Disney VHS: The Little Mermaid w/ Case Under da Sea! Surround Sound

Description

The Little Mermaid [VHS]
Jodi Benson (Actor), Samuel E. Wright (Actor), John Musker (Director, Writer), & 1 more Rated: G (General Audience) Format: VHS Tape

From the moment that Prince Eric’s ship emerged from the fog in the opening credits it was apparent that Disney had somehow, suddenly recaptured that “magic” that had been dormant for thirty years. In the tale of a headstrong young mermaid who yearns to “spend a day, warm on the sand,” Ariel trades her voice to Ursula, the Sea Witch (classically voiced by Pat Carroll), for a pair of legs. Ariel can only succeed if she receives true love’s kiss in a few day’s time and she needs all the help she can from a singing crab named Sebastian, a loudmouth seagull, and a flounder. The lyrics and music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken are top form: witty and relevant, and they advance the story (go on, hum a few bars of “Under the Sea”). Mermaid put animation back on the studio’s “to do” list and was responsible for ushering Beauty and the Beast to theaters. A modern Disney classic.

Actors: Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Rene Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll
Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements
Writers: John Musker, Ron Clements, Chris Hubbell, Gerrit Graham, Hans Christian Andersen
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, THX, HiFi Sound, NTSC
Language: English
Rated: G
Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
Run Time: 83 minutes

A stage adaptation of the film with a book by Doug Wright and additional songs by Alan Menken and new lyricist Glenn Slater opened in Denver in July 2007 and began performances on Broadway January 10, 2008.

Controversy arose regarding the artwork for the cover for the Classics VHS cassette when the film was first released on video when close examination of the artwork revealed an oddly shaped structure on the castle, closely resembling a human penis. Disney and the cover designer insist it was an accident, resulting from a late night rush job to finish the cover artwork. The questionable object does not appear on the cover of the second releasing of the movie. This copy for sale has the offending image.

“The Little Mermaid” is quite simply the best movie ever made. Some people may rave about “Aladdin”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Mulan”, and the others, but this is the winner, no questions about it. It is THE best movie, cartoon, show, etc., ever. Ariel is charmingly sweet and innocent; she has a sense of humor, and is optimistic, intellegent, and stubborn. She believes that the world is basically a good place—which it is. Ursula is the most malovolent, frightening-ly funny Disney villian ever. The crab Sebastian is, well, crabby, but he’s a “soft shell” underneath it all. Prince Eric is fairly one-dimensional, like all Disney princes, but he has something none of the others seemed to have had: a sense of humor. Flounder is afraid of his own shadow but will encounter anything for his best friend Ariel. The dog Max is goofy and lovable; the same can be said about the seagull Scuttle. And then there’s King Triton. Stern and strict, he obviously loves his little girl Ariel and tries to be a good father to her. Even by helping her to reach her dream, as all good parents do. —– Don’t be mistaken into thinking this is a romance movie. Ariel doesn’t want to be human just because she loves Eric; she is also fasinated by the human world and has always dreamed of being human. It’s underlying message is: “Reach for your goals, and you CAN be a part of the world that you want to be a part of. Dreams can come true, through hard work.” And Ariel DOES have to work for her dreams! —– I have loved this movie since it first came out when I was seven. I saw it at the theater 6 times (and once more when it was re-released last year), and saw the video well over a hundred times. I just watched it again last night! I have many special memories from this film . . . including the night when my Dad came home from work, very late, because he had spent two or three hours coaming all of Philadelphia to find me a Little Mermaid doll. I was SO happy to see “Ariel” herself at home, with my father grinning all the while. I can still see the scene in my memory. My Dad passed away this year, and I miss him horribly. But I know that he’ll always be with me, just like Triton will always be “with” Ariel. And I still have that Little Mermaid doll. —— See this movie. You’ll never forget the music, the humor, and the magic “Under the sea”!

1-55890-913-3

Case slightly squished. VHS itself is near mint, though the label is missing. Tape is completely rewinded for your convenience.