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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 4, 2019 14:16:22 GMT
The footage of The Lion King (2019) is very impressive. It looks amazing. The animation is incredible. Will it make for a better experience than the original? Hard to say.
It is doing very well in terms of pre-sales at the US Box Office - so there is a market.
Little Mermaid - that is always going to be a tough one to make into a live action version - how can you convincingly sing underwater? I don't care about what the Arial looks like. But the whole thing has to look convincing for the world they are trying to create. Far more concerned about the casting of Ursula. It really should be Ginger Minj. Given the character is based on Divine, it is only right to look for a drag queen to play the role now!
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Post by Jon on Jul 4, 2019 14:18:59 GMT
The footage of The Lion King (2019) is very impressive. It looks amazing. The animation is incredible. Will it make for a better experience than the original? Hard to say. It is doing very well in terms of pre-sales at the US Box Office - so there is a market. Little Mermaid - that is always going to be a tough one to make into a live action version - how can you convincingly sing underwater? I don't care about what the Arial looks like. But the whole thing has to look convincing for the world they are trying to create. Far more concerned about the casting of Ursula. It really should be Ginger Minj. Given the character is based on Divine, it is only right to look for a drag queen to play the role now! Aquaman was done with sets and green screen so The Little Mermaid will be a doddle. I would guess Disney wants a safe but bankable name for Ursula hence why they're looking at Melissa McCarthy.
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Post by d'James on Jul 4, 2019 14:21:16 GMT
The footage of The Lion King (2019) is very impressive. It looks amazing. The animation is incredible. Will it make for a better experience than the original? Hard to say. It is doing very well in terms of pre-sales at the US Box Office - so there is a market. Little Mermaid - that is always going to be a tough one to make into a live action version - how can you convincingly sing underwater? I don't care about what the Arial looks like. But the whole thing has to look convincing for the world they are trying to create. Far more concerned about the casting of Ursula. It really should be Ginger Minj. Given the character is based on Divine, it is only right to look for a drag queen to play the role now! Aquaman was done with sets and green screen so The Little Mermaid will be a doddle. I would guess Disney wants a safe but bankable name for Ursula hence why they're looking at Melissa McCarthy. I personally think she would be awful. I’ve heard Queen Latifah and Liza Minnelli linked to the role too and I think they’d both be better even though we haven’t seen or heard much from Liza recently.
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Post by kathryn on Jul 4, 2019 15:00:43 GMT
The footage of The Lion King (2019) is very impressive. It looks amazing. The animation is incredible. Will it make for a better experience than the original? Hard to say. It is doing very well in terms of pre-sales at the US Box Office - so there is a market. Little Mermaid - that is always going to be a tough one to make into a live action version - how can you convincingly sing underwater? I don't care about what the Arial looks like. But the whole thing has to look convincing for the world they are trying to create. Far more concerned about the casting of Ursula. It really should be Ginger Minj. Given the character is based on Divine, it is only right to look for a drag queen to play the role now! They'll probably just film dry-for-wet, and then CGI in air bubbles. That's clearly what they did for the underwater sequence in Mary Poppins Returns. Though in Rocketman they really did have Taron Egerton miming a song at the bottom of a 25m water tank, so it is possible. Probably not while also swimming/'dancing' though.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jul 4, 2019 16:02:33 GMT
Honestly, other than making money and updating the casting to be more diverse, there is *no* point to them. And I say that as someone who quite enjoyed Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. The Lion King I am finding to be utterly baffling - from the trailers it appears to be a shot-for-shot remake, just done in a different form of animation, and with a new voice cast. I'd argue Beauty and The Beast is actually a downgrade as well (see Lindsay Ellis' video on the subject but also Emma Watson's horrific auto-tune). There is no point to them that's for sure but they're happening whether we want them to or not because nostalgia sells so I'd much rather the films deviate as much as possible so there's some value in watching them over the originals which is why I'm excited for Mulan as it actually sounds different in having an entirely new villain but from what I've seen on the internet at least the fact that they're doing something different with the story is a point of contention for a lot of people.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 4, 2019 16:17:55 GMT
I think the Mulan issues are more to do with the cutting of the songs (and Mushu) rather than changing the story.
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Post by Jon on Jul 4, 2019 16:23:32 GMT
I think the Mulan issues are more to do with the cutting of the songs (and Mushu) rather than changing the story. Not making it a musical makes sense since it's meant to be a war film.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 4, 2019 16:44:13 GMT
I can see that - but it will be trading off the existing film and so audience expectations have already been set.
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Post by missthelma on Jul 4, 2019 19:09:57 GMT
Gosh this has really brought out all the knuckle dragging racists on Twitter hasn't it? Naturally all with the disclaimer 'I'm not racist'. I especially love the pictures of DVD's held over rubbish bins. You have to be a special kind of stupid to think that impacts on companies, it's like the people burning Nikes (that's all kicked off again too).
