Director and co-writer Guy Ritchie brings a new vision to the tale of Aladdin that is fun and familiar! So a little caveat before we get to this review, I’m biased since I worked at Aladdin’s Oasis in Disneyland. I had a walk through role in the show carrying a tray of “food” during the “Prince Ali” number. Then, I saw the animated Aladdin (1992), the first movie I saw at the El Capitan Theatre. Last year, I saw the Aladdin musical at the Pantages Theater. All of that aside, what I noticed is that each incarnation of Aladdin is entertaining in its own way.
Guy Ritchie is known for films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Sherlock Holmes (2009), and the uneven King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017). Aladdin propels Ritchie back to blockbuster status and though the idea of his direction in a Disney film seems unusual, he injects his energetic style, creates a movie that has the heart of the animated film, handles the lively musical and dance numbers, and adds some new character developments. The co-writer of the screenplay is John August who also wrote 2012’s Frankenweenie (2012) screenplay, Big Fish (2003), and the screenplay of the animated Titan A.E. (2000). Ritchie and August share writing credits for the film, but it relies on the screenplay of the 1992 movie by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, and Terry Rossio.
Guy Ritchie is known for films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Sherlock Holmes (2009), and the uneven King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017). Aladdin propels Ritchie back to blockbuster status and though the idea of his direction in a Disney film seems unusual, he injects his energetic style, creates a movie that has the heart of the animated film, handles the lively musical and dance numbers, and adds some new character developments. The co-writer of the screenplay is John August who also wrote 2012’s Frankenweenie (2012) screenplay, Big Fish (2003), and the screenplay of the animated Titan A.E. (2000). Ritchie and August share writing credits for the film, but it relies on the screenplay of the 1992 movie by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, and Terry Rossio.
The film opens with a sailing ship and then we see a smaller merchant ship. On board is the Mariner played by Will Smith who decides to tell his children a story. This leads to the “Arabian Nights” song which has a slight change, “It’s chaotic, but hey, it’s home” instead of “It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.” The music is by Alan Menken who worked on the score of the original movie. He brings in some Arabic instruments to the music. This leads to a pan through the land of Agrabah and also glimpses of our characters; the monkey Abu picking pockets on the streets, Aladdin (Mena Massoud), his partner in crime, then the Sultan (Navid Negahban), Jasmine (Naomi Scott), and her tiger Rajah in the palace. The perspective shifts with the parrot Iago to the desert.
Then, we move to the Cave of Wonders where Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) sends a hapless volunteer into the cave. He of course needs the “diamond in the rough” to enter the cave. This of course leads to Aladdin played by Massoud. He was also Kamal in the drama Run This Town, earlier this year, playing Tarek Kassar in the Amazon Prime series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018), and starred in the Canadian teen drama Open Heart (2015). His likability drives the movie with the romance and friendship relationships and action. Massoud uses talk singing, but has good vocals and this may be his breakout film. We see Aladdin’s quick fingers and clever monkey pal, Abu, gets them a bag of dates which he gives to children. One moment like the cartoon and we know why Aladdin is the “diamond in the rough.”
Then, we move to the Cave of Wonders where Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) sends a hapless volunteer into the cave. He of course needs the “diamond in the rough” to enter the cave. This of course leads to Aladdin played by Massoud. He was also Kamal in the drama Run This Town, earlier this year, playing Tarek Kassar in the Amazon Prime series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018), and starred in the Canadian teen drama Open Heart (2015). His likability drives the movie with the romance and friendship relationships and action. Massoud uses talk singing, but has good vocals and this may be his breakout film. We see Aladdin’s quick fingers and clever monkey pal, Abu, gets them a bag of dates which he gives to children. One moment like the cartoon and we know why Aladdin is the “diamond in the rough.”
Then we get Jafar (Kenzari) returning to see the candidates for the cave. Kenzari played the conductor, Pierre Michel, in Murder on the Orient Express (2017), he also starred in the horror action film, The Mummy (2017), and was in the remake of Ben-Hur (2016). Jafar was the character that I thought departed the most from the 1992 movie. Here, he is more deceitful and less extravagantly evil, it also is interesting to see that he built himself up to Grand Vizier from the same thieving background as Aladdin. We see his evil at throwing a henchman into a pit saying the search for the “diamond in the rough” is hopeless.
