May 2019 mark's the premier of Disney’s live action remake of “Aladdin”, and sense I haven’t reviewed
the original yet, this is a perfect time for me to just sit down, and discuss
one of my all-time favorite childhood movies. Disney’s 1992 classic “Aladdin” has a secure spot as one of
Disney’s most beloved Golden age animated films, and it’s fan-base is still felt
all these years later. I was about three or four years old when I was first
exposed to this movie, and it was one of the first that I absolutely loved. All
these years later, I’d still rank this one among my personal top 5 favorites
from what the studio has delivered. This was the studios 31st
animated feature, and it was based on the story from the tales of “One Thousand and One Nights”. It was
also one of the first Disney movies to combine its classic fantasy tropes, with
an added layer of cartoony hummer, including forth-wall jokes, and references
to other animated Disney films like “The
Little Mermaid”, “Pinocchio” and
so forth. This was actually one of Disney’s very first comedies, but unlike the
later day films like “Hercules” and
“The Emperors New Grove”, this film
really balanced its bombastic comedy with a grounded fantasy/ adventure story,
and the result is the best of both worlds.
“Aladdin”
tells the tale of a popper living on the streets of Agrabah, who dreams to
break free from the shackles of his closed in life. On the opposite side of the
spectrum is a Princess named Jasmine, who likewise desires to break free from
the shackles of luxury, and wants to make a real life for herself. Fate brings
the two together, and while they come from polar opposite backdrops, they can
still form a connection as they both can relate to being trapped within their
own worlds. The down side to pursuing a relationship with royalty is that you
need to be of royal blood yourself.
Into his mists comes a wicked sorcerer
named Jafar who uses Aladdin as a means to discover a magic lamp, which holds an
all-powerful genie, capable of granting three wishes. With such power at his
hands, Aladdin wishes to become a prince of royal heritage, and someone capable
of marrying the Princess. Much in the spirit of “Cinereal”, “Aladdin” is
a story of “Rags to Riches”, but there’s a very important element thrown into
the mix that makes this story unique. Though the course of the film we see Aladdin’s
valor and nobility on display as he willingly gives all his food to some
homeless children, later comes to their rescue without batting an eye, and even
comes to Jasmines aid just on the moral grounds that it’s the right thing to
do. Everyone sees Aladdin for the good man he his, but there’s one person who’s
in denial, and that’s Aladdin himself. Aladdin doubts his own qualities and
value, so much that he fully commits to his Prince role, fearing that he’s
nothing without it. Unlike most other hero’s that need to prove something of
themselves, Aladdin has to discover his own worth deep within. The concept of
discovering yourself makes for a great story with moral subtext, and it makes
Aladdin one of Disney’s most well-rounded heroes.
However, for as great as Aladdin is as a
main character, it’s The Genie voiced by the late Robin Williams who completely
owns this movie. I always felt that you’re a true Disney fan at heart if you
placed The Genie among your top 10 favorite animated characters, because he
absolutely is one of the greatest to ever come from the studio. Unlike the
later day animated Disney films that featured celebrates voicing comedic side
characters, Robin Williams brought something special to this role, which none of
the others could duplicate. I felt that all those other goofball characters
voiced by Jason Alexander, Eddie Murphy, Danny DeVito, and Rosie O' Donnell
could have been voiced by anyone, and it wouldn’t affect the characters in any
way. The Genie by contrast is the animated embodiment of Robin Williams as we
all saw him … which is someone with a highly animated personality, but with a
heart of gold that’s always shining through. While this was technically my
introduction to Robin Williams, I didn’t really know the actor until I saw both
“Jumanji” and “Mrs. Doubtfire”. Once I became a fan of Robin Williams, it was such
a treat discovering that he was the voice of one of my favorite animated Disney
characters. His improve and pop-culture references were highly entertaining, but
there even funnier as an adult, because now I know which actors, celebrities, or
movies he’s referencing.
Now,
if there was any other character who could chew more scenery then the Genie, it
would be the villain Jafar, who’s brilliantly voiced by Jonathan Freeman. It’s
no competition that Jafar has a secure spot among my top three favorite Disney
villains. In general, I love when the bad guy has a wide range of theatrics,
and Jafar runs the whole gambit. He can be quiet, and sinister with that
slithery voice, yet he can also be loud, over the top, and laugh maniacally.
It's
everything I enjoy from a villain in one package. While he functions as a
threat, he also has a reserved sense of hummer that makes him a joy to watch.
