Review of Aladdin (1992) by Caesar S — 02 Dec 2014

There's nothing more difficult than finding a movie for your child to watch and enjoy. Children need constant entertainment and excited. Adults will seat through a movie until the end whether it was the greatest movie of all time or something they regret paying for. Kids will get bored and stop watching the movie if it does not interest them. Disney has been perfecting animated films since 1923. Aladdin is a time honored film that has been watched for generations and continues to capture the audience of children today while giving lessons of life.

Aladdin takes place in in Saudi Arabia, Agerba, where a street rat named Aladdin has found himself in love with a princess and the new means to become a prince. A forbidden love since Aladdin is not royalty...just yet. Love conquers all concept is the base line for this romantic comedy. However; this film imply the gruesome troubles that happen in Agerba without showing horrifying scenes. Jasmine almost losing her hand at the crowded market place could have been a blood bath, but Aladdin stops that from happening. Evil is never far behind when true love appears and happiness is all but shattered. The cast makes the emotion come alive and who better to bring the laughs but Robin Williams as the Genie.

The plot is set by a traveling merchant on a camel at night who owns the lamp that used to be the Genies. As he pours magic dust from the lamp and throws it into the sky creating a sky full of stars. He tells of the city of mysteries and the tale of the lamp changing the course of a young man's life. The opening of the story is the evil advisor meeting with a thief to enter the cave of wonders. The thief is not worthy and the cave collapses making Jafar and his henchman parrot, Iago furious. The story automatically shows who the bad guy is and what he is trying to accomplish.

Although a child may not see the implying connection between the cave saying, "seek the diamond and rough", and a scene with Aladdin it is a nice transition, hints are given. Aladdin and his pet monkey, Abu are running from the guards in the market place after stealing a loaf of bread. Within the first seven minutes a song is presented by Aladdin and the village people laying out Aladdin's background and situation. Although is steals it is never to become rich or be cruel to people, instead he steals to eat and shares with other poor children who are digging through the trash for food. The message of being a good thief is a mixed message to children.

Aladdin saves the children he had just fed by an arrogant prince who is going to the palace as a suitor for the Princess' hand in marriage. A second song is presented after his encountering with the suitor. Each song tells a background, hardships and goal in their lives. He is again explaining part of himself and life as him and Abu walk home down small dirt roads. Their home is simple and small on the top level of an old mud brick made looking building with the view of the palace. He wishes to be part of the palace life, thinking how different and easy his life would be.

The pressure of Jasmine having to choose a suitor before her upcoming birthday, is upsetting and makes her feel trapped. Her wanting to be free to live her life convinces her to leave the palace in hopes to find more out of life. She runs into trouble and Aladdin jumps in just in the nix of time. The guards capture him by Jafar's command so he can persuade him to go into the cave of wonders. Aladdin retrieved the lamp but his betrayed by Jafar and left at the button of the cave with nothing, or so it seemed. Abu had taken the lamp back before falling into the cave with Aladdin.

So far all the characters are introduced and the story line is given. The plot is based on love and the lesson that lies and magic cannot accomplish what must be done by truth. A great lesson to teach kids. Aladdin spins a web of lies until he cannot stand it anymore and breaks a promise to Genie to keep his lies going. Genie is disappointed and upset by his breaking the promise to free him. Genie turned him into a prince and gave him the huge, expensive fleet of animals, jesters and women to enter the palace.

Aladdin enters the palace pretending to be a prince form faraway lands and tells the Sultan he is there to seek Jasmine's hand. Jasmine is fed up with all suitors and forces Aladdin to go away until he shows his true self on accident by using a familiar line with the princess. She goes on a magic carpet ride around the world. After a great night together he gets a kiss from the princess and returns to his quarters, but not before getting captured by the guards to get rid of Aladdin once in for all by Jafar's orders. The Genie saves Aladdin and helps him get back to the palace to warn the Sultan and Jasmine of Jafar's treachery and evil magic used to control the Sultan at times.

Jafar flees and realizes who Aladdin truly is and how the Genie granted him wishes. Jafar steals the lamp and makes the Genie grant him the wish of becoming Sultan and a powerful sorcerer. The palace is destroyed and cast a gloomy darkness over the city. Genie is forced to toss Aladdin into the cold as banishment. His plans for Princess Jasmine are far from nice and Aladdin has to be crafty in order to save her. The magic carpet was thrown with him and helps him get back to Agerba to save everyone.

Aladdin saves everyone by sneaking into the palace and fights Jafar. When he realizes physical fighting won't win against Jafar, he tricks him into wishing to be a Genie. Jafar wishes to be a Genie and is imprisoned into a lamp, forced to wait until someone finds the lamp in the cave of wonders. The palace is save and Jasmine is allowed to choose who she wants to marry. Jasmine and Aladdin are finally together with only truth between them.

The action and lessons displayed throughout the movie is great for children. The songs keep children intrigued and wanting to learn the songs. Aladdin first thinks lying would get him happiness, but as things get worse he realizes he should have told the truth. The audience is obviously captured with the action, songs and magic. Every child enjoys magical movies even though it's fake. It gives room for the imagination to grow. Aladdin is a great film that has all expectations beat for parents looking for the perfect movie.