And wasn't there someone as well who deep dived an explanation as to why a mermaid couldn't be black as she lived under water so therefore had no melanin in her skin. I'm sure all this energy and emotion could be directed more productively elsewhere
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Post by sf on Jul 4, 2019 19:26:41 GMT
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Post by d'James on Jul 4, 2019 20:59:33 GMT
Digital Spy made a mock up of animated Ariel as black (or they copied it from Idris Elba) and it looked great so I’m all up for this as long as they don’t make Sebastian a rapping crobster.
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Post by Dave25 on Jul 4, 2019 21:17:29 GMT
I think Melissa McCarthy is a terrible choice for Ursula.
Ursula is not meant to be this typical American kind of goofy housewife with a funny twist. Ursula should be more vicious, more drag queen-like, maybe a bot more damaged, like she's been through a lot, with a hint of faded glamour.
That would make it much more interesting in my opinion.
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Post by poster J on Jul 4, 2019 23:40:05 GMT
I think Melissa McCarthy is a terrible choice for Ursula. Ursula is not meant to be this typical American kind of goofy housewife with a funny twist. Ursula should be more vicious, more drag queen-like, maybe a bot more damaged, like she's been through a lot, with a hint of faded glamour. That would make it much more interesting in my opinion. McCarthy can do serious drama (she's an Oscar nominee!) so there is no reason to assume she wouldn't be able to do vicious. If that is even what the director and producers decide the character should be. In any event, it seems a bit unnecessary and premature to assume she would definitely be a "goofy housewife", as you put it, without any evidence whatsoever that this will be the case.
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Post by d'James on Jul 5, 2019 0:04:31 GMT
I think Melissa McCarthy is a terrible choice for Ursula. Ursula is not meant to be this typical American kind of goofy housewife with a funny twist. Ursula should be more vicious, more drag queen-like, maybe a bot more damaged, like she's been through a lot, with a hint of faded glamour. That would make it much more interesting in my opinion. McCarthy can do serious drama (she's an Oscar nominee!) so there is no reason to assume she wouldn't be able to do vicious. If that is even what the director and producers decide the character should be. In any event, it seems a bit unnecessary and premature to assume she would definitely be a "goofy housewife", as you put it, without any evidence whatsoever that this will be the case. I agree with that, I just don’t see her voice coming anywhere near to Pat Carroll. (Whereas Liza and Queen Latifah night.)
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Post by poster J on Jul 5, 2019 7:13:41 GMT
McCarthy can do serious drama (she's an Oscar nominee!) so there is no reason to assume she wouldn't be able to do vicious. If that is even what the director and producers decide the character should be. In any event, it seems a bit unnecessary and premature to assume she would definitely be a "goofy housewife", as you put it, without any evidence whatsoever that this will be the case. I agree with that, I just don’t see her voice coming anywhere near to Pat Carroll. (Whereas Liza and Queen Latifah night.) Oh yes, I agree with that, I was just responding purely to a post about the acting rather than the singing.
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Post by Dave25 on Jul 5, 2019 9:09:52 GMT
And aside from the acting and singing, I think she is the wrong type for the role. What I would look for is the opposite of her type.
It seems many producers and casting directors do not understand the character. In the Hollywood Bowl, The theatre versions, other projects,the role has always been miscast.
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Post by daisy24601 on Jul 5, 2019 9:39:36 GMT
Tbh I have seen a great deal of people being affronted by people having a problem with a black woman being cast but very few people actually bothered by it. I had a look at that NotMyAriel hashtag and every single comment was people angry about it, no one actually saying it. Seems like people looking for a fight where there isn't really one.
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Post by asfound on Jul 5, 2019 9:49:45 GMT
Ha ha, I don't follow these generic and sanitised Disney remakes so this thread is the first I've heard of it, but it always amused me how almost every time they do the old ethnicity switcheroo it is always black, like other ethnicities don't exist or haven't faced prejudice and discrimination. TV ads are also great for this. I can't decide if I find it insulting (i.e. "our white guilt compels us to give a helping hand, oh never mind the other minorities they seem to be doing fine") or patronising (i.e "throw em a bone, a little blackwashing makes everything alright").
But in all seriousness, I get jokes about being the "diversity hire" and I imagine it's pretty much part of the workplace narrative now for a lot of people. I guess it's not exactly the role of the entertainment industry, but maybe it would help if casting were more transparent - if actors are selected for being the best out of a diverse pool or if they are just looking for a type, and it just so happens that race exoticism is the latest fad under the guise of progressivism. The latter doesn't actually strike me as being any more progressive than historical, shallow Hollywood casting.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Jul 5, 2019 14:29:13 GMT
Tbh I have seen a great deal of people being affronted by people having a problem with a black woman being cast but very few people actually bothered by it. I had a look at that NotMyAriel hashtag and every single comment was people angry about it, no one actually saying it. Seems like people looking for a fight where there isn't really one. On the Reddit thread about the announcement the majority of initial comments were angry about the casting (and few were downvoted) but I suppose that serves me right for being on Reddit in the first place because what else should I expect at this point?
