The live action Aladdin was an amazing mix of nostalgia and new twists.
The tone set at the beginning of the film continues with top-notch music, costumes, acting, and cinematography.
Before seeing this film I was nervous about Guy Ritchie and the cast bringing this classic to life. I was nervous about the choice of Jasmine (Naomi Scott) and the choice of Genie (Will Smith), but by the start of the film, every doubt disappeared.
If you didn't think that your childhood could be brought to life with this film, think again. The world of Agrabah was absolutely beautiful. It was so exciting to see something I love in live-action.
The Culture
What I loved most about this film is the mix of Middle Eastern, Arabian, North African, and South Asian cultures. Since Agraba isn't a real country, Ritchie made sure to incorporate many ethnicities throughout the cast including Egyptian, Iranian, Lithuanian, Turkish, Indian, American, and African just to name a few.
Since the original story is placed somewhere in Arabia, they added Arabian music, costumes, and even Arabian dancing (nice touch!). It was exciting for me to see different cultures on the screen. While I am not Middle Eastern (I'm Armenian), it was exciting to see ethnicities represented from regions close to that. Disney, please create an Armenian princess. Regardless, I loved the culture!
Aladdin Himself (Mena Massoud)
Mena Massoud was the best actor that they could have possibly chosen to play Aladdin. He not only looks like the animated Aladdin but he even sounds like the original (speaking and singing voice).
He added a human element to the character that wasn't there before; That human element made Aladdin more relatable. For example, the nervous way he acts around Jasmine was my favorite touch. His acting was top notch and his chemistry with the Genie, and Jasmine was exactly what it needed to be. Also, he did a great job singing, and watch out for his dancing (impressive).
The Inspiring and Only Jasmine (Naomi Scott)
As I said, I was nervous about Naomi Scott playing Jasmine, because she isn't quite what I imagined... but she was the perfect fit and is absolutely beautiful. She not only did great at acting, but her singing and dancing were great as well. Her voice is a beautiful gift from above and I couldn't see anyone else playing her (she used to be a Christian worship leader). Now her as the character in general...
She did a great job of showing emotions in a way that was human and believable. She added new elements to Jasmine that were powerful and just darn empowering. She inspired me to live my dreams and stand up for what I believe in. Her independence and desire to fight for her beliefs added a must-needed element to this film. She definitely wasn't just a side character to Aladdin.
The One and Only, Genie (Will Smith)
The character I was most nervous about was Genie. I wasn't sure if Will Smith was the right choice or even if the CGI for him was quite right.
Once he started singing, I was impressed and assured he was going to do a great job. I had never heard Will Smith sing before, but he is dang good.
He also added great personality, emotion, and pizazz to the character. Now if you are here to compare him with Robin Williams just stop. They are two different actors, and there is no way for Will Smith to be him. He did just as well in his version of the character, which included bits of his personality. I think he was fun, comical, and loving all rolled into one. The best part about him was his sassiness.
For all of his songs, 'Friend Like Me', 'Arabian Nights', and 'Prince Ali' I thought he added the perfect flare of hip hop and personality. Yes, he added different elements to the songs than the original but I didn't want to see a regurgitated version of the original, I wanted something fresh and new, which is just what I got.
Rajah, Abu, and Iago
All three of the characters are important to the film. While I don't want to say much, I want to say that the CGI for all three was very realistic. To the person who created them, job well done.
The End of This Review
This film was the best quality adaptation from animation to live-action that Disney has done. The other princess movies are good but don't even compare in quality.... or in any way. This is above the rest in every category.
Thank you for reading this review. I hope you go see this film and enjoy it. I couldn't have enjoyed this film more than I did. I have nothing bad to say about it, which is unusual for me (ask my friends).
P.S. The music won't leave your brain and your heart will leave the theatre happy.
Watch my youtube review here:
Comments