The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureCinemaMovie reviews

Aladdin

Aladdin | Movie review
22 May 2019
Ghazaleh Golpira
Avatar
Ghazaleh Golpira
22 May 2019

Movie and show review

Ghazaleh Golpira

Aladdin

★★★★★

Release date

22nd May 2019

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

Disney live-action remakes are the trend-cutters of the modern day. With an abundant number of them having graced our screens in the last near-decade, it would be no surprise to hear that Aladdin – the rags-to-wishes tale of a young street urchin (Mena Massoud) who vows to win the heart of his one true love, Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott), by preventing evil vizier Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) from becoming Sultan – would also be following suit.

It’s a daunting challenge for any director to adapt a heavily cemented animated classic for an audience who would no doubt – depending on their age – be faced with a wave of nostalgia upon watching the film. However, Guy Ritchie takes the fear factor out and delivers something which amalgamates the original storyline with subplots that are better suited to the progressive societal archetypes of today’s day and age.

It all begins where the former movie left off: a Genie (Will Smith) – now free – tells his two children about his once-upon-a-time adventures with Aladdin, before delving into the plot itself as and how we know it to be. Then come a few twists and turns when Princess Jasmine – whose character has evolved significantly since the 1992 version was released – develops from an individual of mild subservience to one who is gravely forthright (shown visibly through her harrowing performance of the picture’s new song, Speechless, where she makes a case that she will no longer be silenced by others). Her role has a politicised tone to it, encouraging Middle Eastern countries –where gender inequality means that women are still considered to be subservient to men – to take a leaf out of her book.

Visually impressive, particularly in the scene where Aladdin makes his grand marketplace entrance as Prince Ali, this feature enables the film’s production values to be upped a gear. Smith, who probably has one of the most difficult roles, stepping into the shoes of the late, great Robin Williams, delivers a commendable performance, paying homage to the much-loved star, but adding his own rendition to the iconic Genie too. Aladdin is a triumph: nostalgic, fresh and willingly loyal to the original.

★★★★★

Ghazaleh Golpira

Aladdin is released nationwide on 22nd May 2019.

Watch the trailer for Aladdin here:

Related Itemsfeaturedreview

More in Movie reviews

Imperial Blue

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More

MLK/FBI

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Sing Me a Song

★★★★★
Abbie Grundy
Read More

A Night of Horror: Nightmare Radio

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Wonder Woman 1984

★★★★★
Jake Cudsi
Read More

Come Away

★★★★★
Sylvia Unerman
Read More

Murder Me, Monster

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

David Byrne’s American Utopia

★★★★★
Rosamund Kelby
Read More

Dreamland

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Ghazaleh Golpira

Aladdin

★★★★★

Release date

22nd May 2019

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Female filmmakers lead nominees for the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards
    Cinema
  • An interview with Ifrah Ismael: Tales from the Front Line and other stories
    Theatre
  • Persian Lessons
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Jeremiah Fraites – Piano Piano
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Lonely the Brave – The Hope List
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • 23 Walks
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Live Lab at The Yard Theatre: An interview with associate director Cheryl Gallagher
    Theatre
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks
    Theatre
  • Hello Cosmos – Dream Harder
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • WandaVision: Marvel’s charming sitcom proves an astounding success
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • The Queen’s Gambit: A chess story that’s not about the moves but the motives
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Undercover at Morpheus Show Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ten short literary collections to get you back into reading
    Literature
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Beats on Pointe – Masters of Choreography at Peacock Theatre | Theatre review
The Lehman Trilogy at Piccadilly Theatre | Theatre review