Live action ‘Aladdin’

Disney live actions have a bad rap for being cheesy and generic, like the remake of “Beauty and the Beast”. However, “Aladdin” was able to stray away from that assumption and was actually a very captivating family-friendly movie. Disney reshaped the movie by addressing some of the criticisms many people had about the 1992 animation, such as the whitewashing of Middle Eastern culture and major gender inequality. 

Firstly, this new movie had a really amazing soundtrack that played heavily into our childhood memories but also offered a brand new sound. Not to mention the “real” Aladdin (actor Mena Massoud) really lived up to the Disney prince standard of beauty as did the “real” princess Jasmine (actress Naomi Scott).

Second, the buzz around the movie really sparked from the main actors Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as princess Jasmine, Marwan Kenzari as Jafar and notably the worldwide favourite actor Will Smith as the Genie, who narrated the movie. In the 2019 remake, he begins the movie disguised as a “normal” fisherman telling a tale to his children, giving homage to the 1992 original that also began with the narration of the genie (late Robin Williams) disguised as a merchant telling a story to the audience.

Still, for those of us who have grown attached to the original version might find that this movie is a bit out of place, with new songs, a new ending, and an overall new feel. It almost appears to be an entirely different movie from the animated classic. This is emphasized with the somewhat unnecessary switch to live-action, that loses the whimsy and mysticism that made the flow of the original so unique.  Giving off the vibe that this rendition was simply made to keep money rolling into Disney bank accounts. 

Yet it’s important to remember that this movie is made for kids, for those who are in the 3-12 age range, not adults and teenagers who are holding on too tightly to their youth. The message this movie sends to these young kids, who are just starting to make sense of the world around them, that they can speak up for themselves and to be who they are, is a very positive one that they need to hear. I would definitely recommend watching this movie despite it being meant for a younger demographic. If you enjoy watching children’s movies and don’t mind the occasional cringy love scene or forced “girl-power” scene, this movie is definitely your style.