Review: Aladdin (Live-Action 2019)
I think it goes without saying that Disney's 1992 Aladdin was a childhood staple for anyone who grew up in the '90s, and I am no exception. Therefore, my initial reaction when I found that they were doing a live-action remake was rather cynical. I have not been a fan of the remakes Disney had done in the past, and the last original live-action princess movie I saw from them left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Therefore, I went into the Aladdin remake with high hopes and low expectations. Is it possible to recapture the magic of the original film without coming off as lifeless clone like the 2017 remake of
Beauty and the Beast
? Spoiler alert: The answer is an enthusiastic yes.
After seeing one Disney disappointment after another and spending a great deal of time studying the art of screenwriting this year, I was beginning to think that perhaps I was becoming jaded. Maybe the sense of wonder I felt after seeing a new movie for the first time simply ceased to exist as I became older. Then I sat down in a dark theater to watch
I think the first thing that drew me into the story was the reimagined world of Agrabah. It looked and felt organic in a way that the Broadway production failed to capture. From the subtle details like the hidden retractable staircase leading to Aladdin's home to the Morrocan inspired fountains, mosaics, and architecture in the palace courtyard, this version of Agrabah felt like one that I could actually see and touch. A lot of it reminded me of the Morroco pavilion in Epcot at Walt Disney World, which holds a special significance to me because I used to visit that place so often that I was on a first-name name basis with Aladdin. This film rekindled the exact same sense of wonder I had when I sat by the fountain and waited for Aladdin and Jasmine to come out and greet their visiting guests.
I am so grateful that this film cast their lead roles based on talent instead of fame because they could not have found a better match for their leading couple than they did in
The secondary plot revolved around
For a live-action movie, it isn't necessary to portray the same over-the-top mustache-twirling cackling villain that we got in the cartoon, but
In spite of that one shortcoming, I strongly urge anyone who loves princess culture to head to theaters and see this breathtaking new take on a familiar tale. Do not wait for it to come out on Netflix (or more likely Disney+). Guy Ritchie's sweeping camera shots and visceral environments of Agrabah can only truly be appreciated on a grand theatrical scale. Jasmine's gorgeous middle eastern gowns are like nothing I've seen before on the big screen, and her new song "Speechless" is as empowering as it is catchy. However, if none of these reasons are enough, see it for Mena and Naomi's wonderful performances and the nuanced chemistry they bring to Aladdin and Jasmine's relationship.
After seeing one Disney disappointment after another and spending a great deal of time studying the art of screenwriting this year, I was beginning to think that perhaps I was becoming jaded. Maybe the sense of wonder I felt after seeing a new movie for the first time simply ceased to exist as I became older. Then I sat down in a dark theater to watch
I think the first thing that drew me into the story was the reimagined world of Agrabah. It looked and felt organic in a way that the Broadway production failed to capture. From the subtle details like the hidden retractable staircase leading to Aladdin's home to the Morrocan inspired fountains, mosaics, and architecture in the palace courtyard, this version of Agrabah felt like one that I could actually see and touch. A lot of it reminded me of the Morroco pavilion in Epcot at Walt Disney World, which holds a special significance to me because I used to visit that place so often that I was on a first-name name basis with Aladdin. This film rekindled the exact same sense of wonder I had when I sat by the fountain and waited for Aladdin and Jasmine to come out and greet their visiting guests.
I am so grateful that this film cast their lead roles based on talent instead of fame because they could not have found a better match for their leading couple than they did in
The secondary plot revolved around
For a live-action movie, it isn't necessary to portray the same over-the-top mustache-twirling cackling villain that we got in the cartoon, but
In spite of that one shortcoming, I strongly urge anyone who loves princess culture to head to theaters and see this breathtaking new take on a familiar tale. Do not wait for it to come out on Netflix (or more likely Disney+). Guy Ritchie's sweeping camera shots and visceral environments of Agrabah can only truly be appreciated on a grand theatrical scale. Jasmine's gorgeous middle eastern gowns are like nothing I've seen before on the big screen, and her new song "Speechless" is as empowering as it is catchy. However, if none of these reasons are enough, see it for Mena and Naomi's wonderful performances and the nuanced chemistry they bring to Aladdin and Jasmine's relationship.
No comments have been added yet.
