The Little Mermaid: Platinum Edition DVD Press Release

[rodis]

Just watched the film. Let me start by saying the restoration is in one word... STUNNING!!!!!!! Right from the start when we see the seagulls flying in the sky you notice the clarity and beauty of this restoration: crisp, vibrant and amazing clarity! I don't even know what grain some people were referring to in the Fathoms Below sequence. Honestly. It was jaw-dropping. The Part Of Your World (Reprise) is another amazingly restored sequence. I was highly impressed. I haven't had time to go through the extras but I'll get to that tomorrow probably. Anyway, watching this film all over again and especially for the first time on DVD makes this a very special experience. I love this film

For those of you who haven't gotten their copy yet, you're in for a real treat!!

[Dottie]

For those of you who haven't gotten their copy yet, you're in for a real treat!!

I know!! It'll make my 18th birthday on Sunday so special, even if it arrives after Sunday. That's the best thing about it: I don't have to pay for it!!

[xxhplinkxx]

I just finished watching the movie... oh my god, it looks BEAUTIFUL!!!!

[Spottedfeather]

In the review, it says that Little Mermaid is the second Platinum Edition that has already been on dvd. What's the first ? I check the Platinum Editions and as far as I can see, The Little Mermaid is the only PE that has already been out on dvd. If this is not the case, which is the first ?

[brotherbear]

Well, I finnished watching TLM last night...and OH MY GOODNESS....the restoration is B-E-A-UTIFUL!!! I'm acutally really glad that the beginning is still grainy...without the grain in the beginning, there would be no fog, and this TLM would be a wholey different movie!! Anyway, with vibrant colors, and clearer backgrounds, I personally think this restoration was a pretty good success!

And as far as bonus features...I didn't have a chance to see any of them, except the Original Theatrical Trailer (I am a HUGE fan of trailers!!)...which was a nice inclusion! Anyway, I plan to get around to the bonus features in the future....but maybe not until late October....cause schoolwork is starting to pile up...

Overall Grade I give TLM:PE- A(ish)

-BB

[brotherbear]

In the review, it says that Little Mermaid is the second Platinum Edition that has already been on dvd. What's the first ? I check the Platinum Editions and as far as I can see, The Little Mermaid is the only PE that has already been out on dvd. If this is not the case, which is the first ?

Lady and the Tramp was the first to come back...and now, TLM. The last DAC to have its premeire on a PE was Cinderella in October 2005. All of the PE's after that will be returning on bigger and better DVD's.

-BB

[slave2moonlight]

I saw the footage of Sherri in the Easter Egg, and it made me really happy(also saw the other Egg on the same page)! I feel much better about this release having seen that, though I don't think it should have been relegated to an Easter Egg. It should have been in the documentary, and the Easter Egg should have been that McDonald's video. The Jodi video would have made another nice Easter Egg. Are there any EEs on the first disc? I have yet to put that one on. MAYBE tonight.

[Disney's Divinity]

I have a question: does anyone know whatever happened to the deleted song (the one that was rumored to be an added scene a while back, which I'd never heard of before) "The Sun Only Shines On Land" meant to take place after Triton destroys Ariel's grotto? It's not included on the DVD and I'm wondering if it even exists…?

As for the DVD itself, my only other complaint was that they didn't include Howard Ashman's demos for Part of That World and Poor Unfortunate Souls, considering they praised them so much. From what little was revealed, I wouldn't have minded hearing the whole demo.

And, concerning the fun fact of Ursula being (or was going to be?) Triton's sister, I often wonder if some movies would be better including some of the deleted scenes. I really enjoyed the deleted version of Fathoms Below much more than the version in the movie (which I always considered the most boring part of the film). It's the same way I felt about how there was once going to be a mother to Aladdin. In fact, if they had expanded on the aunt-niece relationship in the movie, it could've been near the uncle-nephew relationship seen in TLK. In fact, it would've made Ursula’s villainy even more formidable.

[Ting Ting]

Though I've seen this movie a TRILLION times, I've never noticed this until now. I noticed that "Part of Your World" is a bit different on the soundtrack. On the soundtrack, Ariel says, "Maybe he's right, maybe there is something the matter with me," but in the movie that line was never used. Why is that?

[slave2moonlight]

I think it's best to keep that for the Lion King. For one thing, if the humans had known that much info about the merpeople, well, that'd be a little strange. It's one thing for them to know that they have a king named Triton. It could still be myth. That's the sort of info that could make it out to the human world. But all that other info, that was a little too much for them to know unless they either were frequently in contact with the merfolk at some time or completely made it all up. Anyway, aside from that, I think the Aunt Ursula idea would have overcomplicated the story. Most of us feel it is a perfect film as it is, so why make plot complications that are unnecessary and might not turn out as well as we'd imagine?

Not to mention, it would screw up the trilogy probably.

[slave2moonlight]

Though I've seen this movie a TRILLION times, I've never noticed this until now. I noticed that "Part of Your World" is a bit different on the soundtrack. On the soundtrack, Ariel says, "Maybe he's right, maybe there is something the matter with me," but in the movie that line was never used. Why is that?

I remember this from the soundtrack, which I've heard a million times, but I haven't watched the movie in quite a while, even though it is one of my faves and I own the old DVD too. Are you sure they didn't delete that line on the new release? I hope not. I can't remember if it was in the movie before, but I also can't believe I didn't notice that... It's a very Broadway type way to open a song. I mean, on the soundtrack, that opening really makes it sound like a Broadway show soundtrack...