Then, we have Jasmine in robes, giving children some food, and the merchant wants her bracelet in exchange. Naomi Scott has a developed part with Jasmine, we find later that she wants more of a rulership role with Agrabah since her father is getting older. She was of course Kimberly, the Pink Ranger, in Power Rangers (2017), starred in the real life drama The 33 (2015), and was in the Disney Channel teen musical Lemonade Mouth (2011). I think this also a break out role for Scott. Her singing is powerful and she gets a new solo song, “Speechless.” Her costumes bring up the work of Michael Wilkinson that are beautiful, colorful, and nods to the animated film while covering up her midriff and Aladdin’s chest. Again, Aladdin is clever as a thief, and gets the bracelet away and this of course leads into the “One Jump” chase. It reminded of the Parkour styled acrobatics in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), but there is comedy and weaves in Jasmine also on the run.
Then, we have Jasmine in robes, giving children some food, and the merchant wants her bracelet in exchange. Naomi Scott has a developed part with Jasmine, we find later that she wants more of a rulership role with Agrabah since her father is getting older. She was of course Kimberly, the Pink Ranger, in Power Rangers (2017), starred in the real life drama The 33 (2015), and was in the Disney Channel teen musical Lemonade Mouth (2011). I think this also a break out role for Scott. Her singing is powerful and she gets a new solo song, “Speechless.” Her costumes bring up the work of Michael Wilkinson that are beautiful, colorful, and nods to the animated film while covering up her midriff and Aladdin’s chest. Again, Aladdin is clever as a thief, and gets the bracelet away and this of course leads into the “One Jump” chase. It reminded of the Parkour styled acrobatics in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), but there is comedy and weaves in Jasmine also on the run.
One of Aladdin’s pursuers is Hakim (Numan Acar) who is the head of the guards and important in the movie. The chase brings up Thief of Bagdad (1940), which has a hero teaming up a thief Abu (played in this case by Sabu), finds a genie (Rex Ingram), and faces a sorcerer named Jaffar (Conrad Veidt) to win a princess. Aladdin departs enough from that it feels original. It ends up with Aladdin winning her confidence and Jasmine pole vaults across to safety. Aladdin takes Jasmine to his secret place, she calls herself Dalia, the name of her handmaiden. He returns her bracelet which belonged to her mother. Jasmine explains that she is confined to the palace because her father was worried about her with the death of her mother.
Aladdin shows Jasmine a look at the palace and she notices the arrival of a prince and has to leave. Aladdin notices that Abu has taken the bracelet. At the palace, we see the arrival of Prince Anders (Billy Magnussen). He was in the Disney musical film, Into the Woods (2014), Bridge of Spies (2015), and also this year, Velvet Buzzsaw. Dalia (Nasim Pedrad) approves of the prince, but the prince reaches out to Rajah and Jasmine sends him away. Pedrad is of course known for being a part of the cast in Saturday Night Live, she was also in the comedy series New Girl (2015-2018), and voiced Jillian in Despicable Me 2 (2013). The character is a new addition to the Aladdin story, but absolutely essential as a female friend to Jasmine and important in her own way.
Her father is the Sultan played by Negahban who plays the Shadow King in the cable series Legion, he was also in 12 Strong (2018), and played the title role in the horror movie Djinn (2013). His characterization is not befuddled like the animated movie and does not have the obsession with toys and mechanical things like the character in Thief of Bagdad. The diversity of the cast is one of the strong points of the film. Still, there is no Arabic words or expressions in the movie unlike Thief of Bagdad. Jafar argues for the invasion of Shehrabad, the former kingdom of Jasmine's mother, using the power of his cobra staff, but Jasmine interrupts them.
Aladdin slips into the palace, this is noticed by Jafar’s parrot, Iago, voiced by Alan Tudyk. It seems like Tudyk is getting experience voicing animated birds, with Heihei in Moana (2016), also playing K-2SO in Rogue One (2016), he is currently playing Mr. Nobody in the streaming show Doom Patrol. A minor role, he didn’t have the funny lines or nasty villainy of Gilbert Gottfried. Aladdin carries in a tray of tea. This leads to a very funny exchange with Jasmine trying to convince Aladdin that Dalia is the princess. He discovers the truth, taking a brooch from her hair, and promises it to return it the following night. Aladdin runs into Hakim and the guards in the hall. He finds himself in the desert with Jafar who makes the bargain to take him to the Cave of Wonders for the lamp. This will get him the riches to win the princess at least this is what leads Aladdin to risk his life.
