Movie Review: 'Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom' is a Very Silly Movie

Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom

Directed by Matt Busch

Written by Matt Busch

Starring Erik Steele, Lin Zy, Aaron Golematis

Release Date January 3rd, 2025

Published January 5th, 2025

Experimental artist Matt Busch has directed his first feature film, the strangely charming, low budget, Aladdin meets the future flick, Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom. This unique take on the Aladdin legend takes the young thief and beggar into a far future where major cities now float in the sky over the slums that remain on the ground and robots keep the classes divided by acting as future law enforcement. In this bizarre mix is Aladdin, played by Erik Steele as a schemer with a heart of gold.

The story follows Aladdin as he is recruited to steal a legendary Genie’s lamp from a dangerous and cursed cave. All the while, Aladdin is chased after and protected by Oomi (Lin Zy), a homeless martial arts expert who has, for reasons we are not privy to, dedicated her life to protecting Aladdin. We can tell that Oomie is desperately in love while Aladdin is both unaware of Oomie’s feelings, to a hostile degree, and unworthy of such loyalty. Oomie is the best character in the movie and the main reason to see Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom.

Meanwhile, in a deeply underwritten subplot, an Indian Princess, Princess Kamala, has escaped from the floating Kingdom of India. Her father, the King, has hired a new and dangerous Grand Vizir to hunt her down and bring her home, all the while she schemes for a way to escape. This plot is underwritten specifically because Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom is a part one. The film ends on a truly lame cliffhanger, one more at home for a late night TV syndicated action series rather than an actual feature film.

That said, as much as I have poked at Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom, I kinda like it. The film is really a series of action scenes in which the beautiful and dynamic Lin Zy beats up guys twice her size with effortless grace and a devilish smirk. Zy doesn’t say a word in the movie and is the single most interesting and compelling actor in the film. That’s not to say that star Erik Steele is bad, rather it’s that the character is a little one dimensional. Steele is charismatic and not a bad actor but there isn’t much for him to play with between the extended action scenes in which he's mostly sidelined by his own clumsy cowardice.

The special effects in Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom are definitely low budget but they reminded me of old school, 1970s and 80s era Doctor Who where seeing the seams and strings and failings of the costumes and sets was a part of the charm. Director Matt Busch does a lot with a little and seems to understand that part of the fun of a low budget movie is not pretending that the film is anything more than a low budget movie. Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom is entirely unpretentious without tipping over into winking at the audiences. The title is silly, the performances are silly and the action is the only aspect that is treated with a modicum of seriousness. I keep coming back to Lin Zy and that’s because she’s having a great time showing off her fighting skills, pining aimlessly for Aladdin, and using a furtive smile to charm us into giving the movie a break.

If you enjoy a silly, low budget adventure, Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom is worth a watch. It’s far from greatness but, I’m surprised to say, I am eager to see the planned sequel. I want more of Oomie and I want Aladdin to make his wish. I want to hear more of the charmingly posh accent of Aaron Golematis as the Jinn of Wisdom, and I want to know where the Princess Kamala plot is headed. It’s like one of those old silent serials of the 20s and 30s with handsome swashbuckling stars, busty dames, and a bit with a dog, or, in this case, a robot with a boombox for a head. It's episodic and begs you to come back next week to see how the adventure ends.

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