The Little Mermaid Hans Christian Andersen Movie
Okay, let's talk about The Little Mermaid. Not the Disney one, of course. We all know and love that bubbly classic! I'm talking about the original Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
Ready for a potentially controversial opinion? I think the original story is... kind of a downer. Like, a seriously sad bummer.
The Original is Dark? You Don't Say!
Ariel, in the original, doesn’t get her voice back. She doesn't even get Prince Eric. No happy ending, no wedding, nothing.
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Instead, she gets a choice. Stab the prince and live, or die and become sea foam. Tough call, right?
She chooses sea foam. Poof! Gone. Talk about a buzzkill.
Let's Talk About That Sea Witch...
Ursula, in the Disney version, is a villain. But honestly? The sea witch in Andersen's version is even creepier.
She cuts out Ariel’s tongue! That's way more brutal than just taking a voice. Imagine losing your ability to speak. Forever.
And the price for legs? Every step feels like walking on knives. Ouch! No wonder she couldn't impress the prince.
The Prince: Kind of a Jerk?
Speaking of the prince, let's be real. He's not exactly winning any "Prince Charming" awards in the original. He's kind of oblivious.
He likes Ariel, sure. But he's obsessed with this other woman he briefly met. The one he thinks saved his life.
Poor Ariel dances for him, suffers for him, and he's just like, "Yeah, you're cute, but have you seen this other girl?" Rude!
So, Why is it so Depressing?
The whole story is about unrequited love and sacrifice. It's about pain and suffering. Andersen didn’t hold back.
It's supposed to be a cautionary tale, I guess. About the dangers of longing for something you can't have. But still, so sad!
I'm not saying it's a bad story. It's just... intensely depressing. Compared to the Disney version, it's like night and day.
Unpopular Opinion Time: I Prefer the Disney Version!
Yes, I said it! Give me the singing crab, the talking fish, and the happy ending any day. Sue me!
I like my fairy tales with a little bit of hope and a lot of catchy tunes. "Under the Sea" is a banger, let's be honest.
Plus, Ursula is way more fun as a campy villain than a genuinely terrifying one. Sorry, Hans Christian Andersen!
Maybe I'm Just a Hopeless Romantic
Look, I get the appeal of the original. It's darker, more complex. It explores themes of existentialism and the futility of desire.
But sometimes, I just want a story where the girl gets the guy, the villain gets defeated, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Is that so wrong? Maybe. But I'm okay with it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch the Disney version. Again.
Maybe the sea foam isn’t so bad after all? Just kidding… mostly.
