Not incredibly strong, but it has its moments

Rating: 5/10 (11 January 2020)

I have tired of the idea of Disney doing "live remakes" of their classics, especially those that were already successful and treasured. But there have been a few I was pleasantly surprised with. Aladdin, unfortunately isn't one of them.
The cons:
* Guy Ritchie's direction/camera work. Ritchie has a distinct style which can work very well in some of his films. He is noted for playing with the speed of his films is certain scenes, slowing it down, speeding it up, to emphasis a certain look or action. He does the same here, but rarely does it make sense to the story or the action.
* Jafar's casting--I do believe he did the best he could with the role, but it seems that the iconic performance of the original just can't be overshadowed or replaced. He does well with the parts that have been added to give depth to Jafar's character, but it is still difficult to see him as the threat of the animated film.
* The utter misuse of Alan Tudyk--Tudyk is one of the best voice actors out there, right up there with Bill Cummings, but he was hardly used in this movie. I am okay with Iago being less comic relief and more menace, but he was rarely used. I almost would have preferred Iago to not speak as he did not add to the story.
* CGI--This was released in 2019; the CGI should have looked better and less sloppy. Will Smith's genie in blue form is frightening, Rajah moves cartoonishly, and some of the dancing in "Friend Like Me," while beautifully choreographed, gives away the CGI work.
Pros:
* Will Smith--Many were really wondering how anyone could replace Robin Williams's iconic performance, and I am pleased to say that Smith goes with his own interpretation, and it works well. In many ways, he nearly stole the show.
* Music--I had no issues with the music; some of the lyrics are changed to accommodate for today's audiences, but not terribly so. And even "Speechless," an obvious Oscar nom grab and female empowerment number, is a genuinely good song.
* Sultan's casting--Even as a child, the sultan in the 1992 version annoyed me to no end--he was weak, childish, and did not display any real leadership qualities. I really like this Sultan. He comes across as much more of a leader, much stronger, more adept.
Overall, the movie isn't bad, but it does come across as mediocre, especially in comparison to its animated predecessor.