SALTON: “This is Jafar, and he’s delighted to meet you too”. JAFAR
sarcastically responds: “Ecstatic”. I especially love his design, which makes
me think of an Arabian Count Dracula. Sense Jafar was one of the first villains
I was ever exposed too, he set the templet for how I wanted a villain to look …
which is a long cape, a recognizable head peace, and a signature hand-held item
that ties everything together. It’s something that, as a kid I always referred
to as “the Jafar look”. Thus, future villains I’d later be exposed to like
Darth Vader, Judge Doom, Loki, Count Dracula, Magneto, and especially Lucius Malfoy
all grabbed my interest, as each of their designs reminded me of Jafar in some
way. Also, just like how Maleficent always seemed to stand out as the chief
figure head of the female villains, Jafar always stood out to me as the chief
figure head of the male villains. Heck, there was a direct to video movie back
in 2002 titled “Mickey's House of
Villains”, which revolved around all the Disney baddies taking over, and
who else but Jafar was acting as the ringleader.
Another one of my favorite characters who
I feel doesn’t get enough credit is actually the magic carpet. This flying rug can’t
speak, and has no face to make expressions, yet so much charm and personality
leaps from the character, just from how he’s animated. What could have easily
been simplified to a mode of transportation for Aladdin, became one of the most
lovable additions to the film. I must confess that the one character who never
did anything for me was Aladdin’s sidekick monkey named Abu.
He was functional,
and I’ll always give credit to the vocal talents of Frank Welker, but there was
just something about Abu that annoyed me. I’d much rather take Jasmines sidekick
tiger Rajah, as I’ve loved tigers my whole life, and the idea of having one for
a pet is the coolest thing ever. Then of course there’s Jafar’s sidekick bird
named Iago, who’s voiced by Gilbert Gottfried. While I’ve never been a fan of the
actor (certainly not a fan of his voice), he at least has a very animated personality that carries over seamlessly
into his cartoon character. Iago would of course gain a reputation as one of the
most iconic evil Disney henchmen, and in future films would make a full
reformation as one of the main heroes of the series. I also have to give credit
to the late Douglas Seale, who’s very lovable as the dimwitted Sultan. He
basically takes what could have been a one-note buffoon, and in turn makes The
Sultan very likable with his naive innocents. Just as a quick side note, one of
my favorite Easter Eggs is seeing a figurine of The Beast from “Beauty and the Beast” among The Sultan’s
toy collection. Before the age of the internet, I remember sighting that
as a little kid, and back then I thought I made some kind of incredible
discovery that I had to share with all my friends.
Rounding up the characters is Jasmine, who
naturally is one of Disney’s most iconic leading Princess.
While I’ve always categorized
“Aladdin” as one of Disney’s action hero
movies along the likes of “Hercules”,
“Robin Hood” and “Mulan”, Jasmine’s popularity has made
it impossible to separate this film from the animated Disney princess catalog. I
suppose that’s not a bad thing, as the film can appeal to both boys and girls
on equal measure. Jasmine was one of the first princesses to be rebellious of
her title, and had more of an attitude to offset her glamorous looks. Also, while
there are two incidents in which she needs to be rescued, I’d never categorize her
as a damsel stereotype. Over the course of the film, she proves capable of
adapting to situations, and she does so without showing off. Despite being able
to talk back, and put up a fight, she certainly maintains the same loving
nature of other female leads, and so much of that is due to the vocal talents
of Linda Larkin.
This is probably my favorite vocal performance of any Disney
Princess, and her voice has great range from strong and dignified to delicate
and beautiful. If I had any reservations with Jasmine, it would be that she's supposedly 15 years old ... and that is not a body that goes with a 15 year old girl. A word to the wise, if your going to dress your princess in a very skimpy outfit, and give her the look and figure of someone in their early to mid-twenties, then please just make her that age. Jasmine's age also makes it all the more unsettling later in the film when Jafar gets turned on by her, and the thought of a forty-something year old man looking up and down at half naked 15 year old girl has me pulling on my shirt collar.
The romance between Jasmine and Aladdin is
likewise one of the best featured in any Disney movie. Usually the Disney
couples do their part for the film, but never leave much of an impression on
me, yet the romance between these two really adds to the film’s strengths. The
scene in which the two meet for the first time is about as adorable and perfect
as they get. We have Aladdin leaping to her rescue, scamming a cranky coachman
into believing she’s a crazy sister, and Jasmine doesn’t need a minute to play
along with his facade.
There’s instant chemistry played off the two, and their ensuing
conversation really highlights their connection as they both can related to
being trapped in their own lives. They also share my favorite kiss of any
Disney couple, specifically the scene with the two on the balcony. With the one
exception of “Lady and the Tramp”,
there’s never been a kiss from a Disney couple that felt so in the moment, and
so exciting as that sudden kiss shared between the two on the balcony. Of
course, the Oscar winning song “A Whole New World” is about as great as
romantic Disney songs get. Typically, when I was a kid, I always got board with
the romance songs, but this one featured our couple flying through the sky, traveling
to various locations, and the song itself has quiet the rousing tempo to boot.
