Customer Reviews

The Little Mermaid (Fully Restored Special Edition) [VHS]

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One of the most beloved Disney films, "The Little Mermaid" returns on dvd, fully restored and remastered in an all new 2 disc set this October! Rather than talking about the film (c'mon we all know what it is all about and most of are quite familiar with its charm and beauty! Though the first "The Little mermaid" dvd released years ago was just a barebone disc with non-anamorphic transfer, this one will have everything to fulfill every mermaid fan's desire!

Here's what to look forward to in this special 2 disc set:

Fully restored with an all-new Disney Home Theatre 5.1 mix.
Backstage Disney, including an all new commentary.
Treasures Untold: The Making of The Little Mermaid.
The Story Behind The Story.
Deleted Scenes, including Backstage With Sebastian, Sebastian Lost In The Castle, Advice From Sebastian and Fight With Ursula.
Music Video "Kiss The Girl"
Games and Activities inclue The Little Mermaid Under The Sea Adventure: The Virtual Ride, Behind The Ride That Almost Was With Disney Imagineers and DisneyPedia: Life Under The Sea....

....And much more!!

"The Little Mermaid" is surely one of the finest films Disney ever produced and this long awaited platinum edition of this classic would surely be a welcome addition in any dvd collector's shelf!

This is no doubt a beautiful and classic disney film.

My advice: Wait for the 2-disc "Platinum Edition" to be released. It will contain the extra bonus features that the "Limited Issue" lacks. Also, if you wait you can probably find it for about 20 dollars, which is much better than buying it second hand right now for a ridiculous price. You will get more for your money if you wait! Also, you should know that Disney has decided to speed up their releases with the Platinum series (from 1 every year to 2 each year). So, Little Mermaid will be out in October of 2006. So, if you can wait a year and a half to get the better version, I would recommend it! Especially if you're into extras and bonus features (because the limited issue has NONE!)

So, if anyone is interested, Cinderella is the next Platinum DVD to come out in October of 2005, followed by Lady and the Tramp in March of 2006, and then (finally!) The Little Mermaid in October of 2006

(For 2007, the March release will be The Jungle Book and then 101 Dalmations in October)

For more information... UltimateDisney.com is a great website!

I hope you found this advice helpful, as my wish is for everyone to be able to enjoy this gorgeous Disney film!

Everyone knows by now that "The Little Mermaid" is the movie that returned the Disney company to its former glory, in all senses.
Upon its release in late 1989 (in most markets it was released in 1990), the movie was hailed by critics all over the world as the best Disney film in years (decades, that is) and one of the best films the company has ever produced. More importantly perhaps, the audience loved it. The movie went on to gross almost $90 million domestically and $200 million worldwide. A huge phenomenon. The video release, which followed in May 1990, generated huge numbers in sales and sold over 23 million copies in the US as of 1998. And you mustn't forget the songs, which quickly became a driving force in the film's success. Alan Manken created an irresistible score for the movie, and together with lyricist Howard Ashman, composed some of the finest songs ever heard in a Disney film. They later took the Oscars for 'Best Song' (for "Under The Sea") and 'Best Score'. They also won in the exact same categories at the Golden Globe and the Grammy awards. The soundtrack eventually went triple platinum in the US.
The animation in the film, is, in one word, dazzling. The underwater scenes are impressive in particular. Bubbles, surface reflections and moving sea-creatures create an illusional undersea atmosphere to which the audience is easily drawn into.
To create all that, 80% of the animation process required special effects, and the effort shows.

"The Little Mermaid" is scheduled for an October 2005 release on DVD. In 2001, Disney launched a 'Platinum Edition' line which includes their 10 best-selling titles on video to go on DVD. Every one of these films, comes as a 2-disc set featuring 'making-of's and commentaries from the talents who worked on the movie. Needless to say it would also include a highly enhanced version of the film (and sometimes even newly added sequences, such as is the case with "Beauty and the Beast" & "The Lion King"). On the 1999 DVD release of "The Little Mermaid", Disney did only little in restoring the film's look; this time, there's much more to look forward to. Disney gives each one of the films a deluxe treatment, especially in the visual and sound departments.
'Til then, sit back and enjoy the film as it is: charming, innovative, and most of all - fun.

Walt Disney Studio's 1989 animated adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's classic tale "The Little Mermaid" is known for being the beginning of the Disney animation renaissance of the 1990s. While no movie collection is complete without this gem of a film, wait for the October 2006 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD release. Judging from Disney's treatment of their other classic films' transfers to Platinum Editions, Disney will do this movie the justice it deserves AND it will most likely be less expensive buying this new edition with all its extras than it will be to buy the currently available 1-Disc product from a private seller. So, if you can wait a few months for the headstrong Ariel, the charming Sebastian, and the deliciously evil Ursula, it will be more than worth the wait!

