Tag: Lin-Manuel Miranda

2023: New Perspectives: The Little Mermaid

I think the cast were well chosen and I really love the decision to cast a woman of colour as Ariel. The film is set somewhere that she could be a native but also mermaids aren’t real so logic didn’t need to play into the original ethnicity of the characters. This is further demonstrated with Ariel’s father and sisters. Halle Bailey captured Ariel’s innocence and wonderment at the human world as well as showing great chemistry with Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric) and possessing an emotive singing voice.

Hello there,

It has been a long time since I wrote a post on here. The main reason for this being that I started working in the film and television industry and I didn’t have the time. I have recently started a new position and have a little more free time so have decided to resurrect this blog!

After working in VFX for almost 2 years, I think I now have a different perspective on film and TV, especially if I have been involved with the project. I am going to start by reviewing a couple of recently released items that I have worked on and I will see whether knowing the ins and outs of a production enhances or takes away from the viewing experience.

The Little Mermaid (2023)



I am starting with the Little Mermaid which I was fortunate enough to attend a cast/crew screening of at Leicester Square. I spent a couple of days assisting on cataloguing shots so I got to see a lot of them in the early stages. My former company also did the VFX so I got to see a few early versions at showcases.

We saw the film in an IMAX screen that is the biggest I have ever experienced a film in. The quality and sound were amazing, all of the VFX on the shots really popped and it was an interesting way to watch this film.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film from the songs with a touch up from legend Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Encanto) to the fleshed-out storyline including Eric and Ariel living somewhere in the Caribbean and interacting with villagers. I know that there was some discussion around Flounder’s new appearance but once you get into the film, this detail does not distract.

I think the cast were well chosen and I really love the decision to cast a woman of colour as Ariel. The film is set somewhere that she could be a native but also mermaids aren’t real so logic didn’t need to play into the original ethnicity of the characters. This is further demonstrated with Ariel’s father and sisters. Halle Bailey captured Ariel’s innocence and wonderment at the human world as well as showing great chemistry with Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric) and possessing an emotive singing voice.

My favourite songs in terms of staging were Kiss the Girl and Part of Your World. The lyrics are catchy and both did some new things from the original Little Mermaid film.

I was not a big fan of the 1989 version as I thought Ariel didn’t have much of a personality and spent most of the film as demure and non-verbal. I did however enjoy the new version as I think they expanded the story and despite not speaking Halle Bailey had a very expressive face. I think casting Awkwafina as Scuttle gave the role a new spin and her voice is very recognisable for older viewers from films such as Crazy Rich Asians, Shang-Chi and Ocean’s 8. She was also a voice in Raya and the Last Dragon so younger viewers may be already familiar with her.

Seeing some of the shots in advance did not spoil or ruin the film for me, mainly as it’s a well known story and also as I only saw a very small part of the final film. I think Disney are doing a good job with their adaptations and as long as they keep updating them and adding new additions from the originals, then they will remain popular.

I gave this film 4/5. I am taking a point off as it was still a little cheesy and the fact that she had to kiss Eric to win back her voice and tail did not set a great example for young women

Happy Watching,
Robyn

Summer of Cinema: In the Heights

I loved the setting and the massive dance numbers featured in the film. While on the streets of New York, the flash mob like crowds all dancing as one reminded you that this was heightened reality and a musical and not how things really work. That being said, the ideas and fears presented are very real to many people. One of my favourite numbers was 96,000 set at the local swimming pool where the characters all dream of what they would do if they won the lottery after the winning ticket was sold at the bodega.

Dear Readers,

I am back again with my new series, Summer of Cinema and today I am recounting my experience of seeing In the Heights. I went along with a friend and we both enjoyed the film despite its long runtime. Our screen was fairly quiet and we were sitting more forward than I usually choose but it did not detract from this lively, culturally eye-opening and fun musical. If you saw Hamilton, then you will definitely enjoy In the Heights.

The setting for the musical is the area of Washington Heights in Manhattan and almost in the Bronx. The characters in the film are mostly all immigrants from Latin countries and the plot centres around them trying to make it in a world where they have not had advantages that others have had. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote and starred in the original musical on Broadway that is the basis for the film.

The cast are a mixture of well-known faces: Anthony Ramos from Hamilton (another Miranda Broadway original); Jimmy Smits (The West Wing); Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn 99) and new comers: Melissa Barrera, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace and Gregory Diaz IV.

The story is set in Summer and centres around a city wide blackout. The residents all have their own dreams: Usnavi wants to carry on his father’s legacy in Dominican Republic; Vanessa wants to become a fashion designer in Midtown; Daniela wants to make her business work despite moving to the Bronx and Nina wants to leave her college and reconnect with her neighbourhood.

Throughout the film, we see each of these characters and others trying their best to fulfil these dreams. They try to get through the tough times to emerge out of the other side with their heads held high. Many of the songs centre around working hard as an immigrant in New York City and the challenges that come with being an immigrant. Much in the style of Hamilton, the songs are political, personal, full of truths about the world.

This is a story you can’t help but get lost in and swept up with the emotions of the Barrio and even though the struggles of the characters are not similar to my own, I felt that I could relate to their pain and their hope for the future. Especially after 2020, the film feels very timely. The characters make their own dreams come true without waiting around for the right time. They also compromise to make the best out of a situation.

I loved the setting and the massive dance numbers featured in the film. While on the streets of New York, the flash mob like crowds all dancing as one reminded you that this was heightened reality and a musical and not how things really work. That being said, the ideas and fears presented are very real to many people. One of my favourite numbers was 96,000 set at the local swimming pool where the characters all dream of what they would do if they won the lottery after the winning ticket was sold at the bodega.

Overall I enjoyed the vibe of the film and the colours and dance numbers helped me escape to another place for a while but still kept me grounded in the issues facing immigrants in New York. The film was long but the pacing was good and I didn’t find myself worrying about the time once I was enraptured by the film.

I give this film 4.5/5

Happy Watching,

Robyn