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 landFrom a faraway placeWhere the caravan camels roam.Where they cut off your earIf they don’t like your faceIt’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.”The offending lines were changed to:“Where it’s flat and immenseAnd 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 armPrincess 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.

Aladdin is one hour and thirty minutes and was released in theaters on November 25, 1992. The movie is about a diamond in the rough who is Aladdin who lives with his pet monkey Abu in the city of Agrabah. Aladdin and Abu steal so they can eat. One day while Aladdin and Abu are eating their breakfast they happen to spot a beautiful lady. Unknown to both of them it is the Princess Jasmine who is disguise as a commoner. Aladdin rescues Princess Jasmine when she is accused of stealing an apple from a merchant. Aladdin is caught and taken to the dungeon and there he meets Jafar in disguise as an old man. The old man takes Aladdin to the Cave of Wonders and tells Aladdin to get his lamp and he will reward him. Aladdin finds the lamp but Abu did nee heed the Cave of Wonders warning and touches a giant red diamond. The cave begins to collapse and the magic carpet rescues Aladdin and Abu and head towards the exit. Once they get to the exit Jafar tries to kill Aladdin, but Abu interferes and saves Aladdin and takes back the lamp from Jafar. Once Aladdin recovers from his fall, he rubs the lamp to read some writing on it and the Genie appears. This is where I end because I don’t want to give away the rest of the movie. Aladdin was Disney’s 31st animated movie and the forth movie in the Disney Renaissance era. Also this was the last movie that Alan Menken and Howard Ashman collaborated on. The movie won two Oscars for Best Music, Original Song and Best Music, Original Score. Also it won a total of five Grammy Awards, four in 1994: Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television, Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television, Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and one in 1995 - Best Musical Album for Children. Aladdin is a great movie and gets AAAAA+++++.DVD FEATURESDisc 1PlayScene SelectionBonus FeaturesI. Deleted Songsa. “Proud of Your Boy” Original Demo Recordingb. “You Can Count On Me”c. Humiliate the Boyd. Why Mee. Play AllII. Deleted Scenesa. Aladdin & Jasime’s First Meetingb. Aladdin in the Lap of LuxuryIII. Music & Morea. Music Videosi. “Proud of Your Boy” Performed by Clay Aiken1. 2.0 Dolby Digital Mix2. 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mixii. “A Whole New World”1. Performed by Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey2. Performed by Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson Original Music Video (1992)b. Disney Song Selectioni. Arabian Nightsii. “One Jump Ahead”iii. Friend Like Meiv. Prince Aliv. A Whole New Worldvi. Play Allvii. Play Movie (With Lyrics On Screen)IV. Backstage Disneya. Filmmaker’s Audio Commentaryb. Animator’s Audio Commentaryc. Pop Up Fun FactsV. Register Your DVDSet UpI. Audio Optionsa. English 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mixb. English Dolby Digital Surround Soundc. French Dolby Digital Surround Soundd. Spanish Dolby Digital Surround SoundII. Captionsa. English for the Hearing Impairedb. NoneSneak PeeksI. Bambi: Special EditionII. Pooh’s Heffalump MovieIII. Mulan IIIV. MulanV. Mary PoppinsDisc Two PreviewDisc 2Games & ActivitiesI. Aladdin’s Magic Carpet AdventuresII. Inside the Genie’s Lampa. Guided Tourb. Self Guided TourIII. 3 Wishes GameIV. The Genie World TourBackstage DisneyI. A Diamond In the Rough: The Making of Aladdina. Your Wish is our Command: Watch the “Making Of” Show with your Choice of Additional Bonus Segmentsb. Play Allc. “Making Of” IndexII. Alan Menken: Musical Renaissance ManIII. The Art of Aladdina. Art Review with Filmmaker’s Commentaryb. Still Frame Galleriesi. Visual Developmentii. Story Developmentiii. Background & Color Keysiv. Character Development1. Aladdin2. Jasmine3. Genie4. Jafar5. Iago6. Abu7. Sultan8. Rajah9. The Lamp10. Narrator11. Carpetc. Miscellaneous Charactersi. Guards & Thievesii. Market Placed. Deleted Charactersi. Aladdin’s Parentsii. Executionere. Model SheetsIV. Publicitya. Original Theatrical Trailerb. Publicity Galleryi. Theatrical Postersii. Unused Conceptsiii. Theme Parksc. Original Trailer: Aladdin and the King of Thievesd. Original Trailer: The Return of JafarV. IndexVHS PREVIEWSI. The Lion KingII. Pinocchio