I still want to know who thought Guy Ritchie was the right director, though...

[rose_griffes]

I'm not the target audience for Disney's efforts to make live-action versions of their films. Even though Beauty and the Beast is in my top 3 of all-time favorite animated films, I never bothered watching the version with Emma Watson.

So I wasn't going to watch the new Aladdin either... and then I read that Guy Ritchie was the director, which made me laugh and laugh, and then say, "Hey, wait a minute--that might actually work." Take Ritchie's strengths: interesting visuals, good choreography for action scenes. Force him away from his most repetitive story choice: bromance between two white men. (There are no white men in this movie. No, wait, there's one named white man in the movie. But he's a minor character, and definitely comic relief.) And finally, Ritchie can't kill the leading woman in this tale. So maybe it would be worth a watch?!?

And it was! I took one of my nieces to see it, and we had an awesome time. She proclaimed herself "shook" which is apparently a good thing.

Favorite bit: probably Jasmine's song (new for this film) "Speechless." Will Smith was a blast as the genie. Mena Massoud was wide-eyed and adorable as the title character. Naomi Scott's Jasmine wore gorgeous clothes, and she can act. It was fun, and I would even watch it again if the opportunity presented itself.

Comments

[elperian]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I found it to be really enjoyable and the best of the Disney live action movies so far (that I've seen - I haven't watched BatB but nothing I've seen has inclined me to do so).

[fleurviolette]

Aladdin is one of my favorite Disney animated films. Initially I was skeptical of the choice of director for the live-action adaptation, given his filmography and brownfacing extras during filming, he seemed out of his element.

But you did write something positive, which is refreshing, and it did well at the box office, but as a Disney film, that was expected.

I'm kinda curious about his upcoming film with Henry Golding as the lead.

[rose_griffes]

Thinking through it, Aladdin actually benefits from being told with actual humans. Actual people of color in speaking roles (unfortunate about the extras in brownface, WTH Disney/Guy Ritchie?!), the shading and nuances for those characters in ways that the animated version didn't do... Also, some of the problems in the original get smoothed over in this adaptation.

Granted, I don't really care much about the original, so I'm not invested in having this version stay completely faithful to it. But I do think it was an enjoyable film with a lot of positive aspects.

(Once again, critics and the general audience have wildly different opinions about this film if you look at sites like rottentomatoes.)

[fleurviolette]

Sounds fair. I’m glad another diverse film is making records.

Quick question, have you seen Always Be My Maybe?

[rose_griffes]

Not yet. Ali Wong is... always a bit much for me. So it's on hold for now. Maybe after I'm de-stressed a bit more from work.

[fleurviolette]

OMG I like Ali Wong! Well, at first she seemed crass but she definitely grew on me lol. She was good in this film. The cast was great. I laughed so much at Keanu Reeve's scenes. It's a fun rom com!

[rose_griffes]

I had to break the film into smaller pieces to watch - both for schedule reasons, and because that whole... second-hand embarrassment or whatever you want to call it. When comedies get too painful because a character is being humiliated.

So I read spoilers at one point and decided it was do-able. And it really was cute! Even the whole "Keanu Reeves plays a ridiculous version of himself" was actually funny rather than excruciating.

Ali Wong was fun in her role, and Russell Park got me all emotional more than once.

[fleurviolette]

The scene with the ridiculously expensive food was hilarious, especially the sugar bubbles!
I really liked the food in the film. So delicious and heartwarming in the end!

[yourlibrarian]

I'm not the target audience for Disney's efforts to make live-action versions of their films.

Yeah, I'm not thrilled with the whole plan of remaking one's own stuff. That said I did see and like The Jungle Book. I thought the live B&tB was an utter waste of time despite some apt casting.

Maybe I'll check this out, thanks!

[tinny]

Hmmmm.... I know you're really picky about movies, and the fact that you liked it makes me intrigued. Aladdin is one of my fave Disney movies.

[rose_griffes]

I've seen several of my friends report back that they enjoyed the film as well. (I didn't have the potential obstacle of viewing the animated film as a favorite. Enjoyable? Sure, but I hadn't seen it in decades.)