leicester, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
  1. Published on: 11/08/2019 05:33 PMReported by: Film Critic
    Plot: A street-rat uses the power of having possession of a magical lamp to win the heart of a princess.

    Another Disney re-make, and quite possibly the one I have been most fearing.


    My fear was probably due to the fact that this was the one for me that if it went wrong, it could go horribly wrong in many aspects.


    But despite going in with the lowest of expectations, I as usual remained open-minded and hoping this could be up there with the great Disney live-action re-makes like The Jungle Book, Cinderella and Christopher Robin.


    The first act pretty much went as expected. They were hitting the same bits as the animated original, but the execution felt very hollow and I was feeling nothing towards it. Then amazingly, it was the arrival of Will Smith as The Genie that totally changed the beat, and I was really getting into the story. From that moment and through a couple of songs, that whole sequence was brilliant. After that, I felt I was in for the ride, the remainder of the film was good solid fun and I could enough of the magic that I remember experience from the 1992 original.


    Unbelievably from an acting perspective, Will Smith managed to be the best part of the film. He managed to have that perfect mix of keeping the Genie character that we know and love whilst still bringing his own style to it. Me and pretty much everyone else thought that he was doomed from the start. But I love being proved wrong, and Smith certainly did that.
    Mena Massoud as the titular character I thought was fine but not memorable if I was being cruel. Like for the most of the film, it wasn't until after the first act when I started get invested and Massoud was exactly the same.
    Naomi Scott continues to showcase her talent well. After showing great promise in Power Rangers, Scott did a good job as Princess Jasmine. With her character being given plenty of additional content to work with in the re-make, her portrayal made her character more of a role model that was executed rather well. It was great seeing Navid Negahban be cast as the Sultan. After first seeing him in 12 Strong in a pretty memorable performance, I was excited to see more of him. So I was pleased to see him get more roles in wide release films.
    I also have to mention that while the character of Iago did not have a true speaking role, the way he was used was most noticeable.
    Sadly I could not get into Marwan Kenzari's portrayal of Jafar or regretably Billy Magnussen's character. Kenzari never felt threatening or imposing as you would expect for one of Disney's most fearful antagonists. He just felt whiny, wet and weak. As for Magnussen, while I loved his character in Game Night last year, the character that he either felt annoying or massively out-of-place with the tone.
    Also, I was really disappointed with the characters of Abu and Carpet. They missed that personality that made us fall in love with them in the original, and were also massively under-used in this version. It was a shame to see that.


    I really liked the imagery, most of the production design, the striking costumes and of course the songs. The portrayal of most of the songs were well done and re-creating enough magic that reminded why you still love these songs. The added dance sequences enhanced the songs as well as the costumes really well. Also, unlike Beauty And The Beast, the new songs seemed to fit in well and never felt like they were stopping the film to showcase their entry in Best Original Song category for the next Oscars.


    As for the negative from the technical side, along with the entire sub-standard first act, some of the designs of the locations lacked that glamour that the original had.


    So despite the numerous problems I had with it, I thought this was a solid fun time that re-captured some of the magic that was there before.
    With these Disney live-action re-makes, I always end with the question of, 'Did this need to be re-made?' My answer, kind of. I could see the themes they were introducing to this story to make it different and more topical for today's audience and some additions made for certain character felt worthy enough.
    It was good to look at, the performances on the whole were solid, Will Smith proved me wrong and the feel-good adventure vibe does eventually arrive and make it a solid enough pay-off to have you falling in love with the story and songs all over again.


    Rating: 7/10
     

  2. Your Comments:



You are in: UK / Leicester / East Midlands
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Leicester



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Film Reviews, Last Cinema Movies, Movies, DVDs
leicesterleicester News


