Songs are good, there were a few extra things they either added or expanded on. But other than that there isn't much about this film that's better than the original. There isn't also a lot of stuff that isn't done as well. A lot of the changes don't even make sense to me, like the "it's not often you see a horse with two rear ends" line is gone and there is even a moment in the film where they could have put it.
Will Smith is decent enough as the genie, but come on! is he really on par with Robin Williams? I think not!
If you've never seen the original, it might be worth seeing. But if you have seen it, this doesn't offer enough that's new or better to really make it worth your time.
Identical songs and Will sounds like he's never been a singer in his life?! The action is good at the start and reminds me of the video game. The CGI is great for the animals. Lowish pace and peril. Great settings/sets 5.5/10
The problem with remakes is your work will inevitably be compared to the original - change too much and you're not staying true, change too little and it's an imitation. Alas, this is genie's curse. Speaking of Genie, Smith does bring his own style to the role and besides production design and production numbers, is the film's bright spot. Massoud and Scott are fine, but Massoud's performance struck me as imitation and boy can that Scott nail the Disney princess song, so nothing new there. Alas, Kenzari starts out okay but his performance turns into an overly animated cartoon of one of the great Disney cartoon villains and is tolerated by a few and hated by most. Then there's the odd cultural mishmash, but that's always been an issue with Disney's Aladdin, but at least Gottfried helped us forget parrots are a South American thing. Since Aladdin was added to a French translation of Les mille et une nuits in the early 1700s - well, I guess it could've happened. And tigers make great palace-pets. I'm also thinking someone has seen a few Bollywood production numbers as well. Other than that, one can nitpick if one wants. It's an average movie that's somewhat entertaining if you go for this sort of thing (I do and I was mildly entertained), but that's about it.
Cash grab? Yes. Over produced and CG-heavy? Yes. Is Robin Williams a better choice than Will Smith? Every time. But this film has a heart that the original was missing. Jasmine is a full character, not just a damsel-in-distress MacGuffin, and the romance at the center of the story is more genuine for it. And if you aren’t continually expecting Robin Williams, the comedy is a lot of fun. It improves on the original, which makes this the best of the Disney live-action remakes so far.
Worse than I expected. Bad acting, writing, and casting - WTF was Guy Ritchie thinking with Jafar?! The actor is all wrong. Too short and his voice makes him sound like a total wuss. And I WANT to like Will Smith as an actor, but it’s just hard when he goes for delivery rather than emotion. And here, I constantly felt like he’s delivering his lines in front of a green screen (if he’s in fact acting with the other actors, possibly wearing a performance-capture suit?, then his performance is even worse, IMHO).
Do yourself a favor and stick to the original animated version. Minus the damsel-in-distress b.s. Disney is known for, the original beats this horrible rendition in every other way, hands down.
The actors are extremely flat (from trying to emote a regular scene to the songs themselves). The Jafar in this is practically comical at just how bad of a villain this actor portrays him as. It felt as if they were so focused on getting the 'look' right when casting, that they forget the actors need to have talent as well.
I thought this particular adaptation of the classic was phenomenal. Will Smith was a great pick to play the Genie and not only lives up to his legendary predecessor but gives it a more contemporary take and takes it to new heights.
There were some memorable laugh out loud moments and the changes that made this version different were worthwhile ones!
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Comments 1 - 10 of 10
buc86
Songs are good, there were a few extra things they either added or expanded on. But other than that there isn't much about this film that's better than the original. There isn't also a lot of stuff that isn't done as well. A lot of the changes don't even make sense to me, like the "it's not often you see a horse with two rear ends" line is gone and there is even a moment in the film where they could have put it.Will Smith is decent enough as the genie, but come on! is he really on par with Robin Williams? I think not!
If you've never seen the original, it might be worth seeing. But if you have seen it, this doesn't offer enough that's new or better to really make it worth your time.
boulderman
Identical songs and Will sounds like he's never been a singer in his life?! The action is good at the start and reminds me of the video game. The CGI is great for the animals. Lowish pace and peril. Great settings/sets 5.5/10gobberpooper
I am fully convinced this movie is a money laundering scheme. Everything about it felt like a lot of money thrown at a high school level production.Emiam
6+/10Better than expected.
xianjiro
The problem with remakes is your work will inevitably be compared to the original - change too much and you're not staying true, change too little and it's an imitation. Alas, this is genie's curse. Speaking of Genie, Smith does bring his own style to the role and besides production design and production numbers, is the film's bright spot. Massoud and Scott are fine, but Massoud's performance struck me as imitation and boy can that Scott nail the Disney princess song, so nothing new there. Alas, Kenzari starts out okay but his performance turns into an overly animated cartoon of one of the great Disney cartoon villains and is tolerated by a few and hated by most. Then there's the odd cultural mishmash, but that's always been an issue with Disney's Aladdin, but at least Gottfried helped us forget parrots are a South American thing. Since Aladdin was added to a French translation of Les mille et une nuits in the early 1700s - well, I guess it could've happened. And tigers make great palace-pets. I'm also thinking someone has seen a few Bollywood production numbers as well. Other than that, one can nitpick if one wants. It's an average movie that's somewhat entertaining if you go for this sort of thing (I do and I was mildly entertained), but that's about it.jmars
Cash grab? Yes. Over produced and CG-heavy? Yes. Is Robin Williams a better choice than Will Smith? Every time. But this film has a heart that the original was missing. Jasmine is a full character, not just a damsel-in-distress MacGuffin, and the romance at the center of the story is more genuine for it. And if you aren’t continually expecting Robin Williams, the comedy is a lot of fun. It improves on the original, which makes this the best of the Disney live-action remakes so far.TomReagan
Worse than I expected. Bad acting, writing, and casting - WTF was Guy Ritchie thinking with Jafar?! The actor is all wrong. Too short and his voice makes him sound like a total wuss. And I WANT to like Will Smith as an actor, but it’s just hard when he goes for delivery rather than emotion. And here, I constantly felt like he’s delivering his lines in front of a green screen (if he’s in fact acting with the other actors, possibly wearing a performance-capture suit?, then his performance is even worse, IMHO).cangelm1
Do yourself a favor and stick to the original animated version. Minus the damsel-in-distress b.s. Disney is known for, the original beats this horrible rendition in every other way, hands down.The actors are extremely flat (from trying to emote a regular scene to the songs themselves). The Jafar in this is practically comical at just how bad of a villain this actor portrays him as. It felt as if they were so focused on getting the 'look' right when casting, that they forget the actors need to have talent as well.
SUMMARY: STICK TO THE ORIGINAL ANIMATED VERSION.
Jace Lightner
I thought this particular adaptation of the classic was phenomenal. Will Smith was a great pick to play the Genie and not only lives up to his legendary predecessor but gives it a more contemporary take and takes it to new heights.There were some memorable laugh out loud moments and the changes that made this version different were worthwhile ones!
JennyPearl
This film is horrendous, shallow, empty and clearly a cash grab. No heart was put into this film and it shows. Watch the original...