Aladdin (Live-Action)

[JeanGreyForever]

Nah, I read the end of the novelization and it’s pretty clear they wanted to do something different to separate this from the original. Giant Iago is just as costly if not more so because it’s such an extended sequence with him. It’s a much bigger scale ending, which I think will work better in a live action setting.

Would you mind sharing more details on the climax? I'm curious how it goes.

[nomad2010]

Nah, I read the end of the novelization and it’s pretty clear they wanted to do something different to separate this from the original. Giant Iago is just as costly if not more so because it’s such an extended sequence with him. It’s a much bigger scale ending, which I think will work better in a live action setting.

Would you mind sharing more details on the climax? I'm curious how it goes.

I only skimmed, but Jafar becomes a sorcerer, turns Iago large, then starts unraveling Carpet as Jasmine flies to save Aladdin from some sort of fall if I recall right. They land just as carpet unravels. Jafar turns into a Genie and that’s about as far as I got. Overall though, the portrait was that it was utilizing all of Agrabah and amping up the tension quite a bit.

[JeanGreyForever]

I only skimmed, but Jafar becomes a sorcerer, turns Iago large, then starts unraveling Carpet as Jasmine flies to save Aladdin from some sort of fall if I recall right. They land just as carpet unravels. Jafar turns into a Genie and that’s about as far as I got. Overall though, the portrait was that it was utilizing all of Agrabah and amping up the tension quite a bit.

Thanks for sharing! It definitely seemed from the trailer that they were utilizing the entire setting rather than confining themselves to the throne room. This may also explain why the movie decided not to include a throne room for the Sultan.

The Art of book mentioned that Aladdin and Abu are banished to an arctic tundra like in the animated film. Does that occur before or after the scene with giant Iago?

[WarriorDreamer]

Sounds like people are pleasantly surprised with the film and enjoying it after all, with the major unanimous criticism being Jafar. A pity Disney decided to revamp his character like this.

Ah that's a shame. I could see by previews that he looked a weak link. Too quiet and lacking in presence. Should have gone for an older actor with more mastery. Jafar is about as powerful as Maleficent.

[disneyprincess11]

The B-Roll is out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D38ISflcjbg

Mena sounds terrific. He sounds just like Brad Kane! Like that the brothel is now a school
I LOVE Naomi! So, the second Speechless is in fact the Jafar wedding scene.
Jafar DOES sing during Arabian Nights
Love that kept Aladdin saving the kids from Achmend

[Disney's Divinity]

Mena sounds terrific. He sounds just like Brad Kane! Like that the brothel is now a school
I LOVE Naomi! So, the second Speechless is in fact the Jafar wedding scene.
Jafar DOES sing during Arabian Nights
Love that kept Aladdin saving the kids from Achmend

I agree on all of this. I didn't realize there was a wedding scene with Jafar before this. So is Jasmine not in a red slave outfit at any point? I'm glad if that's the case, tbh; Aladdin coming back to her being forced down the aisle makes more sense anyway. And even though there are things that I loved about the animated film's climax that sound as if they weren't re-created here (like cobra Jafar, toy Abu, Jasmine in the hourglass), what they have done sounds as good in a different way. We'll see, anyway. Iago being the one transformed into a monster allows Aladdin a reason to use the Magic Carpet in an action scene and see more of the city at the same time, instead of everything taking place inside the palace..

[JeanGreyForever]

Wow, Mena is an amazing singer. At the beginning, I was wary of his casting but I'm really impressed with him now. He totally embodies the character in both look and personality. And of course Naomi is tremendous as I knew. Speechless looks absolutely epic!

Around 9:00 of the footage, we see Jasmine in her Desert Moon dress singing so clearly footage of the song was shot. Still hoping the Blu-Ray will include this deleted song since the soundtrack failed to.

[D82]

New promos:
https://twitter.com/DisneyStudios/statu ... 5472467973
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2QnAlF1xbA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iSsvF_hF_M

Snippets of "Friend Like Me" from the singing Genie doll and from the Japan premiere.

Will Smith and Alan Menken also sang a portion of the song together at the same event.

Interviews with Alan Menken and lyricists Pasek and Paul:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySF1fhjJjGI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7iVtV4pRRY

Cardboard cutouts of the main characters:
https://www.starcutouts.com/searchresul ... =45&page=1

The B-Roll is out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D38ISflcjbg

Thanks for sharing! "Speechless" sounds great and I agree that Mena has also a good singing voice.

Around 9:00 of the footage, we see Jasmine in her Desert Moon dress singing so clearly footage of the song was shot. Still hoping the Blu-Ray will include this deleted song since the soundtrack failed to.

You were right, JeanGreyForever! That's where the song was supposed to take place. I also hope the deleted scene is on the Blu-ray. Now that we know for sure that it was filmed, it seems more likely it could be included.

[DisneyJedi]

Jasmine was supposed to get a new song and they cut it?

Are.

You.

Kidding me?

They give her a new song and they leave it out of the final cut? Might as well have just not filmed it in the first place.

[Farerb]

I might be the only one who doesn't like Speechless. It sounds like a generic pop song that doesn't fit with the rest of the songs.

[DisneyJedi]

No, seriously. Was the song actually cut from the final product? Because what’s the purpose of making a new song for the movie if it’s not even going to be in the movie?

