Reflection of The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie so watching this was no chore. It is, however, not as easy to critique because it is so good and it is always fun to poke holes. It was interesting watching again after reading the articles for class about evil. Ursula has a manly voice and is fat like Warner stereotypes most villains. When I was watching I also noticed words like "flotsam" and "jetsam" which I did not know their definitions until I studied for the SATs.

It was interesting that Disney created the character of the witch which is half woman half octopus, a legend I have never heard of before; however, everyone has heard of mermaids. 

Watching this movie again I also noticed Sebastian is Jamaican. I am curious to know why that is. Are crabs common in Jamaica? Nevertheless, he reminds me of my Jamaican house keeper/ babysitter growing up. Also, I found his name interesting because it would be much better suited on a sea bass. 

It was also funny in Ariel's song how she imagines that on land they do not reprimand their daughters. When Ariel saved Eric I got really excited because for once the girl got to save the guy. Go Ariel! Also I fully agree with Sebastian's song, "Under the Sea." I'm sorry but who in their right mind wouldn't want to be a mermaid? It's what I always pretended to be when I went swimming when I was growing up. Me and my friends had a whole mermaid game based on the TV show H20. 

It was weird that there were barely any mermen shown in the movie. Obviously Ariel would want a human boy if there were barely any mermen around. Her statue that was given to her of Eric was a bit stalkerish though. Also, she chose a boy she barely knows over her entire family and all of her friends, and her dad still gives his life for her. 

Ursula teaches me in this movie that to get a man, its better not to talk. Good thing in this movie she is at least the villain and we know not to trust what she says. Still the theme does not improve much from Cinderella. Eric only loves a girl because of the sound of her voice and was about to marry another girl than Ariel because she could sing well, even though he and Ariel had developed a connection. 

I love the sound track for this movie. I could sing these songs all day- in fact I will probably be singing them for the next week. Luckily, my roommate loves them too and will probably sing along with me. I couldn't pick a favorite if I tried but my top three are, in no specific order other than chronological: "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea," and "Kiss the Girl."

It is interesting that in the original story the movie was based on, Ariel was the only one not fascinated by items from ship wrecks. The only thing she did cherish, similarly the movie, was the creepy statue (almost like a shrine).

The original story is also very creepy because the mermaids try to drown lost ships to take their things on board. This closer resembles the story of what actual sirens/mermaids are said to be like in urban legend. Also the witch tells Ariel walking on legs will feel like walking on sharp knives. I think I like the Disney version better...