Most people have seen Disney’s animated movie “The Little Mermaid.” But there are several others that are absolutely excellent: classics. Are here:
1. My first choice for a mermaid movie is “Splash.” Not only is it funny and the plot is wonderful, but there are some pretty awesome images of Daryl Hannah playing the mermaid in the ocean. We can’t get enough of that! Please note that this is not a children’s film. It was made in the 80’s and for the most part it’s okay for the family to see. But there is a bit of nudity (when the mermaid walks into New York out of the ocean with nothing but her long hair to cover her) and there is some implication of what she and Tom Hanks’ character are doing in the elevator, although it’s not clear. shows nothing. The movie is wonderful with a great story and amazing mermaid footage and lots of laughs plus great romance.
2. My second top pick is “Roan Inish’s Secret.” This is a safe and calm movie that the whole family can enjoy. It was made in Ireland and as such is slower and quieter than most American movies. It is about a little Irish girl who moves to live with her grandparents. While she is there, she unknowingly stumbles upon the mystery surrounding the island the family used to live on, called “Roan Inish” (Seal Island). As she slowly solves the mystery, she brings healing and unity back to the family. In this movie the mythical creature is a selkie, not a mermaid. The selkie lives in the form of a seal. On occasion, she climbs on a rock and removes her sealskin, revealing a beautiful woman. So this movie is a little different, and you’ll never look at a seal the same way again.
3. My third favorite mermaid movie is “Aquamarine.” This one is aimed at the teen crowd. It has nothing all of a sudden, so the whole family can enjoy it. It’s a delightfully different interpretation of the classic The Little Mermaid story, with a wonderful surprise ending. The mermaid in this movie is different, more like a normal teenager. There are several good shots of her in the water. The messages in this film are of great quality, such as loyalty, friendship, personal trust, selflessness and bravery. And it’s also a lot of fun.
4. The fourth of my best mermaid movies is an old black and white classic called “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid.” It will be a challenge to find this movie to watch, but VHS versions are available for sale on Amazon.com. All of the underwater footage was shot at the famous Weeki Wachee Springs in Weeki Wachee, Florida, just one year after this underwater theater opened. Made in 1948, this film is about a married couple who go on vacation to the Caribbean. The man is almost 50 years old and is going through a mid-life crisis. While he’s on vacation, he accidentally fishes a live mermaid out of the sea! Ann Blyth plays the enchanting mermaid and you will love this wonderful movie. The only quibbles a parent might have is the extramarital flirtation issue and some funny scenes with a guy trying to quit smoking.
5. One that’s a bit different, and that came out recently, is a Japanese anime movie by Miyazaki called “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea,” or just “Ponyo.” In this one, the fish girl is depicted as a gold fish with a human face, which is quite strange. But in an unusual twist, this five-year-old fish-girl has to make the little five-year-old human boy love her faithfully, or she will turn to sea foam and exist no more. It’s such a sweet performance, these little children learning to love and trust each other in such an innocent way. It is a story of wonder and courage and should not be missed.
6. My pick for number six is Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” It was the movie that got Disney back into the popular movie business in the 1980s. The music and story are delightful. I remember how delighted I was when it came out: it’s a delicious mermaid movie, fun for the whole family.
7. Number seven for me is the Russian adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.” This 1976 film shows many wonderful images of mermaids under the sea. Back then, swimmers only had small fins, so they had to flap their legs in a very fast motion to move. The underwater scenes are only at the beginning of the movie, but they are amazing! (I can’t understand how those swimmers could be in the water with all those jellyfish!). You can find this movie for rent on Netflix and it is directed by Vladimir Bychkov. Again, this version of Anderson’s famous story is a bit different, almost a whole new story. Note that there is nudity in one scene and depictions of a witch performing magic. Other than those, the whole family will enjoy this one.
8. “Barbie Mermaidia” is a movie for young children, but the plot is good and the scenes are beautiful. I especially enjoyed the unusual design of Barbie’s mermaid tail. In this story, the main character has to make a big sacrifice and learns some good lessons. I like this one better than the last Barbie mermaid movie because of its great message.
9. There was a lot of excitement this year about the new release of “Barbie in a Mermaid Tail.” This one has wonderfully funny surf scenes. The mermaid world of Oceana was a bit strange, basically an imitation of our materialistic society. This made it fun, but the mystery and magic of the legendary mermaids is lost in this scenario. This is what I call a “fluff” movie: nothing deep, just fun visuals and a nice little story.
10. My least favorite mermaid movie is a children’s movie called “Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the Mermaid.” It is about a young journalist from a small town named Roxy who slowly discovers that her new homeless friend of hers (a beautiful blonde) is actually a mermaid. The movie is okay, but throughout the entire movie there are no underwater scenes or scenes with a mermaid on the tail, none, until after the end. Then finally you see about 10 seconds of the blonde mermaid swimming underwater with a beautiful tail. However, the story is interesting enough and kids will surely enjoy this movie.
