Aladdin [G]

Aladdin is a charming and handsome commoner of the streets of Agrabah. A thief to survive, Aladdin is more than what he seems; a diamond in the rough. But when he falls in love with the vivacious and headstrong Princess Jasmine, he realises just how poor and hopeless his life is. However, all that changes with just one rub of a magic lamp that lets loose a genie that grants Aladdin three wishes and takes him on a journey of discovery. 

This is my second favourite Disney film after Beauty and the Beast. It’s filled with magic, romance, action, comedy, great songs, memorable characters, and the best love duet ever! 

On the streets of Agrabah lives a charming and handsome commoner named Aladdin. A thief to survive, Aladdin is more than what he seems; a diamond in the rough. Living parallel to Aladdin is the vivacious and headstrong Prince Jasmine who is tired of having her life lived for her in the glittering palace. The two cross paths when Jasmine runs away and instantly gets into trouble, unaware of how harsh the streets can be. Aladdin saves her and instantly falls in love with her, but when he discovers that she’s the Princess, he realises how poor and hopeless his life really is. Everything changes for Aladdin with just one rub of a magic lamp that releases a fun-loving, shape-shifting genie that grants Aladdin three wishes and takes him on a journey of wonder and discovery. 

With this movie, what I realised I liked about Disney films is how diverse and inclusive they can be. Beauty and the Beast is set in France, The Princess and the Frog is set in New Orleans, Mulan is in China, Aladdin is in Arabia, the list goes on and on. I think it’s great (although no Disney characters are ever Jewish). 

I think this was the first Disney film in which we found proper comic-relief characters. Up until Aladdin there were never really any characters that were solely there to make us laugh, aside from Dopey in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but even with Dopey, the comedy is really only slapstick and can grow a little stale. In Aladdin we have Genie and Iago the parrot to provide all the laughs and the fun. I like characters like that in a kids’ film. Not everyone can be serious! 

Featuring the voice talents of Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, and Douglas Seale, Aladdin is a timeless classic that’s filled with action, magic, romance, comedy, brilliant characters, and memorable songs. It’s one of my all-time favourite Disney films!