OK, here we go. I can't even find the TLM thread, so it's landing here.
We both watched the live action TLM on Disney+ last night, after catching up on Ahsoka.
My background story: when the animated TLM came out, I did not care at all. I must have been in my mid-20's or so, and had no interest whatsoever in what looked to me like a "little girls' cartoon." I never saw it until just a few years ago when it was on TV. By then, I had learned some of the songs and what not just from going to WDW. It was OK. I remember thinking I was right to not have hurried to see it. I probably forwarded past some of the songs. (Heresy!)
I'll admit it was probably the controversy that got me more interested in the live action version. I have enjoyed some of the live actions, skipped some, and disliked some (well, mainly one) - but I don't take any of them personally as some here appear to do.
The point of all that being I have no sentimental attachment to the original. I don't care if the fish looks like the animated fish. Not one bit. I won't notice as much where the story matches or where it diverges. I don't know if Brian ever even saw the animated version.
We both dug it! I was much more vested in this version than the animated version. There were real people to look at, a real ship to watch, etc. Halle had an on-screen charm that did not come through in still photography. A naive buoyancy that reminded me of Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman." She roped you in right away, I thought. I liked the sisters, the background. The relationship with her father was relatable. Her voice is fabulous. Eric was not bad to look at. Awkwafina was funny and bawdy, per usual. Puns. Struggle. Romance.
I thought I might just "get through this" movie, and warned Brian in the beginning that I might forward past songs. I didn't. I enjoyed them. Yes, including Scuttlebutt. I thought that was clever.
And now I'll turn dark and say I think one of the reasons people might not like that song - whether they're aware of it or not - is it has some hip-hop elements to it.
This film so won me over that I'm more convinced than ever I was right about the people who slammed it so disproportionately before seeing it. All the "That's not my Ariel" comments. All the "Let's see Taylor Swift play Tiana" comments. All the "Why couldn't they make a new story for a black mermaid" comments. Among other baseless complaints about acting or singing ability. If a black actress playing TLM bothers you in itself, look inward. I will be suspicious of anyone slamming this film for any of those made up "reasons."
No film is perfect. This one did not deserve the trashing it received. I would put it among my favorite live-action remakes, along with Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book. I would watch it again.
Minor nitpicks: the effects were spotty. It took me a minute to get used to their version of "underwater." I have never been a fan of CGI in general; I feel it is overused and people just seem to overlook the odd way things look using it - that includes films from Star Wars to Harry Potter to just about everything else. IMO, if I notice it, then it isn't good CGI. (Same goes for plastic surgery LOL.) Big Ursula was especially non-impressive. Melissa herself had good moments and meh moments. Eric's belly button was kind of icky.
So, if someone is just dead-set against all live action remakes, as some here appear to be, fine. If someone is nitpicking the effects, fine. If you are against "black Ariel," that's just a shame. We both said afterwards we enjoyed this movie more than either of us expected.
