Wonderful

Rating: 8/10 (9 September 2019)

Wonderful. It has been a long time since I enjoyed a movie so much, without worrying about elaborate plots (or lack thereof) or because such a character was a hindrance or that the script is rubbish. I want to clarify that for my criticism I will not take into account the original Aladdin movie because I remember very little or nothing of that movie, without further ado, I will begin.
I had a good time watching it and how not to? From the beginning it captivates you with a beautiful song and beautiful scenery, and that is just the beginning. Each of the songs is beautiful and almost all fit well with the narrative that is being told; great and professional choreographies, plus very good voices. With the only music scene that I don't quite agree with is "Speechless, Pt. 2", I feel that despite being a great song, it managed to break the narrative thread, I feel it didn't fit very well and I felt strange towards it compared to the rest of the music scenes, they could have done a better job of placing it inside the narrative. The scenery is perfect, the scenarios very well built and the impeccable costumes, wonderful work to portray the Arab culture.
As for the casting Wow! It is a wonder almost entirely. Let's start with Aladdin, the protagonist, what a good casting they did here because Mena Massoud plays a fantastic character, it's impossible that you don't like him or sympathize with him or even that you fall in love with him; he transmits something to you and Mena fulfills his role as the protagonist of the film very well; excellent choice. Now, Naomi Scott as Jasmine, another success in its entirety, she's charismatic, charming, kind and empowered, you sympathize with her, you want her dream of being the Sultan to be fulfilled; Naomi perfectly transmits those beautiful but so complex qualities of Jasmine. Will Smith as the Genie, a decision that in its beginning was controversial but now very successful, he had very large shoes to fill according to many but Will did something different with those shoes, he didn't wear them, he put on his own shoes and with that metaphor I want to say that he did an excellent job, the Genie is iconic but at the same time a very difficult character to play because he has a very strong dose of comedy without neglecting his natural charm, something that few possess and Will achieved it, he made a very good Genie, funny and charming, he clearly steals the show at times. But here comes the stone in the shoe, Jafar, played by Marwan Kenzari, this was the only casting error for me, because when I think of Jafar I think of an imposing and scary man and I think that they lacked of that in here, Marwan does not impose at all like Jafar, it feels like any other character, not as a threat (without demeriting the work of Marwan, who did it well), but I still wish it had been a different casting for this character. As for secondary characters we have Abu, Iago and the magic carpet, very good complements and endearing characters.
In conclusion, Aladdin is a wonderful film, with good songs, excellent performances, incredible staging, beloved characters and a captivating story. One of the best adaptations of Disney and a movie that will make you have a good time.