 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Little Mermaid
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1989
Common Sense Media says
Superb, entertaining animated musical with some scary stuff.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Disney fairy tale based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen has some scary moments. The sea witch grows into a giant and wields a trident in a climatic scene. Also, a bloodthirsty French chef merrily chases after Sebastian the crab with a cleaver hoping to make him the main course. Parents may also want to keep in mind that Ariel is a very popular Disney Princess, whose brand reaches far and wide. Expect to see Princess branding on consumer merchandise, food products, etc. as well as in books, websites, and other media. Finally, Ariel's decision to give up her voice and her family for a chance at love sends some subtle, potentially troubling messages, to kids about priorities.
What's the story?
THE LITTLE MERMAID is Ariel, a mermaid princess who collects human artifacts. One day, she rescues Prince Eric, who was thrown from his ship during a storm, and Ariel falls in love. Desperate for the chance to have a life with Eric, Ariel enters into an agreement with a sea witch, Ursula. She gives up her voice and gets her legs. But she only has three days to woo Eric. If he doesn't kiss her in that time, she will become Ursula's slave forever.
Is it any good?
After some lackluster years, Disney came back into the top rank of animated features with this superbly entertaining musical, based loosely on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen (but with a happier ending). Ariel was the first in a series of refreshingly plucky Disney heroines. Instead of dreaming about the day her prince will come, or waiting for a fairy godmother or a Prince's kiss, Ariel is a spirited and curious mermaid who is willing to take action in order to meet Prince Eric, the man of her dreams, though she is gullible and impetuous in agreeing to the terms demanded by the sea witch in exchange for making it possible for her to go on land.
The wonderful voice characterizations in this film include Buddy Hackett (The Music Man) as Scuttle the scavenging seagull and Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian, the calypso-singing crab. The first-class musical score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (who worked together on the off-Broadway hit, Little Shop of Horrors) ranks with the best of Broadway and won Oscars for Best Score and Best Song ("Under the Sea"). Some viewers criticize the movie for providing yet another wasp-waisted Disney heroine whose whole world revolves around a man. But Ariel is adventuresome, rebellious, and brave. It is true that she makes the mistake of giving up her voice to the sea witch (a very strong female character, to say the least), which provides a good opportunity for family discussion.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about villains. Why is Ursula both a little scary and a little fun?
They can also talk about Ariel and the decisions she makes. Why do you think she chose to give up her voice (and her family) to meet Eric? Are you troubled by the message her decision sends about women and their priorities, or is that over-thinking this kind of movie?
Families can also talk about the Disney Princess craze. Has it swept your household? Do you have a favorite princess? How often do you see your favorite princesses on display when you're out shopping? Does watching this movie make you want to buy more Ariel stuff?
Why do you think Sebastian tries to help her even though he doesn't agree with what Ariel's doing?
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AGE
Pretty iffy.
Actually, I'm not too fond of the Little Mermaid movies. I think it's a bit iffy when Ariel is trying to impress Eric. All you have to do is be yourself, so I don't think this is a great role model for girls. Plus, look at the way that mermaid dresses! Get a shirt, lady! I mean, seriously, young girls don't need to see Ariel like this. It's just too iffy.
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AGE
I have loved this movie since I was little bitty! I think it is great and EVERYONE needs to see it!
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AGE
You're kidding...
You've got to be kidding me. Some of you parents who say that this movie is 'seductive' and 'scary' must have kids who get beat up at school.
Now, I'm not the type of person who wants you to show your kids 'The Hangover' and 'Silence of the Lambs,' but 'The Little Mermaid?' A Disney classic? That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard of.
You can't do that to your kids. You can't forbid them from watching anything but the Wiggles (but you all probably think that that's inappropriate too) until they're 18. You can't shelter them. They've gotta figure out the real world. Not by watching Rated R movies, but you've gotta at least let the watch 'The Little Mermaid.' For God's sake.
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AGE
part of your world!!!!
