Aladdin - A Movie Review

For my first wish, I want to take a ride on the flying carpet and see the world.

Aladdin is a 1992 Animated Disney film about a poor boy living on the streets who falls in love with the princess. Aladdin is given an opportunity to make his dreams come true upon finding a magical lamp with a genie. Is lying worth it for love?

Who says you are too old for a Disney film? Aladdin is an enchanting story. Upon rewatching this old Disney classic I was marveled over the beautiful artwork, incredible voice talents, and fun interactions amongst all the characters. Aladdin talks about the importance of being your true self.

Aladdin has lived most of his life on the street. Although he is used to it figuring out tricks to get away from the guards, inwardly he wants people to recognize that he is struggling. While he has the advantage to make three wishes from a genie, he is caught in a dilemma with his conscious.

My favorite attribute about Aladdin is his expressive countenance. His voice work, too. Fans of Full House will recognize Scott Weinger.

What would this movie have been without the talented late Robin Williams as the Genie? His spark and energy was the highlight. The Genie brings heart to the film. Reportedly, Williams improvised a total of sixteen hours of material! ‘Friend Like Me’ is one of my favorite Disney songs that I always replay. It’s a meaningful song. Williams will forever live on as the voice of Genie.

Princess Jasmine refuses to stand down. I like that about her. She wants to be free from a life that is run for her. Finding Aladdin, he changes the world for her. Jasmine is a fighter, she barks orders, and she is persistent. Although writers were worried that they didn’t make Jasmine more of a fighter, I think that they succeeded in her portrayal. Her relationship with Aladdin is very sweet, especially in the beginning when they first meet.

I completely forgot how menacing Jafar was. He made a great, and terrifying villain. He and Iago made the best villain team. Why couldn’t Gilbert Gottfried voice Iago in the live-action? I missed him!

Voice talents for Aladdin include Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larken, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, Douglas Seale, and countless others. I cannot forget the magic carpet who is voiceless, makes an incredible appearance filled with the best gestures.

The color scheme for Aladdin is striking. All the colors stand out representing different motifs for the characters. Animators worked long and hard on the designs for the characters, but most importantly, the expressions. As I mentioned for Aladdin, it is very important to make characters expressive even if they are as over the top.

A scene that I was mesmerized by was the cave of wonders. The animation in this sequence was filled with incredible colors, designs, and setup of animation.

Song numbers include ‘One Jump Ahead’, ‘Friend Like Me’, ‘Prince Ali’, and ‘A Whole New World.’ They’re very catchy. Believe me, I find myself humming the tunes daily.

Ron Clements and John Musker spent countless hours creating a story that audiences wanted to watch. Many ideas were scrapped. Aladdin is a fun and entertaining Disney film. Never pretend to be someone who you are not. Viewers can learn from Aladdin. Being truthful is a value.

Aladdin is a spectacular film. Robin Williams makes this film what is with all his creative and funny improvisations. If you have not seen the animated Disney version of Aladdin I recommend that you do so immediately.