The Little Mermaid (Live-Action)

[Redadoodles]

I think both Ariel and Triton are to blame for putting everyone at risk, but Ariel generally receives more of the blame from viewers because her reason for signing the deal was ultimately self-motivated whereas Triton giving up his trident was out of love for his daughter.

I think a lot of criticism hurled at Ariel stems from people conflating self-care with selfishness. It's not selfish to want to find love or pursue a romance that's considered taboo. Ariel's love for a human can be seen as a metaphor for interracial or same-sex relationships.

This was the only reason why I was against Halle Bailey's casting when she was announced as Ariel.
I've always considered Ariel and Eric's relationship as a metaphor for an interracial relationship but it was subtle and not so much in your face. However, when Halle got cast it got rid of the subtext and the subtlety that was found in the animated film.
However, a few weeks after the announcement, I started to let go of my anger and started to warm up to Halle's casting especially when I got to listen to her beautiful and angelic vocal range.

The only thing that might destroy her performance is her comic timing. Indeed, Ariel is one of the few princesses who has some hilarious moments and therefore the actress who portrays the character needs to have excellent timing when it comes to that.
That's why I think Lindsay Lohan (back in 2006) would have been perfect for the role as she was a great comedian as seen in Freaky Friday, The Parent Trap and Mean Girls but also had an amazing range when it came to dramatic roles such as the ones from Georgia Rule and Bobby. The fact that she was also a Disney darling at the time would have helped as well but alas, Lindsay is not only too old now for the role but she also destroyed her natural beauty.

[Disney Duster]

That's where we differ, I guess. I see the contract as magical. It couldn't simply be legal because an absolute monarch decides what the law is and Triton wouldn't be beholden to her in that way? And there's nothing in Ariel's contract that would make it off-limits for Triton to be the one to kill Ursula, so it's not like he would have been violating some legal principle if he was the one who did her in instead of Eric. If anything, Eric's more likely to be a part of the contract than Triton, since Ariel having to kiss him was part of the deal.

Yes Disney's Divinity and Sotiris, I am 100% sure the contract was magical, because Ursula sticks it in front of herself and it saves her from being blasted by Triton! If it was just legal, the trident energy would go right through the contract and kill the witch! Also, the contract swirled around Ariel and Triton and turned them into polyps. How is that not magical?!

Redadoodles, I agree with you Triton was the one who did the ultimate damage and did the wrong thing signing himself on Ursula's contract, but he's a flawed character that was using his heart for his favorite daughter over his brain, and it was the right move for the movie.

I also wish we could have had young Lindsay Lohan as Ariel.

[Sotiris]

When I said it's not magical, I meant that Triton isn't able to break it because it was a valid contract in good standing, not because the paper or ink were magical. Ursula didn't need a contract to turn Ariel into a polyp. A spell or a potion could have done the trick just the same. So, why did she need her to sign a contract? Because if she turned her into a polyp only through magical means, Triton could have undone it with his magic. She needed a a legally-binding contract so Triton wouldn't be able to reverse it. At least, that's how I see it.

[Redadoodles]

But then again, Ursula was banished for a reason so the fact that she kept on doing evil deeds could warrant Triton getting rid of her once more and/or killing her. Triton could have let Ariel be Ursula's slave for a few hours or even a day but still go after Ursula using all of other illegal activities to justify his final move concerning the witch.

[D82]

Daveed Diggs talked a bit about the remake in GMA. The way he talks it seems he has already recorded his songs, doesn't it?

[bruno_wbt]

Daveed Diggs talked a bit about the remake in GMA. The way he talks it seems he has already recorded his songs, doesn't it?

Yes, the soundtrack was recorded early this year!

[D82]

Yes, the soundtrack was recorded early this year!

Thanks for the info! I can't wait to listen to the new songs!

I think a lot of criticism hurled at Ariel stems from people conflating self-care with selfishness. It's not selfish to want to find love or pursue a romance that's considered taboo. Ariel's love for a human can be seen as a metaphor for interracial or same-sex relationships. It's not selfish to want to emigrate to a different country when you find life in your homeland unfulfilling. Ariel's love for a different land and culture than her own can be seen as an immigrant story. Critics also tend to forget that Ariel was driven to Ursula out of despair and hopelessness caused by Triton's actions. Had he not destroyed her grotto, she wouldn't have entertained making a deal with her.

