theatrical exhibition after all, but via what may be the most distracting and unnecessary presentation method ever conceived.

http://disneysecondscreenlive.com/

... Oh boy, Disney must be desperate!
1) An iPad or iPad mini is required. (at least an iOS 5.0 or higher is used, so 1st gen iPads are allowed.) That's just cruel to those that hate apple or never had an apple product. Also, chances of that iPad or iPad mini to be stole can be moderate. Not everyone can afford one!
2) In theaters? Really?! What, is Blu-ray not good enough for this experience?! The point of seeing the film in a theater is seeing it on the big screen, and that screen only, not constantly getting distracted from the film by playing/interacting, unless it's interacting without a device, which would make more sense! (like a sing-along version. Yeah, that could have been the better option than forcing you to spend hundreds of dollars for the one thing that's worth 11 dollars. Spend more, earn less approach.) The one chance to see it on the big screen, and it would come down to requiring on using a device that you can do the same at home. Why? 'Cause the home version sticks around with you longer than in theaters, and you'll be able to play the second screen more than once and the distractions wouldn't be this harsh since you can seen the film itself over and over again.
And while we're at it, are cell phones allowed to be used during the film? 'cause why the hell not at this point?!
Recommendation: How about no.

This release can not have been more crap from Disney - cancelled cinema release, no new extras of note, Ariel being removed from her parade slot in Paris, now a botched cinema - going experience with kids and their ipads, in it's teeny theatrical run.

Really not amused.

Wait, Ariel was removed in the Paris parade slot?! ... WHAT THE FU-
Yeah, I'm miss the 90's Disney.

[Atlantica]

Been removed for Anna and Elsa from Frozen. It hasn't been said if she's going anywhere else yet, just removed, along with Eric.

[Marky_198]

The PE is second only to TLK in sales of all the PE's so that's most likely not the reason.

Hmm ok.
I really do wonder what the reason is then, for changing it completely, and then change it back to the original colors again.

With that said........I'm not complaining, I think it is incredible that the world can get to see the version of the film that people loved so much, for the first time since the laserdisc. It was about time after 25 years. I feel this way even more with BATB, which doesn't even look like the same film anymore.

I have great hopes that if Disney continues this way, the films might be saved for future generations in a truthful way.
(though I can't help but wonder what they will change for the 2018 release again, in order to change it back again in 2026? Could that actually be the reason? To keep the restorers working? Because I think it is very rare for a restoration to look truthful, so I think once they managed to do it right, they should keep that version forever, but I understand that all the generations to come (forever) like to work on it too, and put their own little time-related views on it.)