Aladdin Special Features

[Prince Phillip]

I know it is probably a little premature to be talking about this but I though of something I would like to see as part of the special features for Aladdin.
With the I Dream of Jeanie marathon on this weekend, I began to think about Barbara Eden and how I saw her in some interview, years ago, and how she seemed so nice. I really like her and would like the chance to see her again in something. It was at this point that I flashed to the Beauty and the Beast DVD, and remembered that Celine Dion hosted several of the Bonus Features: Story Behind the Story and Making of Featurette, are the two I can think of. Then it struck me, Who better to host things like that on Aladdin than Barbra Eden, Americas favorite Jeanie. Although the difference id Celine had a tie to disney, in that she had done the Beauty and the Beast music video years ago. Unfortunately Barbra Eden has no ties to disney, that I know of, but GOD I would just really like to see her do that. Her tie could be that the movie iss about a Jeanie and she played a Genie. Oh well we will see. There isn't a site that any of you know of where I could post this suggestion, where disney could see it and take it into consideration? Probably not . Well anyway that was just something I had to get off my chest.
Please feel free to post your own suggestions as to what should be bonus features for Aladdin.

OHHHHH! I just thought of some more. Alan Menken and I think Tim Rice originally produced all these songs that never made it into the movie, mainly because of drastic story changes, like the removal of Aladdin's mother and 3 brothers. One song was called Humiliate the Boy. This was Jafar's song but had to be cut as it was considered "too CRUEL" for disney. If I am not mistaken most of these deleted songs were animated. In fact practically all of Aladdin had to be RE-animated because the original did not work out, one of the reasons being that Aladdin was too young. I think they could make this a 3 disc set and include all the deleted material, or atleast the songs. Let the costumers decide what is or is not too cruel, and let us enjoy the wonderful songs we never got to see due to story changes. (hey I hear there are still some shots of the younger Aladdin in Friend Like ME, because it was too expensive to reanimate.) And For once I would like to see a featurette were they explain all the original concepts and how/why theu were changed. (Did you know they originally planned to have 2 Genies, one of the lamp and one of the ring. I believe the ring one was suppose to be a girl.)

GOD! I love this movie. This and Sleeping Beauty are by far my favorite Disneys!

[Sulley]

I also fell in love with Aladdin immediately in 1992 and even had an Aladdin Birthday party at a movie theater where you could reserve screenings. I hope they give this a royal DVD treatment effort like they did for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Those deleted scenes sound very interesting.

P.S. A marathon explains it. I haven't seen that show on in a while and the other night I saw the first episode for the first time. I think Eden being the host is a good idea.

[Loomis]

I didn't see Aladdin until a few years after its release, but i fell in love with it instantly when I did. Unfortunately, it had gone out of print by the time I wanted to buy it and yadda yadda yadda. I have A copy now, but can't wait until the DVD next year. It is one of those films that just hits all the right notes all the way through.

I had not heard about those deleted scenes before. That would be kinda cool to see them put back in, or at least be put on the disc somewhere. Perhaps they could even do what they did with Beauty and the Beast, with the 3 different versions. Although, hopefully they will be given separate discs this time given the complaints regarding the squashing of all 3 versions onto one disc (with commentary & additional audio tracks) last time.

Barbara Eden would make a great host, but they are more than likely to go for someone with a connection to Disney. Hey, I wonder if they could get Robin Williams in on the project? Probably cost too much...

Actually, I think I am looking forward to this more than The Lion King if possible...

[Porce]

I just hope the DVD is not like Beauty and the Beast. Long, boring menus and features that were mostly fluff. And Beauty and the Beast was cropped, let's hope Aladdin is in original 1.66:1.

