The characters are wonderful. By this point Disney seemed to have realised that all their heroines needn't be blonde, bland and harmless. Ariel is very spirited, you might almost call her a bit of a brat, but she's also insanely lovable. The relationship between her and her father is so well played out. I challenge anyone to watch the ending when she says 'I love you, Daddy' and to not shed a tear. Her sidekicks Sebastian, Flounder and Scuddle are all hilarious, especialy the Jamaican crab Sebastian.

However, my two favourite characters are the evil sea witch Ursula, and Louis the French chef. Ursualla is so fabulous yet so evil, like Cruella Devil but with tentacles. You've just got to love her, despite her nastiness. And Louis is only a bit part, but his scene where he tries to capture Sebastian (with the music for the can-can in the background) has me screaming with laughter.

In conclusion: Buy it. Watch it with your children. And your grandchildren. I know this will still be popular for generations to come.

Under the Sea
Review date: 2005-08-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

This delightful children's film is a timeless Walt Disney classic and is based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson. It focuses on life under the sea, in particular Ariel, a mermaid princess who falls in love with a human prince named Eric. She rescues him from the sea when his ship is struck by lightening and sunk. On her quest to win his heart she meets the sea witch Ursula, who's ultimate desire is to rule the ocean, and transforms her from a mermaid into a human but at a price, Ariel's voice. She has 3 days to win Eric's heart but if she fails she will become mermaid once more and be Ursula's forever..........
The Little Mermaid is typical of its genre; it has a certain charm which draws the children (and parents) into watching it. The film includes an array of fun characters including Sebastian, the reggae singing crab, and flounder, Ariel's faithful companion. Sebastian brings a real humour to the film and after a vague start it can be assured that by the end of the film everyone will warm to him. Another amusing character is Scuttle the Seagull who claims to be the expert on all things human. So when presented with a fork from one of Ariel's ship exploration's, declares ' now this is a dinglehopper which humans use to comb their hair with'. The colourful animation keeps children riveted and the Oscar winning sing-along tunes involve the family with the film. Another element which keeps the children engaged is the fact that the film is only 79 minutes long, which as any parent knows the shorter the film, the better, otherwise the small children get agitated and bored. A good storyline is always vital and this Hans Christian Anderson fairytale is the perfect, enchanting tale. It contains key characters such as the dashing prince (Eric), evil witch (sea witch, Ursula), sidekick (Sebastian), protective father (King Triton) and, of course, the damsel (Ariel). As with all successful children's films the story has a happy ending and leaves the viewer feeling uplifted and joyful. Definitely a must see film for all the family.

The Little Mermaid
Review date: 2004-07-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

The Little Mermaid is by far the best movie ever. It is a story of love between a beautiful headstrong mermaid called Ariel and a human prince called Eric.She has the most beautiful voice in all of Atlantica. One day she saves the young prince from drowning and falls deeply in love with him. But her father, King Triton, disapproves and destroys her hidden trove full of human treasures. She trades her voice with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to become a human for three days and to make him kiss her otherwise she becomes a mermaid again. But Ursula has plans to take Atlantica and steal Tritons kingdom from him. This has to be the greatest Disney movie of all time and i have loved it ever since i was a little girl (i am 16 now, the same age as Ariel!) and i still adore it. I highly recommend this to anyone. (The soundtrack's great too)

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