CARISSA MARSH
A&E Editor
The Disney vault. It is one of Hollywood’s most tightly locked treasure chests (perhaps even more so than “The Dead Man’s Chest” in “Pirates”), holding a vast number of our childhood classics hostage until just the right time.
But Tuesday, Oct. 3, “The Little Mermaid” will finally emerge from what seems to be a perpetually sealed Disney vault. I have long waited for this day. Every year for who knows how long, I have asked for “The Little Mermaid” on DVD for my birthday or Christmas, but every year my mom cannot find it. But Tuesday, I will be first in line.
In celebration and anticipation of this event, my best friend and I attended one of the few screenings of “The Little Mermaid” at the famous El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. After making my way through miserable L.A. traffic that would have anyone wishing for Aladdin’s magic carpet, I finally made it to show, fashionably late (better than I can say for Ariel, who, in the film, misses her debut concert performance, much to the dismay of reggae singing Sebastian, and her father, King Triton).
Memories of combing my hair with a fork came back to me as I watched Ariel discover what Scuttle termed a “dinglehopper.” I rooted for Eric to “just kiss the girl” as he and Ariel floated in a blue lagoon, and laughed when Ursula’s “poor little poopsies” were blasted into Nobu, I mean, seafood. By the end of the 83 minutes, Disney had happily carted me off to a “whole new world.”
Only one questioned lingered in my mind as I strolled the El Capitan’s gift shop after the show: Why now? Why had Disney gleefully held captive my favorite movie of all time, and why had the powers-that-be decided that now was the time to release the Two-Disc Platinum Edition DVD?
In an attempt to believe the release is not all part of a larger marketing and money-making scheme, I looked into the possibility of its release coinciding with its anniversary. But that fell short as the movie made its theatrical debut Nov. 17, 1989 — making 2006 not exactly a celebratory milestone.
The Oscar winning film was first released on DVD almost seven years ago as a featureless Limited Issue DVD. According to a news release, Gordon Ho, executive vice president brand marketing and business development at Buena Vista Home Entertainment, said “The Little Mermaid” is Disney’s most requested movie for a DVD release. This came as no surprise to me, as I have been longing for the addition to my humble DVD collection.
The release will be accompanied by a major marketing campaign similar to that of last year’s Platinum Edition release of “Cinderella,” which sold about 7 million units. Of course, I think the charismatic Ariel can far out do the cinder girl.
The upcoming DVD features all-new digital restoration. According to Disney’s DVD Web site, the movie was originally shot on film instead of being created directly in digital files like today’s animated films, so digital artists examined and cleaned every frame to restore a crisp look with more vivid colors.
So like a carrot in front of a horse, the new DVD is propelling me to get through the week’s barrage of tests, papers and projects. If Ariel can battle off the sea witch and save her father’s kingdom from destruction, all while winning the man of her dreams, what is one little humanities test?
09-28-2006