I completely agree. It's curious to me characters like Cinderella get criticized for not doing enough to change their situation and Ariel who does is criticized for the opposite. It's true she's a bit rebellious and disobedient, but I think that's what's great about her. She makes mistakes and behaves like a real teenager, and therefore is much more believable and relatable than many other main characters. At least to me. Like someone else said, nowadays many times the only defect they're allowed to have is a bit of self-doubt.

Regarding who is more at fault for what happens in the third act, to me is not that important, but I guess both Ariel and Triton are partly responsible. I believe things are rarely only one person's fault.

This was the only reason why I was against Halle Bailey's casting when she announced as Ariel.
I've always considered Ariel and Eric's relationship as a metaphor for an interracial relationship but it was subtle and not so much in your face. However, when Halle got cast it got rid of the subtext and the subtlety that was found in the animated film.
However, a few weeks after the announcement, I started to let go of my anger and started to warm up to Halle's casting especially when I got to listen to her beautiful and angelic vocal range.

But, when Halle was cast we still didn't know Eric was going to be white. And if I'm not mistaken, the casting for this film was color-blind, right? I guess in a similar way to Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella from 1997 or Hamilton. So, I imagine the characters' race is not going to be addressed at all, and Ariel and Eric are not really going to be treated as an interracial couple. Anyway, I understand your initial concern, I felt that way too regarding Elsa from Frozen. Some people wanted her to be revealed as gay in the sequel, but in my opinion, had they done that, the metaphor for that and other things from the first film would've been ruined.

[Disney Duster]

When I said it's not magical, I meant that Triton isn't able to break it because it was a valid contract in good standing, not because the paper or ink were magical. Ursula didn't need a contract to turn Ariel into a polyp. A spell or a potion could have done the trick just the same. So, why did she need her to sign a contract? Because if she turned her into a polyp only through magical means, Triton could have undone it with his magic. She needed a a legally-binding contract so Triton wouldn't be able to reverse it. At least, that's how I see it.

So it's magic legality is what prevented him from magically killing her?

I think a lot of criticism hurled at Ariel stems from people conflating self-care with selfishness. It's not selfish to want to find love or pursue a romance that's considered taboo. Ariel's love for a human can be seen as a metaphor for interracial or same-sex relationships. It's not selfish to want to emigrate to a different country when you find life in your homeland unfulfilling. Ariel's love for a different land and culture than her own can be seen as an immigrant story. Critics also tend to forget that Ariel was driven to Ursula out of despair and hopelessness caused by Triton's actions. Had he not destroyed her grotto, she wouldn't have entertained making a deal with her.

I completely agree. It's curious to me characters like Cinderella get criticized for not doing enough to change their situation and Ariel who does is criticized for the opposite. It's true she's a bit rebellious and disobedient, but I think that's what's great about her. She makes mistakes and behaves like a real teenager, and therefore is much more believable and relatable than many other main characters. At least to me. Like someone else said, nowadays many times the only defect they're allowed to have is a bit of self-doubt.

Regarding who is more at fault for what happens in the third act, to me is not that important, but I guess both Ariel and Triton are partly responsible. I believe things are rarely only one person's fault.

This is why Ariel is a better role model than Cinderella and why Ariel is the most popular Disney Princess.

It is kind both Ariel and her father's fault.

This was the only reason why I was against Halle Bailey's casting when she announced as Ariel.
I've always considered Ariel and Eric's relationship as a metaphor for an interracial relationship but it was subtle and not so much in your face. However, when Halle got cast it got rid of the subtext and the subtlety that was found in the animated film.
However, a few weeks after the announcement, I started to let go of my anger and started to warm up to Halle's casting especially when I got to listen to her beautiful and angelic vocal range.

