Predictably meh
So much of Aladdin feels over lit and void of shadow, that you can almost always tell where a green screen was placed. This is just one of the many ways that the film, fails to capture the imagination, but that should really come as no surprise. Even with all the bright colours, the word that comes to mind is ... bland.
If you watch the original Aladdin you'll notice how many wry smiles the whole cast delivers. Aladdin, Jasmine, Jafar, were all self consciousness about how cunning they are. It was a window into their souls that the animation helped to achieve, not to mention the animals had 'faces' too.
Here they go though all the same motions, with a more static and wooden demeanour. Simply put, they aren't much fun. And then there's the Genie. Is it too obvious to say that Will Smith is no Robin Williams. Then again, the movie doesn't ask him to be. However if, you are going to be a flying blue, ball of energy and magic tricks, a little flamboyance in personality would go a long way. It's a good thing that this genie can take human form, because as the blue guy, he looks ridiculous. Many people have said otherwise, but I can think of a dozen better choices than Will Smith.
Aside from an aerial chase scene featuring a giant Iago, there is little in the movie that shows the quirkiness or sharpness that you would associate with Guy Ritchie. His staging of "a whole new world" is so poorly shot, and void of adventure as to complete defeat the purpose of that scene, which is to capture Jasmine's imagination. I couldn't even tell what sights they were flying over.
And here is another element that is mishandled. In the animated film, Aladdin (as Prince Ali) is entertaining because of his ability to fake his flamboyance. This Aladdin can't act to save his life, and his first encounter with Jasmine, is so cringey in its phoniness that you wonder if Ritchie was actually writing the script that day.
As for the few memorable elements, Nasim Pedrad has the best comic moments and Marwan Kenzari's Jafar, is occasionally creepy (despite taking himself way too seriously). For the most part, all Aladdin really achieves is to bring back a yearning for a better (more animated) version of the story.
If you watch the original Aladdin you'll notice how many wry smiles the whole cast delivers. Aladdin, Jasmine, Jafar, were all self consciousness about how cunning they are. It was a window into their souls that the animation helped to achieve, not to mention the animals had 'faces' too.
Here they go though all the same motions, with a more static and wooden demeanour. Simply put, they aren't much fun. And then there's the Genie. Is it too obvious to say that Will Smith is no Robin Williams. Then again, the movie doesn't ask him to be. However if, you are going to be a flying blue, ball of energy and magic tricks, a little flamboyance in personality would go a long way. It's a good thing that this genie can take human form, because as the blue guy, he looks ridiculous. Many people have said otherwise, but I can think of a dozen better choices than Will Smith.
Aside from an aerial chase scene featuring a giant Iago, there is little in the movie that shows the quirkiness or sharpness that you would associate with Guy Ritchie. His staging of "a whole new world" is so poorly shot, and void of adventure as to complete defeat the purpose of that scene, which is to capture Jasmine's imagination. I couldn't even tell what sights they were flying over.
And here is another element that is mishandled. In the animated film, Aladdin (as Prince Ali) is entertaining because of his ability to fake his flamboyance. This Aladdin can't act to save his life, and his first encounter with Jasmine, is so cringey in its phoniness that you wonder if Ritchie was actually writing the script that day.
As for the few memorable elements, Nasim Pedrad has the best comic moments and Marwan Kenzari's Jafar, is occasionally creepy (despite taking himself way too seriously). For the most part, all Aladdin really achieves is to bring back a yearning for a better (more animated) version of the story.
- Samiam3
- Apr 4, 2025