The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Beginning | 
 enlarge | Director: Peggy Holmes
Actors: Jodi Benson, Sam Wright, Jim Cummings
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $15.99
You Save: $14.00 (47%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 6
Format: Animated, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 04917900
UPC: 786936689334
EAN: 0786936689334
ASIN: B000XUOIQO
Theatrical Release Date: August 26, 2008 (In 4 Days)
Release Date: August 26, 2008 (In 4 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Not yet released
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Product Description
Every story has a beginning but only one begins under the sea now for the first time ever discover the story you never knew in The Little Mermaid: Ariel s Beginning an all-new motion picture only on Disney DVD. Long ago in a kingdom where music is outlawed King Triton s youngest daughter Ariel discovers her love for music in a secret underground music club. Torn with the choice of whether to hide her passion or share it with her father and risk losing everything Ariel sets off on a daring adventure to restore music to Atlantica.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 786936689334 Manufacturer No: 04917900
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning - Review of the DVD! August 18, 2008
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I'm not sure why a number of people have chosen to review or bash a movie that they've never seen, but I for one found this movie to be very well done. Is it worthy of a big screen release? Not necessarily; it is a low-key story, but nonetheless, a VAST improvement over some of Disney's previous direct-to-dvd movies. The story is a prequel to "The Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)," and explains how King Triton banned music in his kingdom when his wife was killed. We learn how Sebastian became the music conductor for King Triton, and how Ariel & Flounder met. Naturally, it is the full-of-life Ariel who helps bring music back to her father's life. Although the villain is not as fun and nasty as the legendary Ursula, Marina Del Rey (ably voiced by Sally Field) is plenty of fun as the evil governess for King Triton's daughter. Not content to be a governess, she plots to usurp Sebastian's position, even if it means getting rid of Ariel. The one odd character in the movie is Marina's sidekick, Benjamin. His style of animation looks like something out of Barney. It is particularly jarring since the animation on this film is SOOOO good! It does not look like your typical straight-to-dvd release; in fact, I would go so far as to say that it is on par with the original feature. Jodi Benson returns as the voice of Ariel. In both singing and acting, she is fantastic and totally believeable as the songstress under the sea. As Sebastian, Samuel E. Wright returns...who else could voice this classic animated character? There are seven musical numbers in the film, and the fact that it was directed by a choreographer (Peggy Holmes) is a plus. The movement of the characters in the film AND the dance numbers is fantastic.
Extras are also great. 2 backstage Disney featurettes: "Splashdance" is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie, hosted by director Peggy Holmes. "The Little Mermaid: Under the Sea and Behind The Scenes On Broadway" gives a backstage look at the Broadway musical production, featuring interviews with the cast. There are 2 deleted scenes (shown in storyboard form), "Music & More" (where viewers can directly access the musical numbers AND watch them karaoke-style with the words on the screen), and the game "Mermaid Discovery Vanity Game," where you can learn about each of King Triton's daughters by clicking on the personal items on their vanity/makeup tables.
Overall, a wonderful DVD for children of all ages. Definitely a quality production!
 The kids will love this...regardless of what critics think August 18, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Lets get real. Who cares about plot, villians, etc. Isn't this little movie about kids? I know that my daughter will LOVE this flick. If your daughter has one piece of Ariel stuff...get this for her. She'll love it.
 Not just a made-up sequel August 12, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Actually, this was made into a book around 1999. I work at a library and had come across the book entitled: "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning". I read it, and after seeing the trailers for the movie, I'm positive that Disney has just adapted the book into another sequel movie. So this movie is not just some made up movie sequel.
NEW Ariel movie out in August 2008; NOT Return to the Sea August 9, 2008
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
Some reviewers are getting the new movie coming out in August 2008, called Ariel's Beginning, confused with another DVD about Ariel's daughter, Return to the Sea.
 A Footloose remake? July 21, 2008
0 out of 11 found this review helpful
Is it just me or does this not sound a lot like the movie Footloose? The main female character in that movie was named Ariel and her father was the one who outlawed music in the town. I loved both The Little Mermaid and Footloose movies, but I'm just thinking, "where is the originality Disney? Come on."
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