Aladdin shows Jasmine a look at the palace and she notices the arrival of a prince and has to leave. Aladdin notices that Abu has taken the bracelet. At the palace, we see the arrival of Prince Anders (Billy Magnussen). He was in the Disney musical film, Into the Woods (2014), Bridge of Spies (2015), and also this year, Velvet Buzzsaw. Dalia (Nasim Pedrad) approves of the prince, but the prince reaches out to Rajah and Jasmine sends him away. Pedrad is of course known for being a part of the cast in Saturday Night Live, she was also in the comedy series New Girl (2015-2018), and voiced Jillian in Despicable Me 2 (2013). The character is a new addition to the Aladdin story, but absolutely essential as a female friend to Jasmine and important in her own way.
Her father is the Sultan played by Negahban who plays the Shadow King in the cable series Legion, he was also in 12 Strong (2018), and played the title role in the horror movie Djinn (2013). His characterization is not befuddled like the animated movie and does not have the obsession with toys and mechanical things like the character in Thief of Bagdad. The diversity of the cast is one of the strong points of the film. Still, there is no Arabic words or expressions in the movie unlike Thief of Bagdad. Jafar argues for the invasion of Shehrabad, the former kingdom of Jasmine's mother, using the power of his cobra staff, but Jasmine interrupts them.
Aladdin slips into the palace, this is noticed by Jafar’s parrot, Iago, voiced by Alan Tudyk. It seems like Tudyk is getting experience voicing animated birds, with Heihei in Moana (2016), also playing K-2SO in Rogue One (2016), he is currently playing Mr. Nobody in the streaming show Doom Patrol. A minor role, he didn’t have the funny lines or nasty villainy of Gilbert Gottfried. Aladdin carries in a tray of tea. This leads to a very funny exchange with Jasmine trying to convince Aladdin that Dalia is the princess. He discovers the truth, taking a brooch from her hair, and promises it to return it the following night. Aladdin runs into Hakim and the guards in the hall. He finds himself in the desert with Jafar who makes the bargain to take him to the Cave of Wonders for the lamp. This will get him the riches to win the princess at least this is what leads Aladdin to risk his life.
Aladdin passes through the tiger-shaped cave entrance, but drops to the cave floor. He shows his compassion freeing the Magic Carpet from a heavy rock. Then, he is tempted by the riches, this is a great development since Aladdin has to deal with his poverty and also the threat of touching the forbidden treasure. He makes the climb up to reach the lamp, but Abu who was warned by Aladdin, falls to the temptation and grabs hold of a giant ruby. The cave collapses and erupts with lava, Aladdin has to use his acrobatic skills to escape, and grasps the ledge at the edge of the Cave of Wonders. Jafar takes the lamp and Abu whirls around him before Aladdin is thrown down. Aladdin is trapped in the cave and of course gets some help by rubbing the lamp. Out comes the Genie played by Will Smith who brings his humor and charm to the part. Smith is of course well known for parts such as the Netflix film, Bright (2017), the comic book movie, Suicide Squad (2016), and dramas like Concussion (2015).
There was some criticism about Smith filling in the part played by Robin Williams, but Ritchie is clever enough to make the Genie like the rest of the film separate from the other versions. Smith injects fun including handling some songs, but the only part that is lessened is going over similar jokes and lines like the original cartoon. I noticed this listening to his end title song “Friend Like Me” with DJ Khaled which brought an energy to the song which should have changed in the film. There is also a twist to his character that makes me eager to see the movie again. Of course, he transforms Aladdin into Prince Ali, and Aladdin has to struggle with finding his true self while in the trappings of a prince. The film is filled with spectacle in the parade and dance numbers, the work of choreographer, Jamal Sims, that remind me of Bollywood. Aladdin is a fun retelling that stands apart on its own, a diamond in the rough!
There was some criticism about Smith filling in the part played by Robin Williams, but Ritchie is clever enough to make the Genie like the rest of the film separate from the other versions. Smith injects fun including handling some songs, but the only part that is lessened is going over similar jokes and lines like the original cartoon. I noticed this listening to his end title song “Friend Like Me” with DJ Khaled which brought an energy to the song which should have changed in the film. There is also a twist to his character that makes me eager to see the movie again. Of course, he transforms Aladdin into Prince Ali, and Aladdin has to struggle with finding his true self while in the trappings of a prince. The film is filled with spectacle in the parade and dance numbers, the work of choreographer, Jamal Sims, that remind me of Bollywood. Aladdin is a fun retelling that stands apart on its own, a diamond in the rough!
Five Magic Lamps out of Five!
#Aladdin, #GuyRitchie, #MenaMassoud, #NaomiScott, #WillSmith
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