Review of Aladdin (1992) by Stuart K — 23 Apr 2012

In the late 80's/early 90's, Disney were trying to revive their fortunes after a financial slump, they succeeded with The Little Mermaid (1989) and Beauty and the Beast (1991), with this they hit gold with their adaptation of Scheherazade's folktale of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from One Thousand and One Nights.

Although Disney took advantage with the tale, they managed to have one ace up their sleeves which blew the whole film apart and made it a classic... Set in the ancient Arabian land of Agrabah, it begins when evil Jafar (Jonathan Freeman), Grand Vizier to the Sultan (Douglas Seale) tries to retrieve a magical lamp from the Cave of Wonders, however he's denied entry, and it has to be a 'Diamond in the Rough' who can retrieve the lamp.

Jafar finds one in street urchin/thief Aladdin (Scott Weinger), who has been romancing the Sultan's daughter Jasmine (Linda Larkin). Aladdin retrieves the lamp, and is trapped in the cave, but he unleashes the lamp's Genie (Robin Williams), who gets him out of the cave and makes Aladdin a rich prince so he can woo Jasmine, but Jafar see's right though the disguise.

It's a brilliantly animated film with punchy, epic songs and lavish landscapes. But, it's Robin Williams as the Genie which steals the film from everyone else, using his comedic improvisation to brilliant, hilarious effect.

The result is Disney's best film of that era, and 20 years on, it still stands strong against them all.