Elise Mitchell, Sophomore
Aladdin first made his appearance on the big screen in 1992 and immediately charmed his way into the hearts of children everywhere. This year, the thief-turned-prince finally got a rebooted live-action movie, complete with astonishing visual effects, moving performances, spectacular songs, and even some new storylines.
It’s safe to say that most people already know the plot of Aladdin; the title character is a poor boy who finds himself in possession of a magical lamp, becomes the master of an all-powerful genie, and uses his three wishes to get closer to Princess Jasmine and stop evil. The 2019 reboot of this movie would have been just okay if it had simply recreated the original movie, but this version reimagined scenes and even added quirks that made it great. The musical numbers like “Friend Like Me” and “Prince Ali” shine brighter than ever on screen with their colorful choreography and fresh but faithful sound. Will Smith’s unique “Fresh Prince” style made it into his songs and brought a whole new air to the classic Genie character. Some said it would be hard or maybe even impossible to follow up on an act as comedic and well done as Robin Williams, but with a new charm and a little bit of swagger, Will Smith won the hearts of kids and adults alike.
The acting done by Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott brought to life the beautiful love story of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. With their fantastic chemistry on screen, it was easy to immerse yourself in their love and find joy in their light-hearted interactions. Speaking of Princess Jasmine, this new reboot gave Jasmine the characterization that she deserved. Adding on to Jasmine’s resistance to being seen simply as a housewife, this movie gave her zeal and a dream of being the next leader of her country, despite the fact that she is a woman. There was a new song added to the soundtrack, called “Speechless”, sung by Jasmine about how she refuses to be silenced for being a woman and will rise up to be the leader she was meant to be. Naomi Scott’s passionate acting and singing are sure to give the audience chills. And of course, the star of the show Mena Massoud perfectly captured Aladdin’s witty and kind-hearted nature...and truly stole the show in all of his scenes (pun intended).
The stunning scenes from Aladdin (2019) aren’t easy to describe, so it is imperative that you go and see the movie for yourself to understand that this movie truly is magnificent. The perfect casting of the actors allows the audience to feel like they are a part of the fun, whether it be fast-paced street chases or phenomenal dance scenes. Every song brings you back to the Aladdin of your childhood with twice as much excitement. This movie deserves every ounce of praise that it gets and everyone should get a chance to see it and find themselves in a whole new world!
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