Aladdin

If you are a fan of Aladdin, you’ve probably been waiting for this Disney live-action remake of the 1992 animated classic. If you actually enjoyed the previous remakes like Dumbo, Jungle Book, and Beauty and the Beast, chances are high that you will enjoy this version even better. With lots of computer generated special effects, there are several little things about the movie that you will love. From few responses trickling in, it is obvious that many feel the way we feel about the movie.

Aladdin, portrayed by Mena Massoud, is a good thief in the Middle Eastern fantasyland of Agrabah. It is safe to say that he was doing so well until he met Princess Jasmin (Naomi Scott). As our hero falls in love with this lovely daughter of a kindly old Sultan, his life was rocked to some extent. With his donkey, Abu, a magic carpet, and the gracious giant blue Genie (Will Smith), Aladdin must take on Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), the diabolical vizier who was so bad that he had to push a man down a dark well.

In terms of casting, Aladdin is an incredible movie. The actors were fantastic, though the idea of animal sidekicks may not go down well with some people. Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott did extremely well. Will Smith was simply exceptional, bringing his cocky hip-hop swagger into the wish-granting blue Genie. Though the CGI did not do him much justice, Will Smith was definitely one of the outstanding things about the movie.

With some twists to the story, what we have in Aladdin is a movie that is ideal for this age. It reflects the changes that is needed in the society today. Princess Jasmine is a far stronger character unlike what we saw in the original version that portrayed her as just a beauty to be won by Aladdin. Here, she is an ambitious young woman that sees herself as a potential successor to her Sultan father, who was being undermined by the diabolical vizier. The romantic sub-plot for the Genie is another sweet thing to behold. It was a good thing that he was involved with Jasmine’s handmaid, Dalia (Nasim Pedrad).

Another aspect of the movie that is impressive is the musicals. From the opening scene where Smith sings a fresh version of “Arabian Night” to the showstopper, “Friend Like Me”, there are several new songs that are really good. One of such is “Speechless” performed by Naomi Scott who, by the way, was the best singer in the movie.

Aladdin is generally good. It is a fantastic movie for the whole family. With its several funny parts and great songs, the colorful movie will appeal to children. There is equally lots of actions that will impress, even though the scenes where characters are in danger can be stressful for very sensitive kids. There is really no bad language in the movie. On the other hand, there are positive messages and positive role models. This may not be better than the original version, but it is a great movie by all standards.