MOVIE - ALADDIN (2019) | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2019

Author: Savio Mathew

The highest-grossing film of Will Smith’s career. It can be exciting, even a bit overwhelming to attempt the challenge of creating a live-action for a Disney classic. The prospective audience – made up of everyone from children to young adults, and their expectations would’ve weighed heavy on the shoulders of the makers. Although critics had their doubts on the casting of Will Smith as the Genie, he did a great job maintaining the humour and the witty jokes of the original Genie, whilst adding his own flavour to it, with multiple references to the Fresh Prince of Bellaire, which the young adults will appreciate.  

Similar to the original, the film has many moral lessons for children as well as adults.  

At the very onset of the movie itself, we are introduced to Jasmine and Aladdin, each feeling trapped in their own lives. A wealthy Princess wanting her voice to be heard in her life choices, and an orphan boy with a monkey as his best friend, who steals to get by. Jasmine can have whatever she wants delivered to her with her money. Aladdin can do whatever he wants having no one to answer to. 

Later we meet the Genie, a most powerful being, whose wish is to travel the world but unfortunately is trapped in a lamp. We are also introduced to Jafar, a man who is chasing power above all things, and is willing to go any length to get what he wants. 

Jafar persuades Aladdin to go into a cave to retrieve the magic lamp, and when he takes the lamp, a loud deep voice comes out saying, “You have touched the forbidden treasure”. And the whole cave starts collapsing on itself and they nearly lose their lives. This has resonance with the Genesis story; where Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden eat the forbidden fruit because the Serpent convinced Eve. The Genie within the magic lamp with supreme power being the forbidden fruit of knowledge. Although this power can be used for good, Aladdin uses it to become Prince Ali and tries to live out the lie, ignoring the Genie’s warning, “do not drink from that cup, there isn’t enough money and power on earth for you to be satisfied”. For Prince Ali, he needed the Genie’s power to keep the lie going. With instant fame, he becomes self-conscious, with fear dwelling in him, doubting his self-worth, and worrying that the Princess wouldn’t love him. The selfless and brave Aladdin who saved Jasmine and befriended a Genie at the start of the movie has become the selfish and scared Prince Ali. Prince Ali takes back the promise Aladdin made to the Genie, finding himself trapped in a different way to the start. As the Genie says, “The more you gain by pretending the less your actually gonna have”.    

It’s a shame that Aladdin doesn’t muster up the courage to tell the truth about himself. It would’ve been more heroic had Aladdin got past his fears and told the truth about himself risking everything he pretended to have. He would’ve been empowered – the truth would've set him free from the fear. 

Princess Jasmine is my favourite character in the whole story. When Jafar becomes the Sultan, the Army General has to choose, and Jasmine helps him in his decision. “Duty isn’t always honour” she says, and at this point the general chooses honour, and the whole army turns against Sultan Jafar. 

There is a great song “Speechless” which expresses the feelings of Jasmine. Even though she felt like she was drowning, being suffocated and her voice drowned out in the thunder, she will not be silent. Through this, she forces Jafar to use up his second wish. 

Savio Mathew is currently studying Industrial Design at Loughborough University and loves watching Movies and TV shows