Best. Disney. Movie. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know EVERY SINGLE LINE to this entire movie!! I had Ariel everything, and I was Ariel for the school's talent show. Anyways, this is a great move with some scariness. When you first enter Ursula's cave, there are plant-like creatures that used to be mermaids, and they look very creepish! And when Ursula get's the Trident, she gets huge and almost zaps Ariel, almost stabs Eric, and turns King Trident into one of those creepish creatures I was talking about earlier. Then Eric stabs her in the heart and it is very disturbing when she's dying. But there are positive role models and messages here. GREAT MOVIEEEE!!!!!!!!
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AGE
I used to be obsessed with Ariel <3
I still love it :). The music is good and the story is entertaining. Ursula may be scary for kids, though. And the violence is a bit intense. There are some subtle sexual content that will go over kids heads, like when Ursula tells Arial to use her body language to attract Eric. When Arial is human she is naked but you don't really see anything. Arial and Eric kiss. As much as I love this film, there are some bad messages in it. Arial is hot-headed (like her father) and disobeys him. She also falls for a guy she doesn't knows; she just thinks he's cute.
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AGE
greatest disney movie ever!
This is my beloved disney movie! It has wonderful music. The song, "Part of Your World," is really sweet and uplifting. I showed this to my four-year-old cousin and she adored it! She loves the song, "Part of Your World," as much as I do! When I first showed her the movie, I was surprised that she didn't get scared of Ursula at all! And she's only four! What makes me adore the movie was the romance between Ariel and Eric. They're so sweet together because he loves her despite her mermaid heritage and she loves him despite the bad things her dad said about humans. I like how in the movie, Ariel gets her voice back and Eric said, "you can talk! You're the one!" Then he runs up to Ariel and embraces her! Awwwww!! It is was awesome seeing Ariel and Eric saving each other. Ariel saves Eric from drowning and again from marrying Ursula. Eric saves Ariel from Ursula.
They take the cake for the best ending of the disney princess movies. It's where you get to see them get married at a wedding. Other movies just end couples dancing
Little Mermaid is one of the few disney movies of the Renaissance that have great comedy. You have Scuttle, the wise-cracking seagull, Sebastian, the over-worrying crab, Ursula, the evil sea witch, whose dry sense of humor has comic relief.
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AGE
Another movie to shame Walt
What are we teaching our kids? Everyone says that morals are going down the drain and no wonder! Our "kids" and "family" films descreetly... and sometimes undescreetly, teach bad morals. Let's show girls how to wear sea shells on their breasts and flaunt their bodies. Let's show them how cool and great it is to do stupid things to flip for some guy you don't know and show how, in the end, it'll all be great! Wow! What a great thing to teach our kids! Yep, another classic family film!
The one star is for the songs. Fantastic. Still....don't see it.
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AGE
Great For The Whole Family To Sea
This is probably one of Disney's best films and is known for starting the Disney Renaisance. Ariel is a much better role model than Snow White, because she actually decides to try to find her true love at a great sacrifice to herself. Flounder and Sebastian are good friends to Ariel. Triton sacrfices his throne for his daughter. The controversy of Ariel's shell bra isn't an issue in my mind, but you know what's best for your kids. One scene where Grimbsy smokes a pipe, and Ariel blows it in his face believing what Scuttle said that it's a musical instrument.
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AGE
My favorite Disney Princess movie!
Ariel! Flounder! EVERYONE! I've always loved mermaids, especially the way they move. And this movie just highlighted everything cool about them!
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AGE
Wonderful!
This film officially started Disney's rennesciance, the beginning of high-quality Disney films after a 20-some-odd year relapse.
There is really nothing to worry about. There's a scary shark and sea witch in scenes, but not horrible. The animation is keen and the music spectacular.
Highly recommended.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, princesses and fairies, book characters, music and sing-along, ocean creatures |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Directors: | John Musker, Ron Clements |
| Cast: | Christopher Daniel Barnes, Jodi Benson, Rene Auberjonois |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 83 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 15, 1989 |
| DVD release date: | October 3, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
| MPAA explanation: | some scary scenes |
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