ALADDIN

ALADDIN I’m still shocked that Disney greenlit Guy Ritchie and that Ritchie was interested in directing, seems such an odd choice, making #Aladdin the very first Guy Ritchie movie I truly enjoyed!

I’m delighted by these remakes of favorite Disney animated features getting their live action turn, but I do wish they would space them out a bit. Dumbo, Aladdin and Lion King all in the same year! Why not give us a chance to anticipate the next one?

Nevertheless, Aladdin translates to live action just as nicely as Beauty and the Beast, it’s as if your mind already conceived it, before actually seeing it. There’s a few tweaks and additions in the right places, but basically the meat of the animated story remains. And the casting of Mena Massoud in the title role & Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine is perfection on many levels!

Speaking of casting, you ask how did Will Smith fair against the much beloved voice of Robin Williams? Nailed it!!! He just played himself (sometimes blue, other times black) and it worked. Smith really personifies that “magical negro”, it’s just a part of him.

Of course, as a movie musical-aholic, I was taken with the spectacular song & dance sequences of “Friend Like Me” &
“Prince Ali” and the romantic carpet ride of “A Whole New World” New songs by Ashman, Pasek & Paul have promise.

Not sure what other critics were looking for exactly, but I call Aladdin a great summer movie kickoff 🧨

Tinsel & Tine the Large Association of Movie Blogs (aka the LAMb) rating: 4.5 outta 5