Diamond Through The Rough!!!! Live Action Adaptation of Disney Classic Offer Fun, Heart, and Freshness!!!!
Review By Brandon Porter
 |
| Witness The Original Rags to Wishes Story |
Story Description
Agrabah trouble maker Aladdin (Mena Massoud) has a knack for causing mischief around town. Whether it's stealing food or outrunning palace guards, he always seems to stay one step ahead of everyone. However, his perspective changes when he encounters a beautiful woman named Jasmine (Naomi Scott) who happens to be the princess of Agrabah. In an attempt to earn her love, Aladdin is thrust into an adventure where he encounters a powerful and eccentric genie (Will Smith) who can grant him 3 wishes. With an evil sorcerer bent on bringing the world to its knees, Aladdin must now find a way to save Agrabah and discover why he is known as the diamond in the rough.
 |
| Genie gives Aladdin a pre princess meeting pep talk |
Critical and Financial Analysis
Of all the live action Disney remakes, Aladdin had the odds stacked against it at every turn. With a marketing campaign that has struggled to get people on board to people's hostility toward someone else taking on the role made iconic by the late great Robin Williams, Aladdin was in a hole with potentially no way out. Looking at the critical and public response, it is kind of a double-edged sword. The film earned a middling yet close to fresh rating of 58% from critics via Rotten Tomatoes but on the plus side earned a very strong 93% rating from general audiences... In terms of the box office, the movie captured the top spot at the box office earning $86 million in the first 3 days of the Memorial Day weekend. As of Monday, the movie is well on its way to earning over $100 million for the 4 day weekend and over $200 million worldwide. The reception can be looked at as divided but there is a lot of positive that out weighs some of the negative. The movie is on pace to be a box office hit and thanks to some positive reception from fans, Aladdin looks to truly be a diamond in the rough.
 |
| Sharing A Whole New World With Her |
Film Review
Arguably one of the greatest Disney animated films is the story of the street rat turned hero. From the animation, the music, and the once in a generation performance from Robin Williams, the movie is a staple in many fan's childhoods including my own. Disney now looks to recapture that magic with Guy Ritchie leading as director, newcomers Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott as the iconic couple, and Will Smith tasked with living up to one of the greatest performances in film. it's an understatement to say that the task was tall and almost undoable. So after seeing the movie, I am actually pretty pleased with the final product. From the moment it was announced, I was worried about how this film would follow up arguably one of the most beloved films in the Disney Renaissance. It was a tall order and doing so would be close to impossible. While the movie doesn't even come close to matching it, there is enough on the surface to make this a fun and enjoyable treat. To start, we should talk about the performances. Despite being tasked with following up a legend, Will Smith does a solid job in his run as the Genie. The thing I appreciated and was relieved to see was that Smith made the character his own while still honoring Williams performance. Subtle nods to the animated movie and Smith's style make for a great balance as both a different portrayal but true to the spirit of the character. Smith deserves a ton of credit for taking on this task and delivering in his own unique way. Mena Massoud is equally great as Aladdin. Massoud plays the character with confidence, swagger, and vulnerability with a strong balance of humor and heart which is important for a role like this. He does great in scenes with Smith as their banter makes for some genuinely laugh out loud moments and his chemistry with Naomi Scott is one of the main elements that make this movie work as well as it does. Speaking of Naomi Scott, if there is a strong part in this movie, she is the hands down the one. Scott is incredible playing a more morally grounded and emotionally powerful version of the famed Disney princess. Her strength, humor, sense of self and Scott's incredible voice make this one of the better live-action Disney princess portrayals in recent memory. Marwen Kenzari as Jafar is not as strong, unfortunately. Despite understanding director Guy Ritchie's take on this version of the character, the biggest thing that this Jafar lacks is menace. It seems the bar was set to high thanks to the iconic voice work of Johnathan Freeman. Additionally, Nasim Pedrad is a straight up scene stealer as Jasmine's handmaiden Dalia. Her awkward humor and deadpan delivery made her incredibly fun to watch throughout. Film-wise, the movie also benefits from some gorgeous set and costume design and some genuinely thrilling action set pieces and cinematography. It seems that Ritchie is at his best when he is directing action and quick-witted humor and it shows in the movie. The live action versions of the iconic songs are also well done and provide significant levels of nostalgia for its most important moviegoers. "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali" are fun even if they don't match the level of the animated classic while "A Whole New World" is genuinely moving and is sure to tug on heartstrings. Overall, Aladdin is a genuine good time at the movies. It was never going to live up to the animated classic but it still managed to deliver a fun summer romp thanks to a respectful element of nostalgia while adding elements that work to the movie's benefit. It may not be the end all be all of the live-action Disney remakes, but it's still very much a trip worth taking.
Rating and Final Thoughts
 |
| A fun, vibrant and overall solid rendition of the classic 1992 film. An adaptation that pays respect to its animated predecessor while adding its own elements that work in its favor more often than not. |
 |
| Gettin Genie Wit It!!!! |
No comments:
Post a Comment