Aladdin

If the main character and the main villain weren't such bland and uninteresting misfits, this could have been a reasonably enjoyable musical, because unlike Tim Burton's Dumbo, which I turned off after fifteen minutes, I didn't have such a problem with Aladdin. It's good to see that everything about the cast isn't digital, but that the filmmakers went to some trouble with sets and set design in general; Will Smith is very good as the genie (even in his much-criticized blue form), and the story was quite interestingly developed. And a great job by Alan Menken, who made his own excellent music for the animated Aladdin even better. However, if it weren't for the credits, I wouldn't have thought for a second that Guy Ritchie directed this. (01/25/2020)

Those modern western values involving strong women are quite weird in an Arabian fairy-tale, but here we are. Ritchie’s visually captivating version of the classic Disney movie moves along nicely, and the only weak point is the songs, which are more numerous than even in the animated original. Smith is great, Aladdin is quite a nice guy and Jasmine is a fox. P.S. Was the controversy because Will played the slave or or because the slave was blue? (09/18/2019)

The anticipated failure turned out to be a commercial hit, praised by audiences and critics alike, and apparently no one expected that. Guy Ritchie has the direction firmly in hand and serves up the fairy tale of my childhood with an excellent Will Smith as the Genie (quite possibly the best performance of his career), a beautiful Princess Jasmine with a voice like Adele, and a very likeable Aladdin. It's beautifully colourful, suspenseful, fun and most importantly for the whole family. The dance numbers and songs are reminiscent of the best of Bollywood. Disney is making me happy this year. 80%! (06/18/2019)

I haven't seen the original Aladdin yet (shame one me, I know), but after watching the live-action (but still largely animated) remake, I need to make time for it soon. The beginning of the film felt a bit dry and rushed, but eventually it all kicked into high gear and only stopped during the closing credits. The film abounds with an incredible amount of colours that make your eyes cross, it offers plenty of action scenes and there are romantic and funny moments as well. The blue of the genie may have looked a bit weird in places, but in the end it didn't distract me that much. The plot flowed nicely and one did not get bored at all, which is the main thing. Among the best scenes are the first meeting of Aladdin and the Genie and then the arrival of Prince Ali in the city. (05/23/2019)

I was the one who objected the most loudly that Aladdin didn't need a live-action adaptation because it could already suffice as the epitome of the adventure genre in the animated version. And yet Guy Ritchie's direction turns the chase scenes in the marketplace or on the carpet into an impressively exciting spectacle, the bond between the main protagonist and the perfect Jasmine (Naomi Scott is the most amazing princess, and I want to see her everywhere now, thank you very much) is perfectly believable by fairytale standards, and the added subplots with Jafar's motivations or the breathtaking song "Speechless" make Prince Ali not only a great summer blockbuster but also the best live-action Disney movie, for me surpassing even the unmatchable Beauty and the Beast. (07/06/2019)