Review 290: Aladdin
Based on the folktale, Aladdin and the magic lamp, In the heart of the exotic, desert city of Agrabah, Aladdin (Scott Weinger) is a poverty-stricken but well-meaning thief who along with his michivious monkey
The plot is an excellent blend of comedy, action, romance and some of the most memorable songs ever produced by the studio.
Overall, what I think makes this film work so well is that it's really well written story with a batch of really well thought out characters and on top of that an irresistible sense of fun.
Not only is it a joyous and visually marvellous Disney musical, it's a story of not trying to be what you are not, being careful what you wish for, imprisonment and freedom.
The filmmakers thought that the original moral of the fairy tale of having anything you could wish for would being the greatest thing in the world and having it taken away from you is bad, but having it back is great and so decided to put a spin on it by making the idea of wish fulfilment seem like a great solution, but eventually becoming a problem.
A prominent theme in the film is avoiding an attempt to be what you are not: both Aladdin and Jasmine get into trouble by faking to be different people and the Prince Ali persona fails to impress Jasmine, who only falls for Aladdin when she finds out who he truly is.
Their situations give us reason to care for those two and I think it's a situation that a lot of people can relate to. People of all ages want/aspire to be people they are not usually it doesn't work and they get into trouble.
Imprisonment: The idea of being "imprisoned" is also present. A lot of the characters in the film are imprisoned in different ways and they struggle for independence throughout the course of the film - Aladdin and Jasmine are limited by their lifestyles, the Genie is attached to his lamp and Jafar, to the Sultan – this is beautifully represented visually by the prison-like walls and bars of the Agrabah palace, and a scene involving caged birds which Jasmine later frees. This also makes the attraction between Aladdin and Jasmine feel completely natural as they both relate to one another and empathise with their individual predicaments.
We, as an audience can understand the parallels in their individual situations.
Both Aladdin and Jasmine experience operation in opposite ways. But for the both of them, their social class is a prison.
Aladdin is a poor orphan with no way to move up the social ladder. He's looked down upon and detested by society which offers him no help, trust or dignity.
He does, however, have a lot of a certain type of freedom: Free Time, Free Movement and Free Will. He can do as he pleases and make decisions for himself. But he still can't do what he'd like. Because he his class he has no opportunities or power so he can't take control of his life and make his dreams come true.
Jasmine, on the other hand, has all the wealth and privilege anyone could ask. But she lacks the basic independence that Aladdin or any ordinary person has. Her major life decisions are dictated by the law and the men in her life. Ultimately, Jasmine is just as limited as Aladdin. Unable to do anything with privilege without free will.
Whereas Aladdin can't do anything with his free will without the means and opportunity.
At the crux of Aladdin is a universal message of How do we achieve freedom? This is reflected in a lot of the characters.
Aladdin longs for the advantages of the rich whilst Jasmine would gladly trade her royal position for Aladdin's freedom to roam. The Genie is the most trapped of all the characters as he's a slave to the wishes of his masters.
Over the course of the film, they learn what it means to be free and that freedom has to be built into the legal foundation of society.
Aladdin can be seen as an allegory for Egalitarianism and Class. It argues that both free will and social power for all people are essential to any civilised state.
Whatever side of the class divide the characters fall on, Aladdin makes it clear that the dividing line itself is a breach of freedom.
Writer/directors Ron Clements and John Musker's animation direction is fun, the production design (recreating Arabia) is amazing, the animation is marvellous, the colours are rich, the character design is miraculous, the gags just keep coming, the score by Alan Menken is marvelous, the musical numbers are astonishing and fun to watch, the songs (Friend Like Me, Prince Ali, A Whole New World) by Menken, Howard Ashaman (who sadly died of aids during the films production) and Tim Rice are outstanding, the action scenes are rousing, the sound effects are stunning and the ending was superb.
The voice cast is terrific, though the star actor has to be Robin Williams as the Genie who just steals and lights up every scene he's in, he has so many personalities, first has sad, then he's jolly, the he's nutty well I can go on forever can. Also his friendship with Aladdin I find very moving as they will do anything to help each other: the Genie will help Aladdin impress Jasmine and in turn Aladdin will set the Genie free.
Much like Jasmine, the Genie is locked in a situation were he has many gifts but no free will to use them.
Scott Weinger is just cool as Aladdin, he captures all the rights edges and angles of a poor but kind hearted theif as well as the fun, coolness and appeal of those 1980's action hero's such as a young Harrison Ford or Tom Cruise. Aladdin has a lot of freedom from external pressure and constraints because he's not tied to royalty (like Jasmine) or needy dependence, he's very much his own man.
But he has no ability to act on his desires since he has no means or opportunities.
One of his key mistakes is that he blindly thinks that having wealth is everything because he's never had it so he can't understand why Jasmine could feel so frustrated and as trapped as he is.
He tricks her into thinking he's rich without realising it isn't what matters to her.
He doesn't think that others could possibly have completely different problems from
Linda Larkin is luminous and lovely as Jasmine, like Ariel in The Little Mermaid and Belle in Beauty and the Beast, she's rebellious, she's feisty, she's brave, she independent, she's in the action, she's goes against the laws of royal life and social structure instead of just waiting to be rescued.
She really wants to lead her own life, longs to be free and wants to choose her own suitor.
She falls in love with Aladdin not for his charm or his good looks or his wealth even but because he offers her something she's never had before which is the experience of freedom.
Jonathan Freeman is so deliciously evil as Jafar, he too is trapped in his mundane lifestyle of being the Sultan's trusted advisor and wants to break free from that lifestyle and the Genie's lamp with the Genie is his ticket out of that lifestyle
which makes his journey in the film all the more fun and his character all the more richer.
Also, the rest of the cast (Gilbert Gottfried as Jafar's parrot companion Iago and Douglas Seale as the Sultan) is great.
Enter A Whole New World of excitement and adventure, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
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