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| Aladdin |
Aladdin Movie Review is out now. The live-action retelling of the 1992 animated cult classic Aladdin is here. Starring Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Marwan Kenzari, Aladdin is helmed by Guy Ritchie.
Being a huge fan of the original 1992 animated classic featuring the legendary Robin Williams as the Genie which also spawned two direct to video sequels and a TV series as well, I was quite excited about this new live-action retelling featuring Will Smith as the Genie.
And I am glad, the movie didn't disappoint. Aladdin right from its very first scene will take you back to your childhood and make you giggle on sometimes smart and often childish jokes. For those unaware, Aladdin (Mena Massoud) is a street rat, thief, who is assigned by the evil Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), Wazir to the Sultan of Agrabah, to retrieve a magic lamp. Aladdin, who is in love with the princess of Agrabah Jasmine (Naomi Scott) agrees to help Jafar. But Jafar double-crosses him and he finds himself in the ownership of the magic lamp, which actually houses a powerful Genie (Will Smith).
Guy Ritchie has stayed true to the source material for the most part and has delivered an entertainer for the fans of the original as well as those who'll be discovering this magical tale for the first time. The humour, emotions, performances and grandeur in this film is on point. Guy Ritchie's direction is good but I do have some problem with the route he took for the character of Genie and the execution of the climax.
Even though I enjoyed the movie, the major shortcoming of it was that Genie was massively underused. If you remember the original or the TV series, Genie was one hyper being who would keep going on and on with his out of this world magic. But here after his introduction, the Genie was not magical enough, at least not visually. I missed witnessing Genie going over the top with his magic every second minute, the way he changes characters, accent, locations etc. The elements of the OTT Genie were seen in the first few scenes but post that for the major part of the film, Guy Ritchie's approach towards it was more grounded and his eccentricity was somewhat subdued.
Also, the climax was a bit underwhelming when compared to the grandness of the original film. I know one can't match up to the animation but it was still not up to the mark and the stakes just didn't feel high enough.
Talking about the other technical aspects, VFX is one of the highlights of the film. All those questioning Will Smith's "blueness" and throwing shade at him will eat their words out. The movie looks beautiful and carries the essence of the tale fantastically. The CGI Abu (Monkey), Iago (Parrot), Carpet and Rajah (Tiger) are phenomenal.
The music is another highlight. The Arabian Nights song still gives me goosebumps and to hear it in Will Smith's powerful voice was a masterstroke. I am not a big fan of musicals but all the songs in Aladdin were melodious and beautiful.
Will Smith nailed it as the Genie. One can't compare him to the legendary Robin Williams but he has done a remarkable job. The way he shifts his body language and changes his dialogue delivery, I have no doubt that he is the perfect man for the job. As aforementioned, I only wished his Genie was more magical!
Mena Massoud is charming and has performed well. He has carried the movie on his shoulders with the utmost ease. He has a quite likeable persona. Naomi Scott has looked breathtakingly beautiful as Princess Jasmine and has some powerful sequences. The two leads' chemistry is magical.
Marwan Kenzari as Jafar is uneven. In some sequences he is menacing and in others, he is not. Though he has performed well, his character just lacked enough menace. Navid Negahban and Numan Acar are good in their parts. Special mention to Nasim Pedrad.
Overall, Aladdin is a worthy live-action remake. With top-notch performances, good humour, incredible VFX and all the emotions in place, it will make you relive your childhood and will leave you with a big smile on your face. Watch it.
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