People need to be VERY cautious when buying Little Mermaid. This DVD has been out of print so long that it is actually quite rare to find a truly new disc. I've actually had the misfortune of buying several Disney DVD's at auction only to find that they are counterfeit discs even though the box is shrinkwrapped. I e-mailed the seller of one of these DVD's and found out that apparently there are a lot of people who separately buy counterfeit DVD's in bulk (usually from Asia) along with packaging materials. They then assemble all the stuff together, shrinkwrap the whole thing (yes, people actually buy shrinkwrapping machines to do this!) and sell it as new on the web. This also explains all those electronic auctions where the seller makes the outrageous claim that their DVD's don't ship in a hard case but instead come in a more protective sleeve (which is BS) or they're trying to save you shipping (that's because they don't have the authentic cases to send you).

So how can you determine whether you disc is authentic or not? Well, from my experience, several things have clued me in to a particular disc being fake. First start with the packaging. Any authentic Disney (or any brand) DVD has tamper-proof stickers that must be torn or removed to get to the disc. There is always a sticker on top, but some titles also have them on the side and bottom too. Almost all (although I have seen some exceptions) Disney DVD's have shrinkwrap that are stamped with a Buena Vista logo so you can tell if the shrinkwrap was put on at the factory or done by someone else. Also, since counterfeiters frequently are putting everything together themselves look for abnormal signs of wear and tear. For example, if you see a scratch or dent on the paper cover artwork, but the case itself is physically fine, you should be suspicious as to how the artwork could have been damaged if it is supposed to be new and the case itself is undamaged. Another sign I've encountered (and rather obvious one) that a DVD is re-packaged is that the DVD itself will have scratches and/or fingerprints on it. When's the last time you picked up a brand new DVD from a store and found the disc to have scratches and/or fingerprints? That's right - never.

Now the most important way of determining whether a disc is authentic or not is to check the content on the DVD, specifically the size of all the data on the DVD. For this step you'll need to put the DVD into a computer to find out the size of the DVD. For example, the fake Little Mermaid DVD I got off eBay showed up as having 3.6 GB of data. This immediately raised a flag in my head because the back of the Little Mermaid DVD packaging claims that the disc is in dual-layer format. Dual-layer format DVD's are only used for movies that have more than ~4.5 GB of data. In fact a search on the internet revealed that the authentic Little Mermaid DVD was supposed to have 5 GB of data (www.remotecentral.com/dvd/littlemermaid.htm). The fact the data of my DVD wasn't more than a single layer's worth meant that the content of my DVD had been compressed and was a counterfeit. Furthermore, it explained why the quality of the movie was so bad. So check if the packaging says that the disc is in dual-layer format, the data takes up more than ~4.5 GB of data, or even better see if you can find the exact size of the disc from an online review.

If Disney cared about the damage these low-quality discs have on their reputation, they should clamp down on the rampant sale of counterfeits of their movies online. BTW, after discovering this new world of Disney fakes, I finally was able to find an authentic, new Little Mermaid DVD. People who are selling authentic discs usually know they are rare & valuable and typically charge more (think ~upper $20's to $40's) than the bootleggers.

BTW, to explain my rating of the DVD - I would have given the movie 5 stars for the movie, but knocked off 1 star for the lack of extras. We all know Disney can put out some really high caliber releases which, unfortunately, this being one of the earlier DVD's is not one of them.

Finally got around to watching this last night. In this review I'm not going to bother to review the movie itself. It's seventeen years old. I'm sure if you are interested in it you've seen it by now. Rather, I'm going to review the technical quality of the film and the extras provided on the DVD. One thing that feel I should point out up front is that the movie HAS been edited, but only in one scene. The infamous 'clergyman sporting an erection' that caused such a stupid flundie flap has been photoshopped. The theatrical poster artwork is not on the cover or anywhere on the disc for a similar reason. You can find out more by going to Snopes and looking in the Disney films section. I personally don't care, but some people do. Now, on to the review.

This version is widescreen, but it's 16:9 widescreen and not theatrical widescreen, but this has been the case in pretty much all the Disney movie DVDs so no surprises there. The Little Mermaid was the next to last movie Disney did using painted cels, and the film has gone through some kind of digital restoration process. There are comparison shots on the back of the DVD box that show the difference. The colors are very vibrant, and I didn't notice any problems with the encoding or animation. There is support for surround sound and audio tracks in English, French, and Spanish.