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I got my copy yesterday, and I haven't finished watching the movie (at least I started, right?). And from what I saw, the restoration is AMAZING!!! I can't believe how wonderful it is. When the seagulls came flying onto the screen, I said to myself "No GRAIN!" I am completely satisfied with the restoration, even though I haven't seen the whole movie yet. I watched "Treasures Untold" and I found that very informative. There could have been more information included, but this is a great piece. I also watched the Original Trailer (thank you Disney for putting that in!), the two Easter Eggs, The Story Behind the Story, and "The Little Matchgirl". Now I have to say that "The Little Matchgirl" is a great piece. I was not knowing of the Hans Christen Anderson story prior to watching it, and I was in awe, and sadness, because of the story. This is a wonderful piece, and I wish that it would have been included in the cancelled Fantasia 2006. I plan on finishing the movie tonight, and watching the other bonus features tomorrow. I can't wait, I'm so excited! By March of next year, I will probably be just as excited as I am now

[Disney's Divinity]

I think it's best to keep that for the Lion King. For one thing, if the humans had known that much info about the merpeople, well, that'd be a little strange. It's one thing for them to know that they have a king named Triton. It could still be myth. That's the sort of info that could make it out to the human world. But all that other info, that was a little too much for them to know unless they either were frequently in contact with the merfolk at some time or completely made it all up. Anyway, aside from that, I think the Aunt Ursula idea would have overcomplicated the story. Most of us feel it is a perfect film as it is, so why make plot complications that are unnecessary and might not turn out as well as we'd imagine?

Not to mention, it would screw up the trilogy probably.

I personally think there being a villain that comes out of nowhere without any relation to any of the characters other than "she wants to rule the sea" isn't the greatest idea; it only works well onscreen because the voice actors really bring the characters to life. The family idea would better contribute to the bad blood between her and Triton, in my opinion. In fact, they wouldn't even have to worry about Ariel, since I doubt she'd know much about the whole story anyway. I couldn't picture Triton telling her that the famous "Witch of the Sea" is actually his dear old sister. It would be something that only the audience would know and would only be hinted at during the confrontation scene near the climax of the movie.

As for the sailors knowing too much, well, the fact that they know anything at all hints that some of them must've met the merfolk. They couldn't have just invented the right name to the King.

And I was saying that it would've been better to release it this way originally (again, in my opinion), not change it later on. Besides, TLK came on much later after TLM was well-off into production. I'm not saying I don't like the movie as it is (it is my favorite Disney movie after all), I just think these ideas really would've made the movie better.

[slave2moonlight]

True, but that's my point. It's one thing for a very few to get a little information, but that was a bit TOO MUCH information for outsiders like humans to have, especially when, in general, humans think of merpeople as a myth.

As for the evil relatives bit, I think it's a bit played out already. From Star Wars to the Lion King, and plenty of other stuff inbetween, I may love it in those films, but I don't need to get it over and over again.

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, TLM would've been released before TLK. I mean, I love the movie as-is, but I just think I'd have enjoyed it even more with that idea included in there. I didn't mean to start a debate about it though.

[slave2moonlight]

True, but then the Lion King would have looked like it was copying, which would have really screwed everything up, since it was an essential plot point in the Lion King (which is Shakespeare's Hamlet, not the "first original Disney animated feature" it was sometimes described as), while it isn't necessary to The Little Mermaid.

[goofystitch]

Disney's Divinity wrote:

I personally think there being a villain that comes out of nowhere without any relation to any of the characters other than "she wants to rule the sea" isn't the greatest idea; it only works well onscreen because the voice actors really bring the characters to life.

Actually, Ursula mentions that she was banashed by Triton and forced to live in that cave where she "wasted away to practically nothing." So it's a revenge type villany with a point and a story behind it.

As for the deleted scenes, I personally think the film would have gotten a bit to complex if they were kept in. First of all, King Triton's evil sister is a squid and not a mermaid. That would have confused me to death as a kid. And why would his sister, who would have been a princess, want to destroy her brother and her neice? To add this back story, the film would have needed at least an extra 10 minutes of development that would have slowed everything down. And I agree with slave2moonlight that it would have been too much information for the humans to know about the merpeople and be correct about. King Triton has been a myth for a long time, as well as mermaids. So it is more acceptable that they know these facts than it would be for them to also know about Triton's evil sister and all that.

[Disneykid]

I have a question: does anyone know whatever happened to the deleted song (the one that was rumored to be an added scene a while back, which I'd never heard of before) "The Sun Only Shines On Land" meant to take place after Triton destroys Ariel's grotto? It's not included on the DVD and I'm wondering if it even exists…?

I'm pretty sure that song never existed. For one, they mention on the DVD that "Silence is Golden" is the only song Howard and Alan wrote that didn't end up in the film. Secondly, the Music Behind the Magic CD set includes song demos and deleted numbers from Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. "The Sun Only Shines On Land" wasn't on there, either. Considering how insanely comprehensive that set is, I'm willing to bet the song was just a fan rumor.

[Disney-Fan]

On the soundtrack, Ariel says, "Maybe he's right, maybe there is something the matter with me," but in the movie that line was never used. Why is that?

I'm guessing it's just so the song can be played in the proper context. In the movie after Flounder asks her: "Are you alright Ariel?" she responds by saying: "I just don't see things the way he does". Putting that on a soundtrack would make no sence, especially for people who (gasp!) haven't seen the movie yet.

[xxhplinkxx]

I LOVED the alternate fight with Ursula. Did anyone else? A friend of mine who is a fellow Mermaid fanatic said she liked it more than the one in the movie. I would love the see the alternate fight animated.