This classic Disney animation was one of the several spectacles that defined my childhood. I used to slip out of my enforced siesta and watch this around 2:00 PM on VHS... I admit I never thought much of it being a live film when the trailer was featured. But Will Smith......
I had a good feeling this movie is going to kill it, and I was glad I listened to my friend's recommendation (she watched it twice already). As much as I want to nitpick every detail, I prefer to keep it concise and cover a few things that truly mattered to me (without the obvious plot spoilers). So here goes:
1. Will Smith as genie ---------- As I mentioned earlier, Will Smith's role was the main source of my curiosity. He has serious street creds as a comedian and anyone who got so hung up on Robin William's voice performance should expect to get their prejudicial expectations blown away by a proverbial Arabian sandstorm. The genie role suits him perfectly. The motor-mouth multi-voice comic has just gotten old. Will Smith's genie just had a magical humor and he made it look really easy.
2. Musical appreciation ---------- Being a movie enthusiast, I'm never really a fan of musicals. With the exception of Sound of Music and 3 Idiots, the idea of cramming a sing-and-dance number in the midst of crucial story transition just kills me with a nasty brain itch. Not to mention, some songs are just downright cringey. Alladin, however, proved that you can 'add rhymes in colors' and create a masterpiece.
3. Alladin's parkour ---------- I wasn't so sure if I can dig the parkour stunts in a family-friendly movie but after seeing this film, Alladin has just made Dastan (Prince of Persia) look too gritty and unrealistic. The free-running element wasn't too prevalent. But with magic and witty dialogue sharing the core, the stunts act as 'onions on coriander-laced kebab rice.' It was a welcome and refreshing addition to all original aspects retained.
4. Guy Ritchie as director ---------- When I saw Guy Ritchie's name in the opening scene, I knew I just felt that 'movie boner' swell in me. He was the guy responsible for two Sherlock Holmes films that surpassed my screenplay standards. Again, his Phantom Camera style (zooming in on tiny details + fast backtrack + hi res ultra slow motion) made this film extra magical. His camera didn't just brought the medieval Arabian landscape (urban and wilderness) back to life, it even made it look like a surreal utopia remiscent of Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (minus the HUD and glitches).
Overall rating: 8/10 ---------- I would highly recommend it and this says a lot coming for someone who isn't really a fan of Disney. In fact, I'm looking forward to a sequel, with the role of Qasim (Alladin's father) being played by either Mark Strong, Pedro Pascal, or Said Taghmaoui. But who am I kidding? I'm just a frustrated casting director. So there it is, Alladin.... Up next, Yesterday!
I had a good feeling this movie is going to kill it, and I was glad I listened to my friend's recommendation (she watched it twice already). As much as I want to nitpick every detail, I prefer to keep it concise and cover a few things that truly mattered to me (without the obvious plot spoilers). So here goes:
1. Will Smith as genie ---------- As I mentioned earlier, Will Smith's role was the main source of my curiosity. He has serious street creds as a comedian and anyone who got so hung up on Robin William's voice performance should expect to get their prejudicial expectations blown away by a proverbial Arabian sandstorm. The genie role suits him perfectly. The motor-mouth multi-voice comic has just gotten old. Will Smith's genie just had a magical humor and he made it look really easy.
2. Musical appreciation ---------- Being a movie enthusiast, I'm never really a fan of musicals. With the exception of Sound of Music and 3 Idiots, the idea of cramming a sing-and-dance number in the midst of crucial story transition just kills me with a nasty brain itch. Not to mention, some songs are just downright cringey. Alladin, however, proved that you can 'add rhymes in colors' and create a masterpiece.
3. Alladin's parkour ---------- I wasn't so sure if I can dig the parkour stunts in a family-friendly movie but after seeing this film, Alladin has just made Dastan (Prince of Persia) look too gritty and unrealistic. The free-running element wasn't too prevalent. But with magic and witty dialogue sharing the core, the stunts act as 'onions on coriander-laced kebab rice.' It was a welcome and refreshing addition to all original aspects retained.
4. Guy Ritchie as director ---------- When I saw Guy Ritchie's name in the opening scene, I knew I just felt that 'movie boner' swell in me. He was the guy responsible for two Sherlock Holmes films that surpassed my screenplay standards. Again, his Phantom Camera style (zooming in on tiny details + fast backtrack + hi res ultra slow motion) made this film extra magical. His camera didn't just brought the medieval Arabian landscape (urban and wilderness) back to life, it even made it look like a surreal utopia remiscent of Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (minus the HUD and glitches).
Overall rating: 8/10 ---------- I would highly recommend it and this says a lot coming for someone who isn't really a fan of Disney. In fact, I'm looking forward to a sequel, with the role of Qasim (Alladin's father) being played by either Mark Strong, Pedro Pascal, or Said Taghmaoui. But who am I kidding? I'm just a frustrated casting director. So there it is, Alladin.... Up next, Yesterday!