It's a two disk set. Disc one has the movie, the configuration options (subtitles, commentary, language ect), a music video of the song 'Kiss the Girl' by someone I've never heard of, a bunch of previews that will be outdated in a few months, and a preview of what's on disc 2. On the box it touts something called Fast Play, which basically means when you load it in, after the standard FBI warnings and all that, the disc gives you the option of immediately starting the movie or going to the menu with the stuff I just mentioned. If you choose to start the movie directly, it plays a bunch of previews that you can skip past using chapter forward on your remote, if you go to the menu and pick play movie, it starts right away. You're actually not forced to sit through ten minutes of BS previews with no way to skip them like on some of the previous Disney DVDs. I approve.

The majority of the extras are on disc 2. It's broken up into three major sections: Backstage Disney, Deleted Scenes, and Games. Backstage Disney is the largest section. It has scads of concept art (imagine Ursula as a lionfish or manta ray instead of an octopus), a videos on how the movie was made, and a new animated short, The Little Match Girl. A silent film with a musical background and is amazingly enough, actually true to the story. It's pretty well done, IMHO. Deleted scenes is just that, stuff that was cut. There really isn't much. Only three selections, and two of them are just pieces that were cut from scenes that did make it in. There's an expanded version of the opening song, a very short scene where Triton's daughters tell Sebastian that Ariel isn't at the recital before it starts, and an extra verse in Ursula's song. All of these were cut before the final animation was done, and so as you watch it switches back and forth between storyboard still shots and very rough sketchy animation. The games I didn't even bother with, because has there ever been a DVD player game that hasn't totally sucked? Didn't think so.

Overall, it's going to boil down to how much you like the movie, and how much you hate minor edits. If not seeing Jessica Rabbit with no underwear for three frames bothered you, then this DVD is not for you. Otherwise, it is a comprehensive look at the movie that marked the beginning of Disney's second golden age.

I give it 9 out of 10 voice containing seashells.

This movie is wonderful, but wait for Disney to release the Platinum version, and then purchase it directly from Amazon or another authorized seller. There are fake copies being sold through 3rd party sellers. They look new packaged and sealed. It is a violation of Amazon rules for a 3rd party seller to knowingly sell fake copies. If you have received a fake copy you must send it back to the seller. If they do not refund your money immediately you can use Amazon's a-z guarantee to get your money back. This is regardless whether you have opened the copy or used it. Do not let a seller force you to leave good feedback in order to receive a refund that is also a violation of Amazon's polices. BUYER BEWARE.

save your $ on ebay auctions and wait for the platinum series release. this version's sound is excellent (dolby 5.1), but the bland/dull colors is a big disappointment. poor visibility, below average clarity and very dark throughout the entire movie. i've seen better second generation VHS recordings. this being a classic Disney release, it deserves a new high definition transfer like Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King (outstanding DVD's).

This movie will be released on Platinum Edition October 3, 2006(date subject to change). This movie will be given the same treatment as all of the previous Platinum Editions (Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Aladdin, Bambi, Cinderella). This 2-disc set will include brand new bonus features and a fully restored version of the film. The Limited Issue release includes absolutely no extra features, and sometimes grainy picture quality.
This movie is without a doubt, Disney at it's best. For more information on the Platinum release, visit www.ultimatedisney.com for information that is to be announced. You can also try the official website, www.littlemermaiddvd.com. However, this website is not yet up but should be within a few months.
I highly recommend waiting for the Platinum release.
P.S.- Lady and the Tramp: Platinum Edition will be released on February 28. 2006

Like all other fans of this movie, I've impatiently waited for the last five years since the Platinum Editions line was formed in 2001 (Back when TLM was scheduled for a 2008 (!) re-release date, may I add.) for this Special 2-Disc Edition of the movie on DVD. Well today, two years earlier than originally planned, the Platinum Edition of The Little Mermaid is FINALLY available, and it's been well worth the wait.

The centerpiece of the whole set is on disc 1 - the movie itself. Forget all the grain, softness, and other video issues on previous VHS releases, as well as the not-so-hot non-anamorphic transfer of the barebones 1999 Limited Issue DVD. THIS has been digitally restored, with colors punched up, most of the grain removed, and just all around made fantastic, and is presented in anamorphic widescreen, which means it's enhanced for 16:9 TV sets. It's never looked this gorgeous or amazing on video. It's never SOUNDED this good either. The sound mix is amazing. Trust me, if you own any of the two previous VHS tapes, and/or laserdiscs, and/or the Limited Issue DVD, you STILL need to get this just for the improvement in the video and audio.

