Our titular character, Aladdin, is an immediate icon. Akin to what Alan Menken and Howard Ashman were able to accomplish with "Belle" in Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin's opening song, "One Jump Ahead," provides excellent insight to the character of Aladdin. The lyric in the song's reprise as Aladdin proclaims, "They'll find out there's so much more to me," is a powerful declaration and guiding force behind the entire film. What makes Aladdin such a perfect Disney creation is his imperfection. Aladdin knows exactly what he wants, but his naivety is immense. He lies and steals to progress his status because that is simply all he has ever known. He has been a street rat for his entire life, and he just doesn't know any better. This is what makes his interactions with Jasmine so inspiring. When two polar opposite worlds collide, change occurs for the betterment of them both. Speaking of Jasmine, she is a superb character that perfectly compliments Aladdin. Jasmine is headstrong in the best way possible. Like Aladdin, Jasmine knows exactly what she wants, but she is not sure of the steps she needs to take to get those things. That is why a compelling case can be made that Aladdin and Jasmine are the best Disney duo ever. They come from extremely different backgrounds, but they internally want the same thing: freedom. Freedom is a theme found throughout Aladdin, and through the lives of Aladdin and Jasmine, we are inspired to seek freedom out against all odds, and that is robust message that needs to be proclaimed.
Elsewhere with the characters in Aladdin, Genie is one of Disney's greatest creations. In fact, I would go as far to say that Genie is my favorite Disney character. When Genie is finally set free by Aladdin, I dare you to not get emotional. That scene is simply incredible. The vocal work of the late Robin Williams is the stuff legends are made of. Williams and animation were a match made in heaven as his electric energy is abundant from the Cave of Wonders onward. In his illustrious career, Williams's performance in Aladdin may be his best. Meanwhile, our villain, Jafar, is a great Disney villain. His appearance does half of the work for him because we are genuinely frightened after merely looking at the Royal Vizier. Jonathan Freeman's performance as Jafar is sublime, providing the appropriate blend of wit, sarcasm, and menace. The sidekicks in the film are also fantastic. Iago, Abu, and the Magic Carpet are exceptional supporting characters that supply extraordinary comedic relief on many occasions.
Once again, the magic of Alan Menken strikes again as Aladdin boasts one of Disney's best soundtracks. The aforementioned opening number, "One Jump Ahead," is just an amazing way to start the film. It is catchy, lively, and absolutely necessary to the story. Genie's show-stopping tune, "Friend Like Me," is rambunctiously awesome. Williams shines brightest in this scene that is impeccably animated and immensely entertaining. You will undoubtedly leave Aladdin with this song in your head for the rest of the day. The film's signature scene, though, comes in the "A Whole New World" sequence. Everything in the story has led to this moment, and the payoff is tremendously satisfying. As Aladdin and Jasmine take a magic carpet ride, Aladdin elevates from being a classic to being a masterpiece of cinema. It is an exceptional song and scene featuring superb performances by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga plus gorgeous animation. In the pantheon of classic Disney scenes, this one may be Disney's finest while "A Whole New World" is easily in the top five best Disney songs of all-time.
Cleverly imaginative and truly unlike anything else, Aladdin is a crowning achievement for Disney. This is a film that has something for everyone, and like I wrote in my review of Beauty and the Beast, I could write about Aladdin for paragraph upon paragraph. It truly is a masterpiece, and I do not use that word lightly. You have to earn that title, and Aladdin does without question. With its iconic character, classic songs, and powerful message, Aladdin is certainly a diamond in the rough.
Rating: 10/10
Historical Significance: The performance of Robin Williams in Aladdin is one for the ages, and the filmmakers knew exactly how to manage Williams by letting his imagination soar. The merchant at the beginning of the film introducing the story is voiced by Williamst. The merchant was initially suppose to be the Genie in disguise (notice the eyebrows and beard, in particular, for similarities). That idea was scrapped, but Williams remained the voice. The filmmakers brought Williams into a room and placed various objects on a table in front of him with a simple command to make them laugh. Williams ad-libbed the entire opening scene, and most of the recorded dialogue was deemed inappropriate for a Disney film. By the time Williams was finished recording his lines for the entire film, they had nearly sixteen hours of material just from Williams. In fact, he improvised so much of the script that Aladdin was disqualified for being honored with a potential Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the Oscars. Aladdin would go on to win two Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("A Whole New World).
Behind the Scenes: Robin Williams and Disney developed significant strife towards one another in the aftermath of Aladdin. Williams agreed to voice Genie at the union scale rate, which is the lowest pay a studio can legally give actor, on the conditions that his voice would not be used for merchandise and the Genie would not appear on more than one-fourth of the space on any of the film's marketing tools (posters, trailers, etc.). Disney did not grant him his wishes (ironic, huh?), causing Williams to withdraw his support of Disney and the film. Disney CEO Michael Eisner attempted to make peace with Williams by offering him an authentic Pablo Picasso painting, but Williams refused the gift and remained distant from the studio. Then, when Jeffrey Katzenberg was fired as Disney chairman and replaced by Joe Roth, Roth offered Williams a public apology and promised to right the wrongs committed by Disney to Williams. Williams gladly accepted Roth's apology and even agreed to return as the Genie for the sequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, in 1996. In 2009, Robin Williams became a Disney Legend.
Favorite Character: I stated earlier that Genie is my favorite Disney character ever, so naturally, Genie is my favorite character from Aladdin. I consider myself one of Robin Williams's biggest fans, and my love for Williams all began with Aladdin from my childhood. Genie is such a complex character because while he certainly makes us laugh hysterically, perhaps the best scenes in Aladdin are when Genie is real with Aladdin. This is highlighted in Genie's confession to Aladdin once out of the Cave of Wonders about his desire to be free. When Aladdin finally wishes for Genie's freedom, anyone with a soul will find their heart soaring. Additionally, the "Friend Like Me" sequence and the countless impressions by Williams offer the highest entertainment level of any Disney film.
Favorite Scene/Song: Just like with my selections for these two sections in my review of Beauty and the Beast, the "A Whole New World" sequence features my favorite scene with my favorite song. As I wrote before, the entire film has been leading to this romantic magic carpet ride with Aladdin and Jasmine, and the result is spectacular. The animators create a gem of a scene as Aladdin and Jasmine literally travel all over the world to picturesque destinations. Brad Kane and Lea Salonga are sensational as their vocals will induce every chill imaginable. In my book, this is easily one of the five best scenes in Disney history, and "A Whole New World" may just be my favorite Disney song of all-time. Alan Menken strikes again!Updated Ranking: We have seen some significant movement among the leaders lately, and Aladdin has shaken things up yet again.
- Beauty and the Beast
- Aladdin
- The Little Mermaid
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- The Jungle Book
- Sleeping Beauty
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- 101 Dalmatians
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- The AristoCats
- The Rescuers Down Under
- Fun and Fancy Free
- The Fox and the Hound
- Robin Hood
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Oliver & Company
- The Rescuers
- The Sword in the Stone
- Make Mine Music
- The Black Cauldron
I told you the Disney Renaissance would not disappoint! Here's the question, though: will any film from the nineties not receive a ten from me? Tomorrow, we'll continue to find out with The Lion King!
-Cody Fleenor
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