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
leicester Bathroom Suppliesleicester Bathroom Tapsleicester Bathroom Furnitureleicester Bathroom Showersleicester Shower Enclosuresleicester Bathsleicester L Shaped Bathleicester P Shaped Bathleicester Wet Roomsleicester Bath Screensleicester Bath Mixer Tapleicester Bidet Tapsleicester Toilet Seatsleicester Sanitarywareleicester Combined Toilet Basinleicester Stovesleicester Wood Stovesleicester Home Stovesleicester Cooker Stovesleicester Enamel Stovesleicester Designer Stovesleicester Contemporary Stovesleicester Multi Fuel Stovesleicester Accounts Softwareleicester Sage Softwareleicester Sage Line 50leicester Sage Line 200leicester Pegasus Accountsleicester Access Accountsleicester Car Servicingleicester MOTgleicester Tyresleicester Car Batteryleicester Exhaustleicester Journalist Jobsleicester Reporter Jobsleicester Writing Jobsleicester Freelance Writerleicester Self Employed Jobsleicester Franchise Businessleicester Franchise Opportunitiesleicester Driving Schoolsleicester Driving Lessonsleicester Driving Testleicester Driving Theory Testleicester Driving Instruction, 0000 leicester Driving Instructor, 0000 leicester Insolvencyleicester Insolvency Serviceleicester Insolvency Servicesleicester Liquidation Serviceleicester Business Recoveryleicester Insolvency Practitionerleicester Bankruptcy Serviceleicester Winding Up Petitionleicester Business Financeleicester Business Recoveryleicester Voluntary Arrangementleicester Individual Voluntary Arrangementleicester IVAleicester Debt Adviceleicester Debt Managementleicester Company Administrationleicester Administrationleicester Corporate Recoveryleicester Corporate Voluntary Arrangementleicester CVAleicester Corporate Insolvencyleicester Corporate Liquidationleicester Members Voluntary Liquidationleicester MVLleicester Partnership Voluntary Arrangementleicester PVAleicester Tax Demandleicester Invoice Financeleicester Bridging Financeleicester Vouchersleicester Dealsleicester Matalanleicester Firewoodleicester Fire Woodleicester Kiln Dried Hardwoodleicester Logs For Saleleicester Log Suppliesleicester Logsleicester Firewood Logsleicester Seasoned Logsleicester Hardwood Logsleicester Firewood Suppliersleicester Firewood Log Suppliersleicester Firewood Dumpy Bagsleicester Firewood Cratesleicester Cheap Firewoodleicester Homefire Logsleicester Cheap Firewood Logsleicester Kindle Conesleicester Pizza Oven Logsleicester Heating Oilleicester Home Heating Oilleicester Red Dieselleicester White Dieselleicester Kereseneleicester Commercial Fuelsleicester Calor Gasleicester Propane Gasleicester Butane Gasleicester Heating Gasleicester Horse Trainingleicester Horse Trainerleicester Horse Whispererleicester Equine Whispererleicester Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithleicester Rattan Garden Furnitureleicester Rattan Furnitureleicester Rattan Sofaleicester Rattan Dining Setleicester Rattan Directleicester Cheap Rattan Furnitureleicester Rattan Corner Sofasleicester Rattan Day Bedsleicester Rattan Sun Loungersleicester Rattan Cube Setsleicester Rattan Bistro Setsleicester Chimeneasleicester Firepitsleicester Patio Heatersleicester Card Payments Processingleicester Credit Card Processingleicester Merchant Servicesleicester Merchant Accountleicester Merchant Paymentsleicester Card Machinesleicester Card Terminalsleicester Online Paymentsleicester Worldpayleicester Bouncy Castlesleicester Bouncy Castle Hireleicester Garden Trampolinesleicester Pramsleicester Pushchairsleicester Strollersleicester Hauck Pramsleicester Huackleicester Childrens Trampolinesleicester Baby Mobilesleicester Baby Activity Matsleicester Baby Bedroom Furnitureleicester Childrens Bedroom Furnitureleicester Hygiene Vendingleicester Washroom Vendingleicester Air Freshenersleicester Air Careleicester Aerosol Systemsleicester Gel Systemsleicester Water Savingleicester Urinal Water Savingleicester Eco Capsleicester Sensaflushleicester Water Managementleicester Urinal Dosingleicester Urinal V Screensleicester Legionella Risk Assessmentleicester Legionaires Bacterialleicester Odour Controlleicester Odour Eliminationleicester Odour Removalleicester Airsterilleicester Hand Careleicester Hand Creamleicester Hand Soapleicester Hand Washingleicester Hand Dryingleicester Hand Dryersleicester Electric Hand Dryersleicester Fast Hand Dryersleicester Commercial Hand Dryersleicester Energy Efficient Hand Dryersleicester Hand Dryer Rentalleicester