Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID live-action movie musical - News & Discussion Thread- Page 2

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 9/9/22 at 9:15pm

I find her tone gorgeous and that particular riff tastefully done.

I’m a sucker for these live action remakes - even though many of them have ultimately disappointed me.

I’m just glad they cast someone who can sing for the role of Ariel.  One of the (many) missteps of the live-action BATB adaptation was casting an obvious non-singer as Belle.

[TheatreTeacher88]

Posted: 9/9/22 at 9:20pm

I 100% agree. It shows she knows the original melody but can also play with it and make it her own. I love it and it represents who she is as an artist in the role. My students are so excited for this project a lot of them are black girls are so excited to see themselves represented as a Disney Princess in a live remake!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/9/22 at 11:39pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "I'm one of those people who hasn't really been into Disney doing live action revamps of their animated properties. I haven't seen most of them, but from what I have seen (which would beAlice in Wonderland,Maleficent,Cinderella,The Jungle Book, andCruella), I just haven't been impressed by any of them. From what I've heard of the others, a number of people haven't been impressed by them either. The way I see it, there are two different types of live action revamps Disney has been doing. They've made carbon copies of their animated predecessors that added very little originality in them (as was the case withBeauty & the Beast,Aladdin, andThe Lion King). They've also gone in different directions to creatively justify their existence even if they don't necessarily stick the landing (as was the case withDumboandMulan). So I clearly have no interest in seeing this."

I have no issue with her singing, but I agree on the remakes. The main artistic choice seems to be "more CGI" though there are exceptions like Cinderella which went FASHION. She didn't need to have red hair and a purple top. I'm not writing it off yet, but I'll be curious if this one actually adds something new.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 1:09am

Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish.

[Quinn Wilson]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 2:13am

It’s the new wave. Some love it, some hate it, and that’s okay. I think she sounds beautiful. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 2:16am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish."

It sounds completely intentional and great, if you ask me. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 2:50am

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish."

It sounds completely intentional and great, if you ask me."

In context, this is before Eric's ship sinks and Ariel makes a deal with Ursula to be able to do what she sings in the song. Therefore, although Ariel sings the I want song and seems quite excited about what lies on land, there is no way to achieve any of the things she actually wants to do. Keep the song the way it is written delivers a sense of defeat that is both poignant and makes you as an audience member empathize and care about her. The riff here, while intentional as it might seem, takes away the nuances that have been there in the material and makes the moment more like a show-off than one of very well crafted characterization.

[Tifa]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 4:19am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish."


It sounds completely intentional and great, if you ask me."

In context, this is before Eric's ship sinks and Ariel makes a deal with Ursula to be able to do what she sings in the song. Therefore, although Ariel sings the I want song and seems quite excited about what lies on land, there is no way to achieve any of the things she actually wants to do. Keep the song the way it is written delivers a sense of defeat that is both poignant and makes you as an audience member empathize and care about her. The riff here, while intentional as it might seem, takes away the nuances that have been there in the material and makes the moment more like a show-off than one of very well crafted characterization."

This. It turns one of the most emotional, poignant moments of the song into “look how great I can vocalize.”  Good musical theatre performers usually know when to hold back on things like that - Halle is a pop singer who wants to show off her vocals and I can feel that in the performance. She has a lovely voice, but it doesn’t feel like musical theatre to me, it feels like a music video. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 8:38am

You guys are acting as though she’s doing Xtina-level vocal acrobatics. It was a small run done in one line if the song. You want Jodi Benson, go watch the cartoon. 

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 10:47am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "Why do they find it necessary to add an intrusive and completely unnecessary riff instead of singing it as it is written? If you want to make it your "own," make it your own by carefully considering your acting choices and channeling them in your singing instead of distrusting the material. It doesn't feel modern. It feels amateurish."

It sounds completely intentional and great, if you ask me."

In context, this is before Eric's ship sinks and Ariel makes a deal with Ursula to be able to do what she sings in the song. Therefore, although Ariel sings the I want song and seems quite excited about what lies on land, there is no way to achieve any of the things she actually wants to do. Keep the song the way it is written delivers a sense of defeat that is both poignant and makes you as an audience member empathize and care about her. The riff here, while intentional as it might seem, takes away the nuances that have been there in the material and makes the moment more like a show-off than one of very well crafted characterization."

I think it’s probably because Jodi Benson couldn’t do a vocal run (as lovely as her voice was as Ariel).

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 11:58am

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "You guys are acting as though she’s doing Xtina-level vocal acrobatics. It was a small run done in one line if the song. You want Jodi Benson, go watch the cartoon."

I want someone who understands and respects the material and who makes choices in meaningful ways. Is that too much to ask for these days? 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 12:03pm

You seem very upset over a two minute trailer. It's her interpretation and it's really not that deep.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 12:53pm

Sutton Ross said: "You seem very upset over a two minute trailer.It's her interpretation and it's really not that deep."

Yes, her interpretation is not that deep. If you can't tell that from a "two minute trailer," which is what a trailer is supposed to do to begin with, you might want to consider what "deep" means.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 1:22pm

Lolz. Sorry, allow me to clarify. You freaking out and complaining many times about a TRAILER which is not the live show and doesn't represent exactly what she is going to do is pretty ridiculous. Which is why you are getting called out by several people.

It's not that serious. Go touch grass. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 1:25pm

Anyone hating on her riff is probably a vocalist who can't riff and therefore doesn't understand how it can add to any sort of characterization. (Example: See "I'm Here" Color Purple 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 1:27pm

^ 100%

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 1:33pm

RippedMan said: "Anyone hating on her riff is probably a vocalist who can't riff and therefore doesn't understand how it can add to any sort of characterization. (Example: See "I'm Here" Color Purple"

Are you sure you are not projecting here? I cannot riff and I certainly am not a vocalist but thank you for your conjecture.