[nomad2010]

No, seriously. Was the song actually cut from the final product? Because what’s the purpose of making a new song for the movie if it’s not even going to be in the movie?

They’ve stated the Desert Moon song was simply a brief lullaby between Aladdin and Jasmine. These types of added songs get cut all the time. Usually for pacing problems. Clearly the song was decent enough to be finished and filmed, but I’m sure it just messed with the flow of the movie too much.

[D82]

^Yes, and Jasmine still has a new song in the movie, "Speechless".


Here are a couple of new promos:
- https://twitter.com/disneyaladdin/statu ... 6113674242
- https://twitter.com/disneyaladdin/statu ... 2090555393

And more interviews with the cast and crew:
- Will Smith, Naomi Scott and Mena Massoud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9h7p2C0qWQ
- Mena Massoud "Aladdin": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foS4jId1SVo
- Naomi Scott "Jasmine": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npx_EBDVnvA
- Will Smith "Genie": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjOTs1W2Vc0
- Marwan Kenzari "Jafar": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffCM2l07uX0
- Navid Negahban "Sultan": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-QH2QhHa54
- Nasim Pedrad "Dalia": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKey7oPonfs
- Billy Magnussen "Prince Anders": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CCdZAFpIOg
- Guy Ritchie (Director): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qda_KBu2s3Y
- Dan Lin (Producer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIpzZsAlh1E
- Jonathan Eirich (Producer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jurG7_4NdE
- Gemma Jackson (Production Designer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR63shZUMDM
- Michael Wilkinson (Costume Designer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGJrFn_xwc
- Jamal Sims (Choreographer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzJzzFnXIk0

[ChrisLyne]

Saw it yesterday and really, really enjoyed it.

It’s a different to the original as the stage show is but in very different ways, and I think most of the changes made work for live action.

The relationships between Aladdin & Jasmine and Aladdin & Genie are fantastic. Again, like on stage, different to the original but built on the same foundation. There’s a lot of heart there and it makes the movie. I loved the three leads.

Really liked this version of the Sultan, and Jasmine’s expanded arc really pays off nicely.

Trying to address some concerns without going in to spoilers (I had to sign an NDA , reactions are ok but no reviews/spoilers and this is probably straddling that line)

Will Smith is great. He’s not Robin, or James, but he doesn’t try to be (nor should he). Being honest I prefer the more classic take on FLM and Prince Ali but I’m glad he had the freedom to reinterpret them. They’re not bad, just very different to the originals. The full ensemble ending to Prince Ali is fantastic (and Smith’s idea apparently so credit where it’s due). But even if the new takes on the songs doesn’t work for you, it’s such a small part of his performance and he does a great job as Genie.

Jafar is no where near as bad as has been made out. Just not as good as the original. Iago is wasted though, that would be my biggest complaint.

Agrabah looks beautiful.

Watching the film I think I know where Desert Moon would have been. I really, really want to hear it but, if I’m right, I can understand letting it go for both the flow of the film and to save the duet for AWNW.

So yeah, loved it. I need to see it again without the screening hype (Disney went all out, lamp photo op, green screen carpet ride photo, temporary tattoos, free food & drink) but right now I think Jungle Book remains the best, critically speaking, of the adaptations but Aladdin is my favourite and just a lot of fun.

[D82]

Thanks for sharing your first impressions with us, ChrisLyne! I'm glad you liked it.

Here's a new TV spot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd831HOP8Ic

[ChrisLyne]

Thanks D82, looking forward to seeing it again on Wednesday.

A few more things I think it's safe to say;

There's a few bits (besides Desert Moon) in the behind the scenes video that aren't in the movie which makes me really intrigued to see the deleted scenes. Jafar does not sing in Arabian Nights

Disney are really missing a trick by not promoting Speechless more. Naomi sounds amazing.

There's no post credits scene (the scene people have been talking about actually plays at the start of the credits).

When I said Iago was wasted that is true, they could have done a lot more with the him, but it didn't bother me during the film. It was only on reflection afterwards because I watched the stage show and the animated film on the same day, that's when I felt Iago had been under used. Yes I was crazy enough to see them all on the same day!

[disneyprincess11]

There's no post credits scene (the scene people have been talking about actually plays at the start of the credits).

When I saw an early screening of Moana, the post-credit scene with Tamota wasn't there. You can imagine my confusion when reports of a post-credits scene surfaced.

[D82]

Disney are really missing a trick by not promoting Speechless more. Naomi sounds amazing.

It seems they have heard you! Disney has released a featurette about Jasmine and her new song. I must warn the people who don't want to know too much about the plot that it's a bit spoilery, because the song seems to take place during the third act of the movie.

Here are also a couple of new promos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMIJG15bhk
https://twitter.com/disneyaladdin/statu ... 0001737728

There's no post credits scene (the scene people have been talking about actually plays at the start of the credits).

Thanks for letting us know!

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm not sad about Iago's minimal role. He doesn't really do much in the original film beyond add humor, and it would be hard to imagine how they'd do that here without Gottfried.

[ChrisLyne]

Well they could have got Gottfried (or Don Darryl Rivera from Broadway) if they wanted that big over the top performance. But yes, that's why I said it was only on reflection afterwards that I missed it. Iago (and Jafar as well) are only lacking in comparrison to the original versions. They work fine in context, they're just not as memorable afterwards.