Fantasy Guy Ritchie Directing Disney's Aladdin

[Spider-Aziz]

That Prince Ali clip really just captures how much Robins Williams brought to the Genie, not just with the character, but with the songs also. That clip is dry as ****, and at worst boring to look at.

Same with the art angles and animation pacing the march very well. Characters look very static here.

 

[Darkness Falls]

The Mask is a good example. I have to admit, I got a jolt of excitement when the ostriches came running, tilting their heads as they passed the meta-camera no one else could see. Seeing Genie ride around on ostriches is also pretty excellent.

i really liked that he teleported back to ride on the ostriches

Something i haven't seen anyone comment on is how aladdin still looks unsure of himself and nervous as they sing his praise, can definitely relate when it comes to that

 

[CB Fan]

Even with all that’s going on that scene just wasn’t exciting, as others said it lacks the spark. I’m glad I have A-List.

 

[Lencho01]

 

[Melpardus]

Representing the demographic who's never actually seen the old Aladdin film, all of this looks... fine. (Don't get me wrong, that first look at the genie a couple months back was a mistake.) It's not something I'd pay to watch unless a friend/girlfriend wants to see it on a matinee screening, but I wouldn't mind getting a chance to sit down with it on home video; seems entertaining enough.

 

[scarlet-witch]

That prince Ali clip looks like it was filmed in a tiny alley.

 

[Schlosser85]

That clip just affirms that Will Smith is no Robin Williams as far as energy level, and even he seems like the best part of this movie, which doesn’t fill me with optimism.

 

[harlequinade]

This is embargoed till the very last moment, apparently

How shocking

 

[DarkKnight88]

Yeah, I don’t know if that means anything in terms of quality.

I mean, I thought Beauty and the Beast wasn’t so great yet it got a 71% while Dumbo I thought was really great and that got 46%. Those two scores should’ve been switched, IMO.

 

[Lencho01]

Clip was fine to me.

I watched the original clip from the cartoon and really the main takeaway I have is another example of the lack of limitations for animation compared to live-action (in general) and the benefit of a voice actor that can do different voices/characters.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

That clip just affirms that Will Smith is no Robin Williams as far as energy level, and even he seems like the best part of this movie, which doesn’t fill me with optimism.

But Schlosser, what about hot Jafar?

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Clip was fine to me.

I watched the original clip from the cartoon and really the main takeaway I have is another example of the lack of limitations for animation compared to live-action (in general) and the benefit of a voice actor that can do different voices/characters.

I think that is the issue. It is just fine. Well for me it isn't, it looks like a bad Disney parade imo. But I don't think this is an animation vs. live-action situation. They have a Genie, who can do whatever they like. They seem to be limiting themselves here.

 

[Sithborg]

Seriously. What in his resume suggested he was the right fit?

White guy.

A bit disappointing. It isn't a Will Smith version of the song, which is going to make it rough in the comparisons. Still loving the costumes and the sets, though.

 

[terry78]

Probably because Aladdin is kind of a street smart kid who gets entangled with a mjaor crime.

 

[Drizzle]

I think that is the issue. It is just fine. Well for me it isn't, it looks like a bad Disney parade imo. But I don't think this is an animation vs. live-action situation. They have a Genie, who can do whatever they like. They seem to be limiting themselves here.

This, completely. I think I might end up feeling the same way about the scope of this as I did for Beauty and the Beast, in that they go for smaller scale when they could absolutely afford to go bigger. But that could be on the directors. The Jungle Book seemed larger in scale, and I'm getting that same vibe from The Lion King because Favreau knows how to go for spectacle.

 

[kaypain]

That clip just affirms that Will Smith is no Robin Williams as far as energy level, and even he seems like the best part of this movie, which doesn’t fill me with optimism.

Well no ****

 

[Lencho01]

I think that is the issue. It is just fine. Well for me it isn't, it looks like a bad Disney parade imo. But I don't think this is an animation vs. live-action situation. They have a Genie, who can do whatever they like. They seem to be limiting themselves here.