[Prince Phillip]

The deleted songs I know about are:
Aladdin, Omar, Babcock and Kasseem (or something like this) It was Aladdin and his brothers singing a baber-shop quartet like song.
Loving my boy (again I'm not sure if this is the exact title) This was a song sung by Aladdin's mother
Humiliate the Boy A song thought to be too cruel for Disney
I believe there was another song in which Jafar complains about his life or all the problems in his life or something, I'm not sure if this is the same as humiliating the boy. This like "If I never knew you" was thought to be too boring or out of place or something.
All of these songs were composed and written by the winning pair of Howard Ashmen and Allen Menken. Unfortunately Howard died before Beauty/Beast came out so when Aladdin was changed and new songs needed to be written Alan was forced to recruit Tim Rice to help him with the new songs. I think if nothing else it might be a nice was to acknowlege Howard by including these in an "abandoned concepts" portion, but I fear Disney will probably not include these as they were from an almost completely different film. However, if one of Jafar's songs would still fit they may pull a "Human Again" on us.
Also, the reprise of "Arabian Nights", which was put in King of Theives was suppose to be in the original, but was replaced by the Genie saying "Gatch ya!" Personally I would have preferred the reprise, and was always puzzled as to why the movie did not end with it. Also the storyteller was suppose to be the Genie in disguise, but they never followed this through. Again watching the movie as a kid I was expecting the storyteller to be the Genie, but it did not turn out to be the case.
It pains mr to say this, but Aladdin does not seem to be a priority of Disney's. It's original DVD release was suppose to be 2003, as I believe I mentiond before in other threads but was pushed back to give the Lion King an earlier date, as disney considers this a more worthy movie or whatever. Still we can still hope and pray this will get the royal treatment. I figured that if Lion King wasn't the most impressive dvd then there was probably little hope for Aladdin, but If Disney is rethinking their dvd format/layout then perhaps Aladdin will be the best yet!!

I just saw the first I Dream of Jeanie episode yesterday.

[Disneykid]

The songs cut from Aladdin are:

Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim
Proud of Your Boy
Count on Me
Hold On
Call me a Princess
Arabian Nights (Reprise 1)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 2)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 3)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 4)
Humiliate the Boy
Why Me
High Adventure
How Quick they Forget

Lyrics to these songs can be found here: http://www.aladdincentral.org/music/cutlyrics.html

[Jack]

Sad to say, Aladdin came out before I really got into movies. Therefore, I've only seen it twice, and am not familiar with what they could include as bonus material.

I remember the film, and I remember I liked it back then, but I know when I re-watch it, I'm going to love it. I was too young to really appreciate it - Lion King was the first I got super into.

[2099net]

Well, Jim Hills list of DVDs called Aladdin "Special Edition" rather than "Platinum Edition" - so based on other Platinum "Special Editions" I would say one of the deleted songs will be edited back in. [gags]

Barbera Eden will not be choosen to host the disc. They like choosing Disney "stars".

And you know that there's just going to be a "Cave of Wonders" settop game included

[KinOO]

Alan Menken also wrote a brand new song for the "Broadway" type show that is playing at Disney California's Adventures. The title is "Free" and it is a Jasmine's song.

[Matty-Mouse]

The songs cut from Aladdin are:

Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim
Proud of Your Boy
Count on Me
Hold On
Call me a Princess
Arabian Nights (Reprise 1)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 2)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 3)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 4)
Humiliate the Boy
Why Me
High Adventure
How Quick they Forget

Lyrics to these songs can be found here: http://www.aladdincentral.org/music/cutlyrics.html

Sorry if it is one of those songs (I don't know) but I think that Howard and Alan started writting "A Whole New World" before Howards death, I'd like to see that on the DVD somewhere.

[Sulley]

I don't know how but one time I went to watch Aladdin as I hadn't seen it in years, and it was gone. I couldn't remember if I had lent it out or taken it somewhere, so I had to buy a new one on eBay, which I got lucky for, since it was OOP.

Speaking of musicals, preperations are currently being made for the Broadway musical of The Little Mermaid.