Hand Dryer Salesleicester Paper Towelsleicester Roller Towelsleicester Cotton Roller Towelsleicester Blue Roller Towelsleicester White Roller Towelsleicester Janitorial Suppliesleicester Janitorialleicester Cleaning Suppliesleicester Cleaning Productsleicester Cleaning Equipmentleicester Office Cleaningleicester Home Cleaningleicester Debt Recovery Servicesleicester Debt Recoveryleicester Debt Collectionleicester Outsource Credit Controlleicester Collection Agencyleicester Debt Collection Agencyleicester Commercial Canopyleicester Steel Canopyleicester Bike Shedsleicester Bike Storageleicester Bicycle Storeleicester Bicycle Storageleicester Bikes Storeleicester Bike Storeleicester Outdoor Canopyleicester Cycle Sheltersleicester Cycle Shedleicester Cycle Storageleicester Cycle Rackleicester Cycle Compoundleicester Cycle Solutionsleicester Scooter Storageleicester Scooter Shelterleicester Canopiesleicester Canopyleicester Play Area Canopyleicester Entrance Canopiesleicester Entrance Canopyleicester Waiting Shelterleicester Smoking Shelterleicester Parent Waiting Shelterleicester Parent Shelterleicester Teen Shelterleicester Nursery Canopyleicester School Canopyleicester Play Canopyleicester Envirolawnleicester Astroturfleicester Cheap Astroturfleicester Artificial Grassleicester Cheap Artificial Grassleicester Astro Turfleicester Artificial Lawnleicester Fake Grassleicester Fake Lawnleicester Fire Stove Glassleicester Heat Resistant Glassleicester Fire Glassleicester Stove Glassleicester Fire Resistant Glassleicester Replacement Stove Glassleicester Glass For Stovesleicester Spill Kitsleicester Spill Control Kitsleicester Spill Kit Refillsleicester Spill Kit Refill GK6leicester Chemical Spill Kitsleicester Oil Spill Kitsleicester Solar Panelsleicester Solar Panels Costleicester Solar Heatingleicester Solar PVleicester Commercial Solarleicester Photovoltaicleicester Dust Matsleicester Entrance Matsleicester Reception Matsleicester Anti Fatigue Matsleicester Floor Matsleicester Logo Matsleicester Washroom Servicesleicester Principal Washroomsleicester Washrooms Suppliesleicester Washrooms Solutionsleicester Sanitary Disposalleicester Sanitary Binsleicester Sani Binsleicester Lady Binsleicester Feminine Hygiene Unitsleicester Sanitary Waste Disposalleicester Sanitary Wasteleicester Sanitary Unitsleicester Feminine Unitsleicester Hygiene Servicesleicester Sanitary Bin Supplierleicester Sanitary Bin Rentalleicester Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesleicester General Wasteleicester Trade Wasteleicester Commercial Wasteleicester Business Wasteleicester Waste Managementleicester Waste Collectionleicester Cardboard Wasteleicester Paper Wasteleicester Plastic Wasteleicester Glass Wasteleicester Biomass Wasteleicester Metal Wasteleicester Confidential Wasteleicester Confidential Waste Serviceleicester On Site Shreddingleicester Off Site Shreddingleicester One Off Shreddingleicester Contract Shreddingleicester Dental Wasteleicester Dental Waste Disposalleicester Dental Waste Legislationleicester Dental Waste Complianceleicester Accupuncture Wasteleicester Accupuncture Waste Disposalleicester Accupuncture Waste Collectionleicester Tattoo Wasteleicester Tattoo Waste Disposalleicester Sharps Binleicester Sharps Collectionleicester Hazardous Sharpsleicester Non Hazardous Sharpsleicester Cytotoxic Sharpsleicester Cytostatic Sharpsleicester Ink Blockleicester Wet_Wasteleicester Tattoo Inkleicester Drug Destructionleicester Drug Disposalleicester Drug Denaturingleicester Unwanted Drugsleicester Out Of Date Drugsleicester Pest Controlleicester Rodent Controlleicester Bird Controlleicester Bird Proofingleicester Guano Controlleicester Pest Call Outleicester Pest Preventionleicester Pest Deterrentleicester Nursery Wasteleicester Nappy Wasteleicester Nappy Binleicester Nappy Disposalleicester Nappy Wheelie Binleicester Nursery Waste Disposalleicester Nursery Waste Collectionleicester Incontinence Padsleicester Offensive Wasteleicester Human Wasteleicester Nursing Home Wasteleicester Care Home Wasteleicester Hazardous Wasteleicester Infectous Wasteleicester Pharmaceutical Wasteleicester Medicinal Wasteleicester Medicine Wasteleicester Infection Controlleicester Hand Sanitisersleicester Clinical Waste Disposalleicester Clinical Waste Managementleicester Clinical Waste Policyleicester EA Registrationleicester Hammocksleicester Garden Hammocksleicester Adult Hammocksleicester Childrens Hammocksleicester Baby Hammocks