[Review] Aladdin (7.5/10)

Title - Aladdin
Studio - Walt Disney Pictures
Starring - Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedra, Billy Magnussen, Numan Acar
Writer - John August
Director - Guy Ritchie
Release - 24 May 2019

There was probably a bit more stress than I cared to admit going in to Aladdin because it is one of my all-time favourites. Plus, I saw it at an age when I was most impressionable, and was at a time when I have began to understand about love and adventure.

So to come out of this feeling satisfied (and relieved) was more than I had expected.

This also, mostly, did not feel like a Guy Ritchie film. Apart from one existential scene with the Genie and some of the action and dance sequences that were either slowed down or sped up, which were very unnecessary and completely distracting.

Everything else felt like Disney, and yes it had the Disney magic that I am always looking for in these films.

Will Smith as the Genie was indeed perfect casting. There was that spirit of the original animated version, there was the spirit of Robin Williams, but this was also a Will Smith's performance. The only time he felt awkward was in the first scene and he started singing. This, however, was attributed to Ritchie's direction.

Mena Massoud was a satisfactory as Aladdin, though his vocal prowess clearly was second to Naomi Scott's Jasmine.

And speaking of which, Scott stole the show. Whenever she appeared as the Princess, she was magnetic and you just couldn't take your eyes off her.

And her vocals in A Whole New World was just spot on. Though I wouldn't say the same for those new numbers written for her as they sounded too modern.

But another part where the movie let down was also in this musical number. There was no magic, no "whole new world" when our two leads went on the magic carpet ride. It was very underwhelming as we just flew through trees and river with a few dolphins. That was it?

The weakest link and the only miscast was Marwan Kenzari as Jafar. He did not look menacing or scary, and his higher pitch was very distracting when we were supposed to see him as the main villain.

I liked the few liberties the movie chose to bring in, especially with Gene's character arc. And one thing the animated movie couldn't do was to have that humanizing emotion of Gene's freedom, reflected in the beautiful acting of Will Smith face. That was the most touching scene.

The female empowerment topic continued to be a highlight in this Disney movie and I thought it was also done very well. Though I would alter the direction a little.

But as an adaptation from the classic cartoon, this was a well deserved attempt that should be regarded as a successful project.