Better than I expected, and a worthy 'reboot'

Rating: 7/10 (25 May 2019)

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much going into the theater and only purchased the movie tickets because nothing else better was playing at the time (earlier today), especially after the utter disappointment of the last two Disney musicals I've watched, including "Beauty and the Beast" and "Mary Poppins Returns". Also, I felt it would be rather difficult or (let alone) even match the charm and magic of the original 90's animation. That was certainly a Disney classic, and during the peak of their earlier hay-days. But, I was quite pleased with the direction and musical quality of this reboot/remake of "Aladdin", featuring Will Smith as the Genie. At some points, the acting was either too weak or overdone, but nothing deal-breaking at all. Also, the camera work and flying scenes made me feel much more excited than the animated film from the early 90's. That, in itself, was a major accomplishment, making the viewer (in this case, me) feel a genuine sense of flying. My only complaint would be the very obvious additions/changes to the ending, creating a slightly feminist tone to the theme of the movie. I didn't feel like this change was anything necessary and the director/producer should've stayed true to the original ending, yet I respect their effort in trying to change the attitudes towards male/female gender roles in movies. Having said all of that, "Aladdin" had a few faults and minor disappointments, but was (still) a lot of fun and I loved the musical quality from beginning to end.