DIRECTOR: Guy Ritchie
PRODUCERS: Dan Lin & Jonathan Eirich
WRITERS: John August & Guy Ritchie
PERFORMERS: Will Smith Mena Massoud Naomi Scott Marwan Kenzari Navid Negahban
Same Concept, Different Take: YET STILL ENJOYABLE
I was 9 years old when the animated original "Aladdin" first came out in 1992 and I remember very fondly of how much I enjoyed it. So much in fact that I watched it consistently and the listen to the soundtrack countless times. So it was no surprise to me that when THIS live-action version was announced, it was a serious question of whether or not it could live up to it's former counterpart from 27 years ago. As it happens, a lot of controversy was surrounded over it and I just couldn't understand why people were so divided by it as we all know what that is capable of (MARK 3:24-25). After 2 years, 5 months and only a week after it's worldwide opening, I finally went to see the film and this review you're about to read is what I thought of it.
We all know the story: Boy meets girl, Boy finds a magic lamp, is granted three wishes, then has to deal with the bad guy, save the day and get the girl. When our titular character (MENA MASSOUD) discovers a magic lamp he uncovers an even bigger surprise in store: a wisecracking yet wise Genie played by Will Smith in perhaps his best comedic performance yet! Everyone who's seen the original film knows that the real star was not just the Genie himself, but the man behind the voice of the character: the late great Robin Williams. His portrayal is clearly what made the film, alongside everyone else involved, the beloved classic it is today. Now I'll admit, I had my thoughts about Smith's take but seeing his version and what he brought to the table was exactly what I thought: Fresh, Hilarious and completely different from Williams' voice acting. It's one thing to fill another actor's shoes, it's another to play a part originally played by another without trying to copy it. Smith accomplishes this task in every way, as he has me laughing my head off the whole time. He stole every scene he was in and didn't dissapoint me one bit. I had this same feeling towards Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" and recently Bill Skarsgard in "IT (2017)". As Rob Zombie was once told by John Carpenter when he remade Halloween... "Make it your own".
Naomi Scott portrays Princess Jasmine in a way we have never seen before, a natural born leader with a drive to be heard and not silenced. Her solo song in this film particularly is just breathtaking that you would think this is a mix between Frozen's "Let it Go" and The Greatest Showman's memorable and powerful "This is Me". Then there's Marwan Kenzari who plays the main villain Jafar. His playing of the character was another standout as he also brought something new to the character: a backstory, Something that rarely any Disney characters had back in those days. Kenzari may have had a vocal different from Johnathan Freeman's, but seeing as he was young and just as similar to Aladdin you have to see it to get it. Much more frightening and menacing, Kenzari made Jafar so much more of a snake and still the same villian you just like to dislike. And as for the performance of Mena Massoud as Aladdin, clearly, he was amazing and just the right man for the part. Not only that, but he made me believe that I was seeing a real life street kid overcoming so much to get to where he winds up in the end. My only thing is the under usage of the parrot Iago and the absence of Gilbert Gottfried. I barely heard him speak and I thought he was speaking like a real parrot would. For every other part played: I was very well impressed!
The Soundtrack to the film was for me the highlight of the film, because I found myself singing along to some of the songs in the film. One of them that has always stood out to me is in fact the showstopping "A Whole New World". Hearing Mena and Naomi's vocals and musical track completely blew my mind and ultimately transported me back to that time when I first heard the original version (which I still to this day know and love). Of course, Smith has his moments where it's just plain great but I think we all gotta tip our hats to him for all his efforts.
The story is just as great, wonderfully adapted by John August and Guy Ritchie (who also directed). Ritchie's directorial ability in this is just what it needed to be and I can easily see him go on to greater directing opportunities after this one. Then there's the effects which were less than cartoonish but eye popping as well. The Magic Carpet, spot on! The Settings, The Costumes were absolutely well constructed and perfectly matched the times of arabian living. So much that it didn't matter what time period it was at the time from begining to middle and end.
With the success of other Disney live-action remakes, this part of films show no signs whatsoever... of slowing down. "The Jungle Book (2016)" was what introduced me to this new take on classics remade into live action films. But it was 2017's "Beauty and the Beast" that made me believe that anything was possible in this day and age. Considering the negativity it was once surrounded with and the fact that this was a huge risk, in the end it paid off handsomely and rewarding. Everything about this film was exactly what it needed to be. All my expectations were met with satisfaction, I thought it was well put together and thought out and I can honestly say.. I don't regret ever paying to see this or not being part of the ones who doubted the film from day one. Yes for two years I kept saying "I don't care what anyone says, I'm going to see this movie, then judge for myself" and I'm so glad that I did. That's just how I felt, the more negative press it got, the more interested in it I became (EPHESIANS 4:29). As a critic, I feel it's important to first observe, then judge later, this way you have a more clearer picture of what you're thoughts are when it comes to these subjects, Some like it, others don't but that's just how the game is. Overall, anyone looking for good entertainment or just want to feel young again this movie is a must-see, especially if you saw the 1992 animated film. It's A Whole New World... for A Whole New Generation. Once again Disney: JOB WELL DONE!!! Up next: THE LION KING!
MY RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
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