pods-59362

As other reviews, this movie was already in trouble on the fact: what success rate has a live Disney remake ever had? Ever?

I really tried to love this movie, I really did, but I don't think it even knows why it exists, and who it's for. I didn't mind it, is all.

Here's the score: 1) It's OK to change the original, when doing a remake: yes (e.g. Disney most DEFINITELY changed the story of the Little Mermaid in their original from the Hans Christian Andersen's original) + 1 2) Target audience: Kids? Adults? Kids: nope. It's long. Virtually ALL of the humor is gone in this live version. While some is inevitable (animation is intentionally exaggerated), they removed little bits that actually matter. All of the humor extends almost completely from Scuttle now, and many of his original bits are gone. Adults: nope. There is almost no true fear in this movie. Why? They mandated that Ariel get a brainwash in this take, so there is no real sense of urgency, no desperation. Want a make an adult movie? Try this movie, with the original true Hans Christian Anderson storyline as the foundation. -1 3) Effects: the metric for a movie like this is: special effects in water. Whatever you may think of Avatar 2... the bar has been raised. There is literally no comparison between the effects in Avatar and this movie. -1 4) Chemistry: Halle Bailey is almost impossibly beautiful, and I don't know if it is her acting prowess, or the fact the script called for her to be dazed and confused, but: between her and Jonah Hauer-King ... there was nothing. Just nothing. Like the lack of urgency or desperation, there is a major lack of passion here, even for things they are supposed to share in common in this movie (collectibles). It's almost as if Jonah was under Ursula's spell before they even started filming.

5) raison d'etre: is there a singular reason for this remake to exist? Did they do a dark, original version, of The Little Mermaid? Nope. Did they correct some serious flaw in the original? Nope. Did they render effects that are jaw-dropping? Nope ... there simply doesn't seem to be a single reason for this remake to be. -1

That said: I am happy I watched it, but my memory of it will fade quickly in time, like tears in the sea.