If The Critics And Haters Of This Movie Were Presenting Arguments Like THIS That Actually Have To Do

If the critics and haters of this movie were presenting arguments like THIS that actually have to do with THIS movie and not an obsessive cling to the OG one, I’d care more and probably agree.

OP is totally right that we have the technology and skill and resources to make this movie and all others breathtaking and awe inspiring, but we don’t get to see it because Disney is so money hungry and penny pinchy that they refuse to hire experts and ARTISTS to make and hone their art.

I want to be excited for the live action Little Mermaid so badly

The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie. Anyone who knows me knows I'm obsessed with mermaids as a whole and will watch any media that has them. Hell, I own my own tails and monofins. But every time I see a gif or a video for the new Little Mermaid, I cringe

(btw, this is NOT because of the casting. If you're against this movie because Ariel is black, you're a racist piece of shit and this post isn't for you)

My issue lies with the CGI. It just looks so FAKE. We've seen through the course of movies and TV shows that use it that CGI does not age well, and that's because technology is constantly improving. What was impressive in 2005 is not impressive in 2023 (Just look at Aquamarine, another movie about mermaids). And the CGI on Ariel and her sisters already looks fake and the movie isn't even out yet!

Compare this image from the trailer

To this screenshot from H20: Just Add Water (a TV show that came out in 2006):

You can see the details of the scales in the second image

The first image is flat. Sure, it's colorful, but it's flat. It's fake. Halle herself is the most beautiful and alive part of the image, because everything else is fake

The difference?

H20 had costume designers, ones specifically trained in mermaid tail making, HAND CRAFT every tail on the show. All of the scales were hand laid, all the tails molded to fit the actors/actresses perfectly, painted by hand

Let's even look at someone with no affiliation to TV or movies:

This is Mermaid Linden, a very well known (in the mermaid community) professional mermaid. You can tell her tail is not as high quality as the ones made for H20 (though it's still a VERY expensive tail) - but it still looks like it's a part of her. You can still see the details. Because professional mermaid tails are also all handmade and molded to fit each person. Even if they don't lay every individual scale, good professional mermaid tail makers are very meticulous about what they do.

This is what happens when Disney refuses to pay practical effects artists. We could have had beautiful, handmade tails that would look real on screen for decades to come and could be reused for promotional purposes - instead, they're underpaying and overworking their non-unionized employees to make CGI tails that don't even look real now.

(to be clear, I'm not shitting on the artists. As I said, they're being underpaid and overworked. This is not their fault)

And before anyone comes and says "But swimming in those is difficult!" Absolutely it is. You should never swim in a professional level tail (or even just fabric tails) without practice and training. Which Disney could have given the cast if they were willing to PAY people (the cast of H20 [a TV SHOW] literally learned how to be mermaids on set. It's been done before)

Disney's "Live Action" needs to be rebranded as "CGI with some real people tossed in" because that's all any of these remakes have been, and it's exhausting when I look at what we could have had.

These are photographs of the Agojie - often called Dahomey Amazons by Europeans.

The Agojie were regiments of soldiers who served in the army of Dahomey (now Benin) in West Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. Numbering around 8000 at their height in the 1840, they were renowned for their fearlessness in battle, and consdiered the backbone of the Dahomean army.

Recently, they’ve served as the inspiration for Black Panther’s Dora Milaje, and the story of The Woman King.

If you want to learn more, check out our podcast, where we chat about the history of the Agojie, as well as gender and sexuality in Dahomey.

[Images: three photographs of groups of Agojie, various armed with guns, knives and staffs 1 2 3]

this might sound slightly controversial, but. Theater kids. 

Just because you might have liked one actor for a single role.

Just because you personally think that actor was the best fit.

Does not mean that any other actors who play that role aren’t amazing in them as well.

Of course, give all the hype and respect to the ones you love.

But.

Don’t hate on actors just because they’re not your favorite one. And honestly, just let them live their incredibly talented and beautiful lives. 

Multiple people can play Jack Kelly well – Jeremy Jordan is a legend but others are too and deserve respect.

Multiple people can play Orpheus well – Damon Daunno is amazing but guess who else is? Reeve Carney and Chibueze Ihuoma and Nick Barasch and so many others are too! 

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that you should stop bashing actors for not being like their predecessors, because if they’re good enough to get on Broadway or West End or a national tour, they’re there for a reason.

pov stupid thought

Okay so I FINALLY saw Hadestown today (touring in SLC) and I've heard people say that Chibueze Ihuoma is really good but y'all, he is REALLY good. His voice is like lemonade on a hot day and he plays the character so perfectly! Morgan Siobhan Green was also stunning as Eurydice! She sings like an angel, and played out in her physicality the tension of her character between being sweet at heart but toughened by life. The whole cast (and crew!) was amazing, but I just needed to gush about these two, I loved it so much!