There are only a few bonuses on disc 1. The commentary and Ashley Tisdale music videos are ones I have not yet checked out, although I plan to listen to the commentary soon. The Little Mermaid III Musical Sneak Peek is also included. The quality of the animation is subpar, but not as subpar as what you see in the preview for Cinderella III, which looks like it was made by the same crappy animation team that did Cinderella II. Sad.

Disc 2 does NOT contain a massive quantity of bonus materials like a few of the previous Platinum Edition DVDs like Snow White. However, this time around, Disney decided on quality over quantity. All the bonus materials make up ONE page of the DVD guide, but this time, Disney does not include much of the usual fluff from post-Snow White Platinum Editions, such as crappy games and 5 crappy pop videos. Ashley Tisdale's video is the only one in the set, and it's on disc 1. And instead of games, Disney includes a VERY special bonus in the Games and Activities section - a recreation of the cancelled Little Mermaid Attraction that was in development for Walt Disney World in the early 90's. With CGI animation, the ride that almost was is brought to life. There are two ways to explore it. You can explore it as a ride, with audio commentary. You can also explore it with "Ride With Disney Imagineers," which lets you listen to the commentary AND view storyboards, the ride itself, and at certain points, turn on the lights so you can see all the stuff going on. I'm absolutely impressed with this bonus feature, and it's one that merits repeat viewing.

The Deleted Scenes section of a Disney DVD usually only includes maybe two or three scenes. This one contains three deleted sequences, a song demo, and three alternate/extended versions of scenes that are in the movie, including an alternate ending. Among my favorites were the alternate version of Fathoms Below, where we learn that Ursula is Triton's SISTER. I also loved the alternate version of Poor Unfortunate Souls, which includes alternate lyrics from the original demo, as well as some additional dialogue. The final scene isn't a scene at all. Instead, it's audio from the quickly deleted song Silence Is Golden, which was to be Ursula's song, but lyricist Howard Ashman hated it and threw it out early in the picture, so it was never even storyboarded. The audio is played with a screen giving details of the song and a piece of developmental artwork of Ursula and Ariel. The Deleted Scenes section is absolutely awesome, and definitely something fun to watch.

Backstage Disney is always the best part of a 2-Disc Disney DVD's extras. The Little Mermaid's Backstage Disney section is no exception. The central focus is the 45-minute documentary Treasures Untold. The documentary isn't just fluff about how they worked on the picture, etc. It also goes into detail about the management changes that made The Little Mermaid possible, and how *gasp* Jeffrey Katzenburg almost wouldn't let Part Of Your World be in the picture! They even acknowledge that they made The Black Cauldron in this one, which to me is absolutely shocking.

In addition, there's a featurette on the Special Effects Unit, and the "Story Behind The Story," (No, not a port over from the Beauty and the Beast DVD.) which talks about Hans Christian Andersen and the original fairy tale of TLM. However, a nice surprise is a new animated short based on Andersen's story The Little Match Girl. No dialogue, and set to Alexander Borodin's String Quartet #2, this short was intended for the now scrapped Fantasia 2006 project. This short is more melancholy than Disney's treatment of The Little Mermaid, but VERY faithful to the story, right down to keeping the bittersweet ending of the original tale intact. Rounding out this section are galleries, (Which include concept artwork done for a scrapped TLM project at Disney from the 1940's.) the early presentation reel which includes visual development drawings, concept art, etc. set to a demo version of Under The Sea, and the original 1989 theatrical trailer.

I urge you, if you're a fan of this movie, even a casual one, PLEASE pick up this DVD. It's worth the cost JUST for the movie alone, but awesome and MEATY bonus features that, for the most part, break away from all the "kiddie" fluff oversaturating most Disney DVDs nowadays absolutely sweeten the deal.

And to the people complaining that computer generated animation has been added to this DVD, any computer animation you see in this movie has always been there. The 80's saw a lot of experimentation with computer animation, and there's several instances of this, such as the opening shot of the ship in the movie, as well as a staircase background later in the movie. In addition, the wedding scene was also the first usage of Disney's new computer colorization program, which would be used to full effect in Beauty and the Beast, along with complete scenes featuring computer animation. The only thing in this movie that is different from the older versions is that the preist's "excitement" has been digitally airbrushed out. *Although since it's actually his knee and not the far more sexual thing people claim it is...*