Pageviews last month
|
3,314
|
Pageviews all time history
|
236,082
|
Will Smith Dominant in Amazing ALADDIN
By Joe Viglione
Do you remember 2000's The Legend of Bagger Vance,
2014's Winter's Tale, 2013's After Earth (it was actually ok, M. Night Shyamalan and Will Smith taking it on the chin...) and Suicide Squad, of course, another almost but not quite...
For Will Smith and his appearances in those less-than-blockbuster flicks, redemption comes in dazzling colors, and Aladdin, thanks in no small part to Smith, is as crafty as it is in your face. Mamma Mia 2 goes back to the land of Oz - and this is everything that James Franco's Oz the Great and Powerful should have been. Aladdin satisfies on many levels, mostly because it is a roller coaster ride which keeps your attention on the big screen for the entire
This is truly a magical drama with tinges of comedy bathing the audience in escapism that is action from the start that keeps on even after the words The End begin to close out the film.
High school drop-out Walt Disney had been falsely accused throughout the years and gives great weight to Howard Stern's use of a cliche' in Private Parts which Stern, of course, cleverly crafts and makes his own: "After all, beingmisunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses is it not?"
The Disney Company takes the world on many a magic carpet ride, and this one succeeds in a very large way. But it is Will Smith who emerges here bigger than life. As Werner Klemperer as Colonel Klink and John Banner as Sgt. Schultz were the stars directly under Bob Crane as Colonel Hogan, it is the genie, Smith, who is the marquee name.
Keep in mind, the 1992 animated Alladin was the biggest grossing picture of that year with Will Smith referencing Robin Williams in a recent interview. How could you not? Twenty Eight million as a budget turning into 504.1m is a nice day at the race track so why not bring it back 27 years later
Director Guy Ritchie's films are highly successful, though they never resonated with this critic. Artistically, Ritchie gets huge marks for making a motion picture that can appeal to all ages, and captures the imaginative spirit moviegoers want. Need I tell you that as good as a film that John Wick 3: Parabellum is, the extreme violence of the Wick world is a descent into hell whereas Aladdin is the antidote where swords and sorcery replace the gunfire, Harry Potter being an effective way to combat the NRA on things of this matter.
Smith's desire to become human, much like Data in Star Trek The Next Generation wishing the same thing, is like the Scarecrow wanting a brain: throughout the film you see that Smith's genie already IS human. And the Oz references are as tucked away neatly in the fabric as they were in Mamma Mia 2, these big budget fantasies going way beyond the Emerald City in bombast and cheer, just remember whence they were derived from.
Truer words were never spoken and Massoud delivers with Will Smith pulling out every thespian fiber from his soul, it only adds to the main actors cooperation and interplay. Think Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins working off each other so well in The Silence of the Lambs, irreplaceable intuition that makes for classic performances.
Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine is another near-unknown about to rocket to stardom in the new Charlie's Angels 2019 version (the poor thing's scenes in The Martian were left on the cutting room floor! See her as Ryoko in the extended version of that 2015 Matt Damon movie, if you'd like!)
Marwan Kanzari is the heavy here, yet another unknown playing the sorcerer Jafar. The sorcery is subtle until Jafar really gets things going, but we'll let you see the film to find out how, why and what. You can bet on the fact that Kanzari's naked scenes in 2015's Bloedlink, based on the cult classic The Kidnapping of Alice Creed are going to be as overexposed as Melania Trump's front page naked lesbian pose went worldwide during the 2016 election.
Guess Will Smith wasn't the only one set free!
Get the naked slideshow here:https://www.mejane.com/films/detail/52331/bloedlink.html
Bloedlink trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm_PXGxr9Z8
And so, Myra Breckinridge's words ring true, three new stars to enter the pantheon and - perhaps - the best performance ever from Will Smith. This critic had a feeling in January 2019 that Shyamalan's Glass was going to be huge, there's no doubt that Aladdin is going to be part of a big summer that Avenger's Endgame kick-started. Enjoy.
ALADDIN WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DisneyAladdin
Hashtag: #Aladdin
Genre: Action Adventure
U.S. Release date: May 24, 2019
Cast: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, Numan Acar Directed by: Guy Ritchie Screenplay by: John August and Guy Ritchie (credit is not final) Animation Screenplay by: Ron Clements & John Musker and Terry Based on: Disney’s “Aladdin” Produced by: Dan Lin, p.g.a., Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a. Executive Producers: Marc Platt, Kevin De La Noy Songs Music by: Alan Menken New Lyrics by: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Lyrics by: Howard Ashman and Tim Rice Score by: Alan Menken ONE-LINER: A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. OFFICIAL BOILERPLATE: A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie (“Sherlock Holmes,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”), who brings his singular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious port city of Agrabah, “Aladdin” is written by John August (“Dark Shadows,” “Big Fish”) and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.” The film stars Will Smith (“Ali,” “Men in Black”) as the larger-than-life Genie; Mena Massoud (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”) as the charming scoundrel Aladdin; Naomi Scott (“Power Rangers”) as Jasmine, the beautiful, selfdetermined princess; Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express”) as Jafar, the powerful sorcerer; Navid Negahban (“Legion”) as the Sultan concerned with his daughter’s future; Nasim Pedrad (“Saturday Night Live”) as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s free-spirited best friend and confidante; Billy Magnussen (“Into the Woods”) as the handsome and arrogant suitor Prince Anders; and Numan Acar (“The Great Wall”) as Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man and captain of the palace guards. “Aladdin” is produced by Dan Lin, p.g.a., (“Sherlock Holmes”) and Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a., (“Death Note“) with Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe® winner Marc Platt (“La La Land”) and Kevin De La Noy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) serving as executive producers. Eight-time Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid”) provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Oscar-winning lyricists Howard Ashman (“Little Shop of Horrors”) and Tim Rice (“The Lion King”) and includes two new songs written by Menken and Oscar and Tony Award®-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land,” “Dear Evan Hansen”). The film, which was 2 shot on practical stages in London and on location amidst the stunning desert vistas of Jordan, has a talented creative team helping to bring Agrabah to life, including: director of photography Alan Stewart (“The Commuter”), production designer Gemma Jackson (“Game of Thrones”) and costume designer Michael Wilkinson (“American Hustle”). The 1992 animated film starred Robin Williams and featured such memorable songs as the Oscar®-winning “A Whole New World” and “Friend like Me.” The film grossed more than $502 million at the global box office, which led to successful stage productions on Broadway and abroad as well as a North American touring company. “Aladdin” opens in U.S. theaters nationwide May 24, 2019.