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Post by kathryn on Jul 5, 2019 14:44:34 GMT
There are a couple of people clearly disapproving of it in this very thread, albeit they haven’t been silly enough to express the sentiment in the type of blatantly racist way you’ll find on Reddit.
You’ll notice the assumption that Disney have deliberately picked a WOC rather than actually conducting a colour-blind casting search that found the best woman for the job.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Jul 5, 2019 15:32:40 GMT
Tbh I have seen a great deal of people being affronted by people having a problem with a black woman being cast but very few people actually bothered by it. I had a look at that NotMyAriel hashtag and every single comment was people angry about it, no one actually saying it. Seems like people looking for a fight where there isn't really one. There are plenty of racist comments on Twitter saying this is outrageous and that Ariel is clearly white. Maybe the anti-racists outnumber them, which is great. But they are definitely there.
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Post by christya on Jul 6, 2019 10:59:38 GMT
There are a couple of people clearly disapproving of it in this very thread, albeit they haven’t been silly enough to express the sentiment in the type of blatantly racist way you’ll find on Reddit. You’ll notice the assumption that Disney have deliberately picked a WOC rather than actually conducting a colour-blind casting search that found the best woman for the job. The trouble with believing they just went for the 'best woman for the job' is that it implies that Emma Watson was also the best, and there's no way that's the case. There are all kinds of things that go into the casting, and it's not all about talent. Doesn't mean Haille can't do it - she has a beautiful voice from the clips I've heard. I'd rather they cast like this, changing the look, than said "Which famous person can we try to make look like the cartoon" and tried to 'fix' the singing afterward.
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Post by kathryn on Jul 6, 2019 19:24:02 GMT
Clearly Emma Watson was the best woman for the job, regardless of singing ability, because the film was well-reviewed both by critics and general audiences and made a huge amount of money.
Sometimes a performer’s ability to connect to the target audience is more important than their technical ability. And the general audience that listens to mainstream pop music is now so used to hearing auto tune that some some pop singers have actually learned how to mimic its effects with their actual voice, because people prefer it!
Traditional Musical-theatre oriented audiences like us may well disagree, but we’re in the minority.
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Post by Dave25 on Jul 7, 2019 0:10:26 GMT
Maybe audiences don't really recognize quality anymore and are numb because of all the lifeless garbage and autotune. That could be a reason why Emma Watson was somewhat accepted.
But I'd take this unknown, young, very well singing, beautifully voiced girl as Ariel, full of life and who sings with glow and passion over someone like Emma Watson any time. I think it's never too late to teach audiences how it can be done too and what actually works better.
And in the end, what will stand the test of time? Myself for example, I never need to see or hear the live action BATB again. But I still listen to and watch The Sound of Music, Grease, The original BATB sometimes.
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Post by indis on Jul 7, 2019 10:59:48 GMT
for my personal taste i would have preferred someone white with red hair but as its only a non-existing-creature i can look over it in that role
i would only riot if they would miscast Mulan, Pocahontas or Moana with someone not fitting looks-wise
i don't know about Tiana from that Frog-movie - does she have to be black? never saw the film
as for BATB - i didn't like the choice of Emma Watson, and not only voice like ... bäh.. also looks wise as for me she is only pretty but not beautiful, but that seems to be personal taste
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Post by The Matthew on Jul 7, 2019 14:23:10 GMT
i don't know about Tiana from that Frog-movie - does she have to be black? never saw the film The Princess and The Frog. Yes, she does have to be black.
I find it quite interesting that Disney casts its main studio animated films almost as if they were live action anyway.
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Post by anthony40 on Jul 7, 2019 18:42:38 GMT
I LOVE The Little Mermaid. When it was released, my best friend and I saw it at the cinema several times.
I have another friend, a straight-an-arrow, professional corporate lawyer (his Ecuadorian wife calls him 'serioso') who is the oldest of seven children, who we bought as a joke gift at the time on VHS back at the time and now he and all his family love it to, having watched it several times.
I don't really have an opinion on the colour casting of Ariel. For me, as long as she still has red hair, all the main characters are there and the songs Part of Your World, Under The Sea, Poor Unfortunate Souls and Kiss the Girl are included, then I'll be happy.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 12, 2021 9:52:05 GMT
Release date put back to May 2023.
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Post by anthony40 on Sept 12, 2021 18:21:18 GMT
Release date put back to May 2023. Maybe this delayed release will allow others more time to become part of Ariel's world?#fathomsbelow
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Post by poster J on Sept 13, 2021 8:22:20 GMT
Odd given they've already finished filming it! Films due to be released last year it was understandable, but this one not so much. Unless the schedules for next year are now already overcrowded?
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