Aladdin's Live Action Remake Was Better than I Expected

Given the criticism that the Disney live actions films don't always have the same magic as the original animated classics, I had pretty low expectations with this film. Last month, I wrote an article about how the West End musical was different from the animated classic and I remember saying that I didn't think the live-action film would be as good as the original. I wasn't impressed with the trailers coming out, but I still went to see it in the cinema anyway.

I was still impressed with the film. Aladdin is one of my favourite Disney films from the renaissance area, the other being Beauty & The Beast. I think this live-action film is better than a lot of the others because not only does it stay faithful to the original material, but it also adds things and tells it's own stories.

I thought it was really sweet that the Genie got to become human and have a family of his own. He really embraced the freedom he had by becoming a sailor and having a wife and children of his own. I'd happily have a movie or TV series with Will Smith's genie and life after the lamp. Maybe it's something to write or read as a fanfic sometime.

I loved the cinematography to this, especially in the parade scene with all the wonderful colours. Will Smith was really in his zone here and it looked like everybody was having fun, though I'm sure it was a lot of hard work. I'm amazed by the colours and how they captured Agrabah.

Will Smith did a fantastic job as the genie. I know there was a lot of buzz about it at the time it was first announced. But having Will Smith as the genie was always an interesting choice. Will Smith has played some delightful characters over the years so I thought it would be exciting. He knew that he could never intimidate Robin Williams and didn't even try to. I think the late Robin Williams would have been immensely proud of Will Smith's rendition of the Genie.

Naomi Scott as Jasmine stands out a lot more with the addition of a solo song, which is amazing, her desire to rule Agrabah as a regent, having Dahlia as a handmaiden. Her father, The Sultan is also a more competent ruler and is overprotective of his daughter due to The Sultana being murdered. It never states who murdered her, but we all it's reckon it's Jafar.

I think the only thing I was really disappointed was that Jafar doesn't sing. Jafar isn't really that threatening. The Prince Ali reprise is scrapped so no pimp slap. In 1992, we had a creepy uncle Jafar and this year we've got hot Jafar. Marwan Kenzari is grateful for this. Jafar is sophisticated and war-hungry. He always felt calm and expressionless. Very different to the Jafar in the 1992 version.

I think the original Jafar voiced by Jonathan Freeman is better. Having the villain steal the hero's song in the original made Jafar come across as more evil and crazy. I think they were going for a more humanized and war-hungry man. I don't know, I still don't understand why they got rid of it.

This video by MsMojo highlights some really good points and how the plot holes of the first film were covered by the live action. And I agree with a lot of the points mentioned and there were some things that I didn't even think about such as the grey areas, the addition of Dahlia and the song, Speechless. With all the things they added to the film, I think I can forgive the film for taking the reprise away.

I still loved the film and I'm glad I watched it at the cinema.