Well, everyone, welcome to yet another session of movie reviewing, as well as yet another month of me taking a film from the vault of either Walt Disney Animation Studios, or Disney/Pixar, and either watching it for the first time ever, or rewatching for the first time in years. In today’s case, it is me doing the latter thing. For this month, we will be reviewing a film from Walt Disney Animation Studios that was released during the Disney Renaissance period that occurred from 1989-1999, and was the fourth film (after 1989’s The Little Mermaid, 1990’s The Rescuers Down Under, and 1991’s Beauty & The Beast) to be released during particular time period in Disney’s animation history. What’s more is that this Disney animated film is the third one to have music composed by Alan Menken, and partly by Howard Ashman before the latter died of AIDS sometime during production of this film, and got replaced by lyricist Tim Rice as a result. One other thing that I should mention is that this Disney film that was released around the beginning to middle of the Disney Renaissance period was the second of three films that was released during this time period of Disney to be directed by film directing duo John Musker, and Ron Clements (the other two films that were directed by this duo being 1989’s The Little Mermaid, and 1997’s Hercules). Ladies, and gentlemen, I now give you my review of the popular Disney film from the 1990s that featured a cast that included Scott Weinger, Jonathan Freeman, Linda Larkin, Gilbert Gottfried, and Robin Williams as the favorite character to many people for this film, the Genie. It is the one, and only, Disney’s 31st animated feature, from 1992, Aladdin.
Plot: When a street rat named Aladdin (Scott Weinger), and his pet monkey, Abu (Frank Walker), discover a magic lamp in a magical cave by the name of the Cave Of Wonders, they find out that the lamp contains a magical blue Genie (Robin Williams), who can grant anyone three wishes. Aladdin decides to use his first wish by making the Genie make him a Prince in order to impress the Princess of the mythical city of Agrabah, Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin), who, by order of her father, the Sultan (Douglas Seale). Now, as he gets to know Jasmine better, he must learn to deal with that situation, along with having to deal with an evil sorcerer named Jafar (Jonathan Freeman), and his parrot sidekick, Iago (Gilbert Gottfried). If he is to prevent Jafar, and Iago, from taking over Agrabah by defeating them, can Aladdin learn to be himself even around Jasmine, despite his status as a poor street rat?
Now, when I reviewed this film during my earlier years of movie reviewing before I got this blog made, I think I gave this film a B+. Rewatching this film again almost ten years later, is that still the case? Well, though Aladdin is not quite an A+ film, Aladdin is still a good film that is at least better than B+. Let’s at least start with the film’s issues, shall we? First of all, the way that Jasmine was designed, I’m not sure that it was probably the best clothing design for her unless that’s how females in royal society in Arab culture were dressed? I don’t know, somehow, it would seem as if Disney likely seemed to believe in over-sexualizing main females during this particular time period. If that’s the case, then Disney seemed to squander an opportunity to portray Arabic culture in this regard. The other issue that Aladdin has is that for a film that seemed to going for a comedic type of film, Jafar might have been a little too serious of a villain, and could have maybe been a little more comedic like say his bird sidekick, Iago. Honestly, it would seem as if later Disney films like 1997’s Hercules (which, again, also directed by Musker, and Clements), or 2000’s The Emperor’s New Groove (that one being directed by Mark Dindal in that case), both of which were obviously also trying to go for a comedic type of film, like Aladdin, seemed to do a better job of making the villain, and villain sidekick duo, more equally comedic.
But now, let’s talk about the positive aspects. Honestly, there are quite a few things to appreciate, including things that I don’t recall talking about last time that I reviewed this film. First of all, the music, and score by Alan Menken was great, along with most of the songs by lyricist Howard Ashman, along with lyricist Tim Rice, who stepped in after Ashman passed away. I’m not sure how much Tim Rice contributed to the songs after Ashman died. Well, however much he did, he did really good. I mean even though “One Jump Ahead” might not have been quite as memorable as the others, it was at least decent. Other than that, “Arabian Night”, “Prince Ali”, and, of course, the love song that won the Oscar for Best Original Song that year, “A Whole New World”, how could you especially not love that one?
Then, there are the characters. Starting with Jasmine. Yeah, though the animators could have done better with her clothing design, she was still a well developed character. She’s willing to stand up for herself, and willing to defy traditions. Yeah, it would seem same could be said about many Disney princesses from films that were released during this time period. She’s also willing to take risks, as well as let others into her life regardless of background, status, and more. Yeah, because of many Disney females being well developed during the time that Disney films were released in the late 1980s, and 1990s, Disney females like Jasmine, or Belle from Beauty & The Beast (which came out a year before Aladdin) really paved the way for females being done right, and having really great character development. Side characters like Abu, Genie, and even Iago, had some really great personalities in the own way. Iago was especially a great villain sidekick, and comic relief done right. It wouldn’t be surprising if characters like Iago, Panic, and Panic from Hercules, or even Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove, were considered favorites among others as far as villain sidekicks go. Abu, again, for not being a talker, still has great personality of his own. Then, there’s the Genie. First of all, how could you not love his personality? He’s fun, lovable, and more. How could you not want to jump into the screen, and give him a hug, especially when he’s working for Aladdin? Also, it’s a shame that actors Robin Williams, and Gilbert Gottfried, who voiced Genie, and Iago, respectively, passed away within almost a decade of each other. They shall both be missed. Anyway, there’s also the villainous sorcerer, Jafar. Despite likely being a little too serious of a villain in this comedic Disney film, he is still well developed, is crafty, and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Also, in addition to Jafar being the villain, and Aladdin being the hero, those two are polar opposites of each other in other ways as well. And speaking of Aladdin, that brings us to him as well. Honestly, Aladdin had some lessons to learn over the course of this film, most notably the fact that he would have to be himself even around royalty like Princess Jasmine. Still, there are other great qualities about him as well. I mean yes, he may have had to steal food to survive day to day. Still, deep down, you know that he has a heart of gold. First of all, there’s the fact that he cares about others like Abu, and Jasmine. But what’s more is that he has love, and compassion for others as well, to the point that he’s willing to give his own food to young children who don’t have food, and/or may starve to death otherwise, or would even get in the way by stopping someone like a stuck up prince from whipping children as well. Honestly, for reasons such as these, it’s easy to understand why a lot of people love this film, and why Aladdin has been considered a true classic in the Disney animation film library.
Finally, not only do we have fun songs, along with memorable characters, great animation, a great score by Alan Menken, along with songs by Menken, and Tim Rice, but there are some great lessons to take away from this movie. One obviously being the lesson about learning to be yourself. But I think the other lesson that not nearly as many people talk about is the whole deal about being willing to put the needs of others above your own more often than not. Case in point, Aladdin being willing to give his own meal to children, or other people period that might not have had food otherwise, saving Jasmine from certain danger at one, or two points, and more. Honestly, because of this, whether you watched this film as an adult for the first time, or even watched it once as a young kid, and then again as an adult years later, you’ll probably find even more things to appreciate about this movie as you get older. Truly, it’s very understandable as to why Aladdin was one of the Disney films released in the 1990s to be very popular, and remains that way even today.
And that’s my review for Aladdin. Yeah, rewatching this well-known Disney film again years later, it’s understandable as to why many people love this Disney film, along with The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast, and The Lion King. It has fun songs, great animation, likable characters, great lessons to take away, and more. If you still have yet to see it, get on with it. This film has many things from comedy, emotion, and more that most people will love about it. So yeah, see Aladdin, and see what you think!
Final Rating: 9/10
Matthew’s Animated & Live-Action Movie Reviews 