Blu-ray Review: Timeless Wonder of Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’

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CHICAGO – I’m going to date myself a bit here but I remember when Disney was in great need of the comeback that was provided them by 1989’s “The Little Mermaid.” It had been quite some time since the company really mattered and, as I was growing up, Disney was kind of an old-fashioned company. They were great “then,” not “now.” That changed with “Mermaid,” which led into “Beauty & the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” There have been peaks and valleys since then but Disney is as powerful as ever and a lot of their current success started with a mermaid who wished she was human. Now on Blu-ray for the first time, “The Little Mermaid” is a jewel in the Disney crown, a film that feels timeless now, almost a quarter-century after its release, as it seemed essential to the company when it was released.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Timed to coincide with the digital restoration and 3D release of the hit film, multiple versions of “The Little Mermaid” are now available, including a 3D version, DVD combo pack, and digital copy combo pack. Disney pioneered multiple ways to view their films; the first company to package Blu-ray and DVD copies in one set, which is now the standard. They know that parents have a variety of ways to show movies to their kids in the ’10s and they want their films to be a part of all of it.

As for the film itself, “The Little Mermaid” has held up remarkably well, arguably more so than any of the films of that ’80s-’90s comeback. “Aladdin” sounds a little dated but “The Little Mermaid” could be released today and it would really only look a little better. The core of the story and the incredible music (something that has been sadly lost in the non-musical days of the company now) are timeless. If you haven’t seen it lately, watch it again. And pick it up so you can introduce it to your kids. I know I look forward to doing so.

The Little Mermaid was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 1, 2013
Photo credit: Disney

Synopsis:
The Little Mermaid, one of the most celebrated animated films of all time, is now spectacularly transformed for the first time on Blu-ray, with a state-of-the-art digitally restored picture and brilliant high definition sound!

Venture under the sea where Ariel, a free-spirited mermaid princess, longs to be part of the human world. After bravely striking a bargain with Ursula, a sneaky sea witch, Ariel embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. With Flounder and Sebastian at her side, Ariel will need all of her courage and determination to make things right in both her worlds.

Special Features:
o New State Of The Art Digital Restoration
o Music Video - “Part Of Your World” - Carly Rae Jepsen
o Crab-E-Oke: Sing Along
o Never Before Seen - Deleted Character - Harold The Merman
o Part Of Her World: Jodi Benson’s Voyage To New Fantasyland
o @Disney Animation: Go Behind The Scenes With Today’s Top Disney Animators
o Howard’s Lecture - Music In Movies
o Under The Scene
o Digital Copy Included

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com