[Prince Phillip]

The same thing happened to me. I was soo upset because my favorite movie was like gone, for years. I came to find out that my aunt had "borrowed" it, w/o asking. Any how I wound up getting it back and really want to see it, but I am waiting for the platinum release to come out. I'm selling it to someone tomarrow just to get rid of temptation.
Well it has come to my attention that there is a CD out there with all the deleted songs. I think I am going to buy it. It is going to cost me over $40 plus shipping, but it also comes with the original soundtrack as well as the Mermaid and Beast soundtracks. I haven't heard the music for these yet but read the lyrics and some of them seem soo good. I am looking forward to "how quickley they for get", as well as a few others. I was a bit afraid these would never make it onto the dvd but if there is a soundtrack of them, then it is very possible. Even if it is just Allan and Howard singing, like Human again on the beauty and Beast DVD, it will be worth it. I don't know if I should buy this soundtrack if they are going to put it on the DVD, but since I have no way of knowing that maybe I should just buy it.
Possibly the new song that will be added to the movie will be FREE a song written for a Broad Way versin, that is sung by Jasmine, but there are soo many they could still add.
God, if it were up to me, I would go all out on this DVD, including completely finishing the animation on the other versions and releasing A MEGE-ULTRA-DELUX-Super-SPECIAL-Platinum Edtion, this could easily be a 4 or 5 disc set, and I think it would be worth paying $50- $60 for, but that is my opinion, don't know if I will pay $40 for the Lion King gift set.

[Brink!]

one thing i'd love to see included on the dvd of aladdin is the original making of special hosted by john rhys davies (i have the second have of it on tape)
but doubt it however since the original beauty and the beast documentary was not included on the dvd of beauty and the beast either

[2099net]

As things are going, there's no chance of the original making of appearing on the discs - neither Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King include their original documentaries.

This is so wrong! It's the material filmed as the movie was being made and released that is so facinating. Oddly Disney seem keen to include these 'contemporary' features on their Live Action Special Edition/Vault Disney discs[*]... so why should their animated discs be any different?

[*] Although 20,000 Leagues could have done with including the full 'Operation Undersea' TV special.

[Brink!]

yes i know i'm not keeping my hopes up
but it would have been nice
john rhys davies has a connection to most of my movie idols
indiana jones/spielberg , james bond , disney (cause of this docu) and in adition to that lord of the rings
the man is versitale

[Eeyore]

The songs cut from Aladdin are:

Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim
Proud of Your Boy
Count on Me
Hold On
Call me a Princess
Arabian Nights (Reprise 1)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 2)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 3)
Arabian Nights (Reprise 4)
Humiliate the Boy
Why Me
High Adventure
How Quick they Forget

I highly recommend the CD box set Music Behind the Magic for any fans of Aladdin, Mermaid or Beast. There's a gorgeous 52 page book filled with colour photos, song lyrics, background info on how the songs were made. There are four cd's, one devoted to each film with final music, songs, demos, works in progress, altered versions, and cut songs. Aladdin went through so many changes during development that they needed a second disk for the Original Score to get everything in (what? lose the 3 friends? lose the parents?).

I really love some of the alternate music, often better than the originals. The nine minute version of Human Again is fantastic, one of my favourite Disney songs of all time. I think Ashman's demo of Poor Unfortunate Souls just blows away the final version by Pat Carroll. The malice just oozes from his version.

[Prince Phillip]

I was looking at this on ebay but re thought since the dvd will probably have the deleted songs but now I'm thinking of it again. It's $40 though plus shipping. Do u think it's worth it?

[Billy Moon]

I am fortunate enough to have bought The Music Behind The Magic while it was still in print. I haven't listened to it in quite a while, but it surely is a wonderful set.
I wouldn't count on the Aladdin DVD having all of the deleted songs. There are quite many of them. Also, the demo recordigs of the songs used in the films are very nice, especially those sung by Howard.

[Prince Phillip]

Well my copy of this set just arived today!!!! I have only listened to, Aladdin(original Score) so far. It is very nice, though the "How Quick They Forget" song isn't at all the way I thought it would or should be. Looking at the lyrics, I expected it to have more of the "