Aladdin

This has got to be the all-time best, most magnificent Disney movie ever. I first encountered this masterpiece as an adult in my late twenties, maybe a couple of years after its initial release, and I was immediately smitten. This animated film is pure musical, visual, and comedic joy. The characters are a delightful blend of stereotype and familiar folktale. I’m sure today’s political climate would put the kibosh to this gem from the get-go. Not that its release in 1992 didn’t raise a few eyebrows. In fact, the opening song’s lyrics were changed right after its initial release because of complaints by Arab-American groups decrying racism. They successfully convinced Disney to change the lyrics in the opening song. Behold: the offending lyrics to “Arabian Nights”: “Oh, I come from a land From a faraway place Where the caravan camels roam. Where they cut off your ear If they don’t like your face It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.” The offending lines were changed to: “Where it’s flat and immense And the heat is intense” This brilliant number is belted out by a nomadic merchant astride a camel. When the song ends, the peddler is voiced by Robin Williams, providing our first whiff of the comedic genius who is just getting warmed up to voice Genie. From there we enter the familiar tale and are introduced to the evil perfection that is Jafar, and his evil sidekick, an obnoxious bird named Iago (Gilbert Gottfried). Could you die from such a surprise? To be sure, the Arab-American groups didn’t care for the violent stereotype. Frankly, I don’t get why they bothered to straighten out this whole ear cutting business at all, considering that by scene four our Protagonist (Aladdin) is threatened with the amputation of both hands for stealing a loaf of bread. So why all the furor over a little ear cutting? Did the Arab-Americans leave the theatre during the opening song and miss the (albeit implied and threatened) carnage to follow? Maybe it was just harder to convince Disney to remove the hand chopping and beheading bits. After all, we first meet Aladdin running from the authorities after he steals a loaf of bread (“Stop, thief! I’ll have your hands for a trophy, street rat!”). A delightful vaudevillian chase follows, and scimitar wielding goons chase Aladdin through the streets, attempting to behead him. It’s a damn good thing they don't take his head, because he uses it to avert another amputation in scene 10: As Princess Jasmine (in disguise, mind you) is walking past vendors and merchants through the streets of Agrabah, she encounters a hungry waif. She reaches for an apple and hands it to the child but is immediately confronted by a scary man in a fez who hisses, “you better be able to pay for that.” “pay?” our sheltered princess in disguise responds. “no one steals from my cart!” he says as he grabs her arm Princess Jasmine attempts to appease the peddler with an apology. Unfortunately, this only serves to confirm his suspicions and out comes the dreaded scimitar. He raises the weapon, holds her arm down then asks her if she “knows the penalty for stealing?” Well, we all know what that is by now, don’t we? Soon afterward, just as it looks like this monster is about to have her hand, Aladdin provides a distraction. He is later rewarded for his good deed by imprisonment. Jasmine inquires after our hero, and Jafar (in villainous perfection) takes great pleasure in telling Princess Jasmine “the boy’s sentence has already been carried out: Death,” Jafar elaborates, “by beheading”. Clearly, the Arab-American groups played a high-handed role, as it is obvious that no one in this animated film will be executed by ear cutting. In conclusion, political correctness aside, this film is an absolute blast to watch at any age. With its starry desert, flying carpets, opulent palaces and treasure caves, who could resist it? Add a hero, a princess, and a magic lamp filled with “phenomenal cosmic power in an itty-bitty living space” and you’ve got the makings for an unforgettable animated experience, and let's not forget the soundtrack: Aladdin won a Grammy for best musical album for children, so just try not singing the addictive songs. Good luck. Aladdin is undeniably one of Disney’s best animated films, not just for its epic entertainment, but as a reminder of all the romantic notions we once cherished about the Arab world. Enchanting entertainment, intoxicating imagery, a treasure from the past. 5 zillion stars. Read more

Arrived quickly and perfect. Great movie for children. Girls love it. Read more

Aladdin is my favorite Disney film of all time, and when it came out in theaters I was obsessed with it, which is why I was thrilled when I heard that it was finally going to be released on DVD in October 2004. Being such a huge fan of the film, I just had to get the deluxe edition set, and I was not disappointed. The film is brilliantly rendered, with awesome sound and picture quality, the special features are incredibly entertaining and informative (I especially enjoyed the featurettes about the music of the film) and the artwork is wonderful to look at. The music videos were neat, but honestly, I did not care for Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson's version of "A Whole New World". I'm sure Disney probably stuck it on there to appeal to the younger crowd, which is OK. Besides, if you don't like it, thanks to DVD you can just elect not to watch it! I really liked the deleted song "Proud of Your Boy", though: both the original and the Clay Aiken version. The book that accompanies the set is beautiful and very well done and the film cel is suitable for framing, as are the sketches. I'd be proud to display them in my home, and hope to do so one day. I was 15 when Aladdin came out in theaters in 1992, and I recently turned 27. I can't believe so many years have passed since the film's release and it is still the most beloved Disney film to me. Everyone will enjoy it, and I mean that. The story is the same: In the city of Agrabah, an evil sorcerer schemes to obtain the key to the Cave of Wonders and finds it in Aladdin, a 'street rat' who has to steal food from the marketplace in order to survive, along with his faithful companion Abu, a sweet and mischevious little monkey. Aladdin meets Princess Jasmine, who escaped the palace so her life wouldn't be lived for her, and falls madly in love with her. When he realizes she's the princess he's heartbroken because he thinks he would never be good enough for her, especially when he finds out Jasmine can only marry a prince. Meanwhile, Jafar schemes to lure Aladdin to the Cave of Wonders to steal the lamp, planning to take it for himself once Aladdin is out. The plan blows up in his face quite literally (thanks to Abu) and he must start again. While in the cave, Aladdin meets the Carpet and of course the infamous Genie, voiced hilariously by Robin Williams (who ad-libbed most of his lines!), who launches into "Friend Like Me", which is my second favorite song on the soundtrack. Genie and Carpet help Aladdin and Abu escape the cave, and Aladdin gets ready to make his three wishes. Aladdin's first wish, of course, is to become a prince so that Jasmine would fall in love with him. He takes Jasmine on a carpet ride (during "A Whole New World", my favorite song here) and they do fall in love, but Jafar schemes to stop it so he can marry Jasmine and rule as the Sultan. Aladdin escapes Jafar's trap and saves the day, proving to the Sultan that he really is a prince inside, and the Sultan says that Jasmine can marry whoever she chooses. Of course, she chooses Aladdin, and they live happily ever after. I am so thrilled that this classic finally made it to DVD, and I encourage everyone who enjoyed it as much as I did (then and now) to buy this deluxe edition. It is well worth the money, and you will treasure it for years to come. Read more