But, when Halle was cast we still didn't know Eric was going to be white. And if I'm not mistaken, the casting for this film was color-blind, right? I guess in a similar way to Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella from 1997 or Hamilton. So, I imagine the characters' race is not going to be addressed at all, and Ariel and Eric are not really going to be treated as an interracial couple. Anyway, I understand your initial concern, I felt that way too regarding Elsa from Frozen. Some people wanted her to be revealed as gay in the sequel, but in my opinion, had they done that, the metaphor for that and other things from the first film would've been ruined.

I don't think those metaphors were ever intended, but the fact is you can still read the films that way.

I guess with Howard Ashman and Hans Christian Anderson being gay that could mean Ariel was a metaphor for that, which would really bother Jodi Benson....

The interracial couple thing being turned from a metaphor to something literal doesn't seem bad to me, though.

[Disney's Divinity]

I don't think it's entirely true that Triton's actions in destroying the grotto are what cause the deal. Ariel initially tells F&J to go screw themselves when they approach her, and that was after her grotto had been destroyed. Unfortunately, what the film actually portrays is that the only reason she ultimately goes to Ursula and then makes the deal is because of Eric; F&J and Ursula all recognize this is the way to get her on the hook, which is why F&J knock the statue face of Eric to her and Ursula shows a facsimile of Eric to her in the latter half of PUS when Ariel's hesitating at the cost. I think if Ariel's decision was less about romance with a man she's never spoken to and had been linked more to her own desires (in "Part of That World"), the brunt of criticism over her putting everyone in jeopardy wouldn't fall as harshly as it often does in my experience. The idea that she sold out her whole kingdom--knowingly or not--over a three day attempt to make a man she's never even spoken to love her makes her seem pretty frivolous and privileged.

Unfortunately, while TLM was a huge step forward from the Walt days, the narrative is structured in such a way that the only way the female character can be active is by being disobedient. And then all her problems are resolved by men. The depiction of their female characters is one of the few advantages I would acknowledge the Revival films have over the Renaissance.

[Sotiris]

And if I'm not mistaken, the casting for this film was color-blind, right?

Not really. Colorblind casting is when the actors' race or ethnicity is not a factor in the casting process. Here it was since only black actresses were considered for the role of Ariel and only white actors for the role of Eric.

[Farerb]

It a color conscious casting.

[Redadoodles]

But, when Halle was cast we still didn't know Eric was going to be white. And if I'm not mistaken, the casting for this film was color-blind, right? I guess in a similar way to Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella from 1997 or Hamilton. So, I imagine the characters' race is not going to be addressed at all, and Ariel and Eric are not really going to be treated as an interracial couple. Anyway, I understand your initial concern, I felt that way too regarding Elsa from Frozen. Some people wanted her to be revealed as gay in the sequel, but in my opinion, had they done that, the metaphor for that and other things from the first film would've been ruined.
I don't think those metaphors were ever intended, but the fact is you can still read the films that way.

I guess with Howard Ashman and Hans Christian Anderson being gay that could mean Ariel was a metaphor for that, which would really bother Jodi Benson....

The interracial couple thing being turned from a metaphor to something literal doesn't seem bad to me, though.

Those metaphor were never put out clearly by Disney. That's just how I visualized the relationship between Ariel and Eric and I never assumed anyone would do too. To my surprise, I've seen some people having the same opinion over the years which is nice.
There is clearly a racism issue in the film though or at least Triton's fear/hatred of humans translates as racism.

As for the remake, it's true that when Halle got cast, no one knew what Eric would look like but it was pretty predictable that they would choose a white guy especially after all the hatred that poor girl received when she was announced as Ariel.

On another note, I don't think Ariel is a better role model than Cinderella though. Both have flaws and qualities. However, Cinderella is adored by the animals that live with her because she takes care of them, feeds them and looks out for them. That's why the mice and birds go out of their way to treat her with a new evening gown. It's an equal friendship on both parts.
However, if you take Ariel and the way she treats Flounder and Sebastian, you could almost say that she takes their friendship for granted. The only time she does anything for them is when she rescues Flounder from the shark at the beginning of the film and even then, Flounder was in danger because of her. Now, don't get me wrong, Ariel is one of my favorite Disney characters (God knows I love her) but it's funny how everyone in her film is crazy about her but not once do you see her do anything for one of her friends who literally risk their lives continuously to make sure she's okay and happy.