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Sorry, allow me to clarify. You freaking out and complaining many times about a TRAILER which is not the live show and doesn't represent exactly what she is going to do is pretty ridiculous. Which is why you are getting called out by several people.

It's not that serious. Go touch grass."

Sorry my response was too deep. The first sentence of my original response was being intentionally sarcastic and the one that follows was intended as a tell of me being sarcastic in the first one. I think that was pretty obvious for someone who can't wait to jump to ad hominem on things you don't agree with (review your own post history please).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 2:31pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "RippedMan said: "Anyone hating on her riff is probably a vocalist who can't riff and therefore doesn't understand how it can add to any sort of characterization. (Example: See "I'm Here" Color Purple"

Are you sure you are not projecting here? I cannot riff and I certainly am not a vocalist but thank you for your conjecture.

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Sorry, allow me to clarify. You freaking out and complaining many times about a TRAILER which is not the live show and doesn't represent exactly what she is going to do is pretty ridiculous. Which is why you are getting called out by several people.

It's not that serious. Go touch grass."

Sorry my response was too deep. The first sentence of my original response was being intentionally sarcastic and the one that follows was intended as a tell of me being sarcastic in the first one. I think that was pretty obvious for someone who can't wait to jump to ad hominem on things you don't agree with (review your own post history please)."

I actually can riff, but am, surprisingly, anti-riff if it doesn't make sense. I hate just riffing to riff. But here, it seems emotional, so I think it works. Also, it works in the sense of, if she sang it as the original, then what's the point of this remake? Just a live action version of the cartoon? I'm happy she's doing something different and sounds beautiful doing it. 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 2:34pm

There are leaked clips going around that show other parts of that number. I guess they showed it in its entirety at the expo.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 2:34pm

RippedMan said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "RippedMan said: "Anyone hating on her riff is probably a vocalist who can't riff and therefore doesn't understand how it can add to any sort of characterization. (Example: See "I'm Here" Color Purple"

Are you sure you are not projecting here? I cannot riff and I certainly am not a vocalist but thank you for your conjecture.

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Sorry, allow me to clarify. You freaking out and complaining many times about a TRAILER which is not the live show and doesn't represent exactly what she is going to do is pretty ridiculous. Which is why you are getting called out by several people.

It's not that serious. Go touch grass."

Sorry my response was too deep. The first sentence of my original response was being intentionally sarcastic and the one that follows was intended as a tell of me being sarcastic in the first one. I think that was pretty obvious for someone who can't wait to jump to ad hominem on things you don't agree with (review your own post history please)."

I actually can riff, but am, surprisingly, anti-riff if it doesn't make sense. I hate just riffing to riff. But here, it seems emotional, so I think it works. Also, it works in the sense of, if she sang it as the original, then what's the point of this remake? Just a live action version of the cartoon? I'm happy she's doing something different and sounds beautiful doing it."

I think there's a big difference between "anti-riff" and "riff does not work for this piece here." And no, not riffing here does not mean copying the cartoon version. This is a Howard Ashman song and you can have your interpretation of it without being intrusive to the material.

Updated On: 9/10/22 at 02:34 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 2:57pm

I don't think a riff is really changing the material. Most riffs aren't written into a song anyway. 

[Tifa]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 3:40pm

RippedMan said: "Anyone hating on her riff is probably a vocalist who can't riff and therefore doesn't understand how it can add to any sort of characterization. (Example: See "I'm Here" Color Purple"

I am a vocalist but I can riff, I just think it’s out of place where she put it. My reasoning is more along the lines of me being a massive Disney fan who just loves this song. I don’t mind riffs when they fit, I just don’t like this choice she made and that’s my prerogative - like some of you said, it’s not that deep, I just have an opinion. There’s a video on YouTube of Ashman directing Jodi Benson for this, and he’s very adamant that he doesn’t want the song to be too “sing-y”, specifically directing her not to sound like she’s singing to a huge audience but to keep the song very intimate. It’s an interesting watch: https://youtu.be/AWTJkyLWgrk

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 3:47pm

They showed the whole song at D23, and there's bootleg video of it online, if you can find it. The rest of it is sung straightforward, with few embellishments, except for something really great on "love to explore that shore up above." On the whole, it's a gorgeous rendition.

[somecheapfrenchthing]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 4:03pm

I think she looks and sounds beautiful!! I’m very excited to hear and see the full song. Although I have to agree with some - I feel the ending riff takes some of the punch out of the pining/hurting “I want.” I’m reminded of the videos of Howard Ashman coaching Jodi Benson through the og recording session and encouraging her to hold back, use less voice, and to act more than sing (which I’m realizing as I write this that someone already posted this clip lol). That said, this is a new interpretation and only a few seconds of it. I think Halle Bailey is an inspired choice for the part. 

Updated On: 9/10/22 at 04:03 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/10/22 at 4:06pm

Also, her interpretation is directed so it’s not her own creative choice.  She can’t just riff anywhere she chooses - it has to be approved in advance.  If the creative team agrees to it, then she can do it.  Even Deborah Gibson, an award winning pop singer, has spoken about how she had to adjust her singing when she played Belle on Broadway in Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. She was not permitted to add any embellishments to the material.  That’s why recording artists work with producers.  A good producer knows how to guide a performance.  Even an award winning recording artist knows they need to be told when to pull back or go full force.