Review of Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) by Anne M — 10 Jan 2012

In more ways than one this was indeed ALADDIN AND THE LAST CRUSADE. In its place in the franchise, as well as in its storyline. I liked RETURN OF JAFAR, and a lot of people don't. This one outdoes it in most areas.

As CRUADE had done by outdoing it's controversial predecessor TEMPLE OF DOOM. Both are at their hearts stories of reconciliation between the lead heroes (Aladdin/Indiana) with their distant fathers (Cassim/Henry Jones Sr).

Both of whom are obsessed with getting their hands on a powerful mystical item (Hand of Midas/Holy Grail), and with their sons have to beat the villains to it. And in the end the artifact is lost and both the father and son fully reconcile with each other.

I honestly can't say for sure that they were inspired by LAST CRUSADE (I'm pretty darn sure though) but I don't think that hurts the movie. It is still pretty well executed, and probably along with LION KING II, the best DTV Disney sequels out there.

I mean yeah, I guess it isn't a tough competition to win, but still. The story is well told, it goes at a nice pace, gets you investedwith the characters. The voice acting is well done with Robin Williams represing the role of the Genie (Dan Castellanta, you know I probably butchered the spelling of his last name so let's just go with Homer Simpson, did an admirable job but this really is Williams' role), and John-Rhys Davies (Sallah from the Indy films, wink wink) as Aladdin's father Cassim.

The one thing that THE RETURN OF JAFAR has that this one doesn't is...well...Jafar. My favorite Disney villain, who is also usually popular with DIsney fans in general as well. Sa'luk is actually a pretty cool and threatening villain though.

Just not up to Jafar's caliber. For me, this is the only really succesful trilogy of films (Not counting Pixar) that Disney made when spinning off from one of their classics. If you like the first two, or even just the first one, and haven't seen this I'd recommend you give it a shot.