Also, seeing them fly to Greece and China always felt like a sneak peek for upcoming
Disney films set in those locations. Personally, I’ve always wanted to see a
special edition of “Aladdin” that inserts
Hercules and Meg into that moment when they fly over Greece. It would have just
been a cool in-universe moment to see the one Disney couple looking up at the other
flying overhead, and maybe the two could exchange a wave … but that’s just me
being a fan.
On that note, there’s no reviewing “Aladdin” without acknowledging the
films outstanding soundtrack. Every single song is a highly entertaining
toe-taper, and the lyrics are mostly unforgettable. Even in a song like “One Jump Ahead”,
which has really quick, hard to follow lyrics, still has a rhythm and tempo
that sticks with us.
The Genies “Never had a Friend like Me” is of course another
iconic song number, and received an Oscar nomination for best original song. Aside
from containing some really catchy lyrics, the song itself just has a really
colorful, bouncy and uniquely animated presentation. The opening “Arabian Knights”
song has been the subject of controversy for some of its lyrics, which have
been changed around for the majority of the home video releases. It’s still an engaging
intro song, and something that I’ve always connected to my childhood nostalgia
of watching the animated “Aladdin”
tv show.
The Animation of course has aged
remarkably well, even when compared to modern animation. The colors on display
are wonderful, and the lighting is extraordinary. I especially love how the
lighting mixes with the characters skin colors. For example, when Aladdin and
Jasmine are on the balcony, their skin is lit by lamp, which then transitions
into moon lighting on their skin as their romantic flight begins, and it looks
great. Even the added CGI elements have held up over the years. The sequences
with Aladdin flying through rivers of lava is still very exciting, and I’ve always
loved the digital design of the Cave of Wonders. The whole world of Aladdin is
one of my favorites, as it doesn’t look like real Arabia, but it still looks
unique and highly decorative. There’s also a consistent fun factor to “Aladdin” that never lets down, but it
also never goes to far with the excitement that it takes away from either the characters,
or even substance of the film.
Now, we come to the third act of the movie,
in which Jafar steels the lamp, takes control of the Genie’s magic, and becomes
the new ruler of the land. This leads into one of my all-time favorite climaxes
from any Disney movie … the final showdown between Aladdin and Jafar. This
battle seemed to have everything, including sword fighting, bursts of comedy,
giant monsters, and a villain who goes all out with a variety of magic powers
on display.
I especially love the overall design and lighting of this sequence,
as the once warm and vibrantly colored palace becomes a hellish red. I also
loved that for once we finally have a princess using her feminine wiles to keep
the villain at bay, while Aladdin gets to work. Of course, this fight builds to
one of my favorite villain quotes … “A snake am I … Perhaps you’d like to see
how snake like I can be!” Back when I was a kid, I was obsessed with snakes, so
seeing a first-rate villain like Jafar transform into a giant King Cobra was an
absolute thrill. There’s also some well-placed tension with our Princess
trapped in an hour-glass that’s slowly running out. It brings to mind the
deadly hour glass from “The Wizard of Oz”,
except this time I absolutely feel the urgency as the sand runs out. Actually,
this whole final battle feels like a call back to the climax from “Sleeping Beauty”, as we have a sword
wielding hero, racing to rescue a princess, from a magical villain, who takes
on the form of a monstrous creature. The one difference is that our hero uses
his smarts and wits to concur his enemy, as opposed to brut strength, or the
aid of a magical companion. While this whole third act was very action heavy
and featured a villain steeling a lot of scenery, Aladdin’s actions here tie
everything back into the films overall moral of discovering one’s inner
strengths.
In the end, “Aladdin” is one of those special animated films that I’ve just kept
with me though the years. Obviously, there was a number of Disney films I loved
watching when I was a kid, but only a hand full have retained their enchanted
feel into my adult hood. In short, my feelings for “Aladdin” have only gotten stronger, to the point where I might even
like it more as an adult then when I was a kid. I understand more of the adult
jokes now, and I admire the animated aesthetic of the film far more today with
our overabundance of CGI animation. It’s likewise a film that’s high on the
entertainment value, but with just enough of a moral at the center to give the
experience it’s substance. What more do I even need to say about this one? The
characters are all scene stealers, the songs are unforgettable, the design is
gorgeous … it’s Disney’s “Aladdin”,
plain and simply one of the best contributions from Disney’s renascence area,
and one of the best animated films to ever come from the studio.
Thanks for reading my review of the animated 90's classic “Aladdin”
… and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!
UP NEXT - A Review of the "Aladdin" TV series.
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