Movie Review and Comparison: Aladdin (1992 vs. 2019)

Before I get into the comparison here, I just want to say that like other Disney classics, there will always be a bias in opinion. It's been quite some time since I've seen the original, though, for the sake of this post, I decided to re-watch it and very much enjoyed the film. I'll save my own biases until the end, so that way, you can get an understanding of what's similar and what's different in each version. 

I think that like any other remake that Disney has made, it's important to appreciate the amount of effort that goes into them regardless of if you enjoy the movie or not. You don't have to agree with all the choices that were made in production, or with the storytelling or any other small details that help make up the final product. I get that movies like this won't please everyone, but if you're expecting every remake to be exactly like the original with all of its animated features, you will only leave yourself with disappointment. 

I'd say Jasmine's character is as equally strong-willed in this new movie as she in the original, but one thing I've noticed is that her development in the new movie seems to be a little more spaced out and realistic. What remains the same is that she's smart, has Rajah as her pet tiger and lives with her father. Outspoken is what I'd describe the original character of Jasmine, and I do believe we still see that at times within Naomi Scott's interpretation of her, but it's done in a way that's not loud, arrogant or "childish" if you will. 

In the new 2019 version, Jasmine is sometimes seen with a servant as she's there for moral support, or for other errands that the princess gives to her. This is something you don't see in the original version, nor do you hear any mentions of Jasmine's mother from her father. It's noted that in most Disney movies, the mother figure is either absent or deceased (Tangled, Brave, Moana and Mulan are just a few exceptions). 

Another interesting difference that I noticed is the introductory scene of each movie. In the new version, Will Smith is seen with two children in which he starts to share the experiences he had with Aladdin. In the animated version, there's a man who talks to us (the viewers) before getting started. He shows off his collection of different sale items, one of those items being the infamous lamp that the genie lives in. This kind of sets the tone that this will be a tale from long ago like it already happened. 

I think what makes the 2019 version of Aladdin so different is the obvious choice of casting Will Smith to be the genie. He's definitely no Robin Williams, but given his acting history, I think his interpretation is pretty fresh and fun (no pun intended). On the other side of the coin, what makes Robin's vocal talents so iconic is that he could take on any animated character and give them more personality. There's definitely no comparing the two men as their talents are different, and it works out so well for each version of the movie. 

If there's one common denominator that makes Aladdin a timeless classic, it would be the music. The songs stay the same even though they're sung by different people, so that makes it even more accessible for different generations of people to enjoy. I personally hold a bias towards the new soundtrack if I'm being honest here, and I'd say it's because of the updated style of some of the songs (especially for the tracks "Friend Like Me" or "Prince Ali"). I would even dare to say that the production value for Aladdin is better. 

I'll let you be the judge on if you enjoy the original more or the remake version, but in my personal opinion, I kind of enjoy the remake a little more. This isn't to say that the original wasn't any good as no one can top Robin Williams; I just think that the production and soundtrack are of higher quality and freshness. 

Movie Review: Disney's Mulan (Disney+ Exclusive)

Watching the live action version of this Disney classic honestly made me feel nostalgic (like all Disney movies do), but I’d say it was nice to finally see an updated representation of Chinese history. There are a lot of differences that I could point out and talk about in great detail (and I will share a couple of the most obvious ones), but I’ll let you find those things for yourself. 

To start out with, I’ll say that the most interesting thing I’ve found out through my research is that the name Fa Mulan (as said in the 1998 version) comes from the Mandarin language. In the 2020 version however, it’s explicitly stated that her name is Hua Mulan, which is Cantonese. 

The story of Mulan dates back thousands of years ago, and before Disney premiered the animated version we all know and love, it started out as a poem (Ballad of Mulan). There have been other plays and books written about this as well, and while it’s no surprise that most of you reading probably hold a bias towards the animated movie, I think it would be interesting to see what else you can find and just do a little digging about how this all started. 

One of the most notable differences within the new movie and the old one is that there is no Mushu, so if you came into this movie expecting a talking dragon, then I’m sorry to disappoint you on that. There’s also no sing-along songs like there typically are, but the musical score does incorporate those familiar tunes instrumentally since we know it wouldn’t be a Disney film without them (make sure to pay close attention to the background music to hear it!). 

If for some reason you haven’t watched the new movie, I’d advise you to click off of this post and get right on it! I think you’ll be amazed by how much effort was put into honoring the Chinese culture because that’s exactly how I felt when watching it. Another difference that I’ll share is that there have been a couple other character cuts to fit within the realism behind the movie. Of course, you’ll have to see and pick those out for yourself. 

I feel like my Asian background has led me to greatly appreciate the remake of this movie in particular, so I really enjoyed it. Of course, it’s not going to top the animated version because that version is a classic, but overall, I have no complaints.