Well, for me there were some moments that could've been done in live-action, but would lean towards CGI (if they were trying for some shot-for-shot type of stuff). For example, certain moments where it's the multiple copies of the same character models walking or whatever. I honestly feel that since the Internet is the Internet, there would be some kind of complaint about that. Same with some of the shots that would require some green screen usage rather than practical sets given that's how Hollywood does things now (even with all the money at their disposal). But, they at least built a set and have to account for actual human dancers (and animals) and the room they need for their moves.

Like I said, I think it's just fine. And sure they could've punched the energy up.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Well, for me there were some moments that could've been done in live-action, but would lean towards CGI (if they were trying for some shot-for-shot type of stuff). For example, certain moments where it's the multiple copies of the same character models walking or whatever. I honestly feel that since the Internet is the Internet, there would be some kind of complaint about that. Same with some of the shots that would require some green screen usage rather than practical sets given that's how Hollywood does things now (even with all the money at their disposal). But, they at least built a set and have to account for actual human dancers (and animals) and the room they need for their moves.

Like I said, I think it's just fine. And sure they could've punched the energy up.

I don't think it should be a shot for shot remake. I think there are ways however to capture the same kind of energy and magic in live action. Instead, I find this all just a tad boring.

 

[Lencho01]

I don't think it should be a shot for shot remake. I think there are ways however to capture the same kind of energy and magic in live action. Instead, I find this all just a tad boring.

True. I think one issue is that Smith isn't really a singer. Generally such a moment would benefit with someone with a good singing voice. Or at least record him using a more bombastic voice to increase the energy.

 

[-JKR-]

The problem with these movies is that, instead of trying to legitimately readapt these classic stories in live-action form and for modern audiences, they're aping the animated movies.
"Dumbo" did it best, IMO. This looks like a trainwreck.

 

[Manasrepublic]

The Prince Ali clip is really dull and boring as hell. They really should have taken a page from huge budgeted indian movies which recently have had some beautifully choreographed, vibrant, energetic and soulful song and dance pieces. Those songs blow what’s in this clip out of the water. There is absolutely no excuse for this to look much worse than Indian movie song and dance numbers given that Aladdin has ten times the budget of the usual indian commercial movie

 

[-JKR-]

They shouldn't have put any musical numbers in the movie AT ALL, IMO.
Something in the vein of the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" and Guy Ritichie's "Sherlock Holmes" (which is why I was initially excited about him directing) would've been a better fit for a live-action Disney "Aladdin."

P.S.: Will Smith's choices are baffling. He agreed to star in this and turned down James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad." Which isn't THAT surprising, after he turned down "Django Unchained" (idiotic choice!).

 

[Mysteryman]

Well, it is not as if Smith had a great time on the first Suicide Squad.

 

[-JKR-]

No doubts about that. But turning down the chance to star in a new comic book movie by the director of "Guardians of the Galaxy" is quite baffling career-wise, to be honest.
But the truth is that, post-1990s, the man hasn't been very wise in his career choices, and his foray into producing hasn't helped him. He's no Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise.

 

[jmc]

The Prince Ali clip is really dull and boring as hell. They really should have taken a page from huge budgeted indian movies which recently have had some beautifully choreographed, vibrant, energetic and soulful song and dance pieces. Those songs blow what’s in this clip out of the water. There is absolutely no excuse for this to look much worse than Indian movie song and dance numbers given that Aladdin has ten times the budget of the usual indian commercial movie

Bollywood musicals aren’t really my thing but I’ve seen some incredibly well shot and choreographed sequences from the films I’ve seen. This comes across like a poor mans version of those films, and as you say, with 10 times the budget. There is no excuse for a musical with this type of studio backing it to look this poorly shot and choreographed. Hell you don’t even have to look to Indian, American cinema is littered with musicals created 75-80 years ago that are more creative and better executed than this.