An Aladdin Family Review and Comparison. Also with what you should know before you go and discussion questions for after the movie.
To Know Before You Go:
Movie: Aladdin (2019 Live Action)
Rating: PG Original Cartoon: G (but would be PG if it were released now)
Age Suggestion: 5+ (If they can handle the cave scene in the original movie- they can handle this)
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes Original Cartoon: 1 Hour 30 minutes
Release Date: 5/24/2019
Stars: 5 out of 5
Themes: Friendship, Loyalty,
Trigger Warnings: Parental death, main character is an orphan- overall a very kid friendly movie with very few scary scenes or jump scares.
Quick Summary:
The best live action Disney remake to date? This team says YES! We all love the original and love how this movie paid tribute to that while putting their own little spins on it. This is the first remake that we would say is less scary than the cartoon.
We were nervous about the music, but with minor exceptions the soundtrack was absolutely fantastic! The acting was marvelous! The imagery was great and while the way it was filmed took me a minute to adjust to- I ended up loving it. This is a Disney princess movie that we want our little ones growing up with! And we can’t wait to watch, laugh and sing with again ourselves! It will be a streaming regular in our house for sure!
Discussion Questions:
1- Who was your favorite character? Animal character?
2- What was the funniest scene?
3- What was your favorite song/musical number?
4- Do you feel like it always pays off to be confident and brave?
5- How can you make sure that you speak up and use your voice when you feel like you need to?
6- Aladdin and Jafar started out in the same places- what caused Jafar to become the villain?
7- Aladdin and Jasmine both envied the way the other person lived, but learned that they both felt the same way- trapped. Have you ever envied someone else and found a similarity to them? Or found out their life wasn’t what you thought it was?
Aladdin Family Review:
Thoughts from the Ent:
-Let me start by saying that the 1992 Aladdin is one of my two favorite Disney movies of all time (Along with Lion King). With that said, I loved this remake. It wasn’t without its flaws but it had so many great story arcs, character development, and beautiful imagery in it that outweighed the flaws for me.
-The biggest difference between this movie and the 1992 animated movie is the role of Princess Jasmine. Although she was not a weak character in the original movie, in this one she was a downright dynamo. Her refusal to stay silent in a world of traditions is both powerful and sobering.
-No one could ever replace Robin Williams as the Genie. And although there were times that I missed him (Especially in Friend Like Me), I think that Will Smith was an excellent person to play this part. He was able to make this character his own while not taking away from the legacy of his predecessor. He played the cool, charismatic, and hilarious genie seemingly effortlessly.
-Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott both did a wonderful job. Aladdin’s and Jasmine’s charisma and sass were really engaging at the beginning of the movie.
Thoughts from the Elf:
-I loved the bright, bold colors in the film. They went right along with the bright, bold AMAZING musical numbers!
-I was a little skeptical about what they might add to the storyline but I thought what they added was great! I felt like what they really added was different hilarious moments and a deeper substance to the characters victories.
-Jasmine’s song is wonderful! I’m so glad she got her own stand out song and that they included the others from the original movie. It fits right in with the powerhouse anthems like “This Is Me”, “How Far I’ll Go” and “Let it Go” and I can’t wait for it to catch on!
-This is the first live action remake that seemed less intense than the cartoon as far as intense imagery. Which makes it not only a marvelous movie for fans of the original but also one that I’m excited for the next generation to see and love!
As with all great Disney movies- the music is awesome and love and friendship save the day! What’s your favorite live action remake so far?
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