[Disney Duster]

I never liked the reading of Triton as a racist. I'd say it's more xenophobe, but either way I just don't like putting racial history and issues into a film all about white people.

I don't think they would make Eric white just to avoid hate against the actor. Otherwise they would have changed their decision on Halle, if the hate was that bad.

I agree Cinderella is an excellent role model regarding how she treats her friends. But not how she treats herself.

[Redadoodles]

The difference being that Halle Bailey has Beyonce Knowles as a mentor so it's not exactly the same thing. Beyonce has worked closely with Disney in the past and I'm sure that she had some input in Halle's casting. Besides, the casting calls were pretty clear that the mermaids could potentially be african american but I do not recall reading anything about the humans having that option. To be honest, I believe that Halle was actually cast a very long time ago and that the casting call was merely a distraction to let the audience digest the news that Ariel would not be white in the remake.

[Disney's Divinity]

I don't think they would make Eric white just to avoid hate against the actor. Otherwise they would have changed their decision on Halle, if the hate was that bad.

I agree. Like Redadoodles, I often saw Triton's reaction to Ariel being in love with a human as similar to racism or homophobia. And that's why the film probably had an emotional heft, because it was believable as compared to things many might hear or see in the real world but translated into fantasy terms. I think that a lot of that subtext will most likely be lost in the re-make because, Idk, it would be uncomfortable or problematic to imply a metaphor of racism when Triton and Ariel are people of color and Eric is white. "Reverse" racism isn't really a thing, at least not on an institutional scale anyway.

I didn't know Bailey had a connection to Beyonce.

[blackcauldron85]

The two began posting music covers to YouTube and were discovered by Beyoncé, who became their mentor and later signed them to her label, Parkwood Entertainment.

[Disney's Divinity]

Oh, interesting. I suppose once they decided they wanted Ariel to be Black, they might have reached out to her for recommendations since she's already working on films with Disney.

[Disney Duster]

Oh, man, I was wrong and you were right, Redadoodles and Disney's Divinity! It's not xenophobia, but racism that you could read from Triton! I still personally don't want to infer racism when I watch the film, but you guys can of course.

I didn't know about Halle Bailey and Beyonce either!

I'm glad we agreed on that thing about the casting, Divinity.

[D82]

And if I'm not mistaken, the casting for this film was color-blind, right?

Not really. Colorblind casting is when the actors' race or ethnicity is not a factor in the casting process. Here it was since only black actresses were considered for the role of Ariel and only white actors for the role of Eric.

Oh, OK. Thanks for the explanation.

It a color conscious casting.

Thanks for the info. I hadn't heard of that term before. I've looked it up, but I'm not sure I've understood the difference between this type of casting and the colorblind one. Does it mean that the race of the characters will play a role in the story? And will it have logic then? I mean, will Ariel's mother be black to explain why Ariel is, since Triton is not?

I wanted to reply to more things, but unfortunately I don't have time now.

[Sotiris]

I hadn't heard of that term before. I've looked it up, but I'm not sure I've understood the difference between this type of casting and the colorblind one.

Sometimes, color-conscious casting is just a euphemism or an alternative name for colorblind casting as the term colorblind has fallen into disrepute. Other times, there is a difference. With colorblind casting, the creative team is open to every race and ethnicity for characters as long as the actors possess other qualities they are are looking for in a role. In this case, race isn't a factor in casting. With color-conscious casting, they set out to cast people of a specific race in specific roles from the start usually for diversity's or representation's sake. In this case, race is a factor in casting.

Mind you, not all color-conscious casting is progressive. Limiting Eric to only white actors was not progressive. Telling Latino actors who auditioned for the role they're not European enough was not progressive.

Does it mean that the race of the characters will play a role in the story? And will it have logic then? I mean, will Ariel's mother be black to explain why Ariel is, since Triton is not?

We don't know for sure yet, but it's unlikely. Race playing a factor in casting does not necessarily means it plays a factor in the story too. Personally, I don't expect the race of the characters to have any bearing on the story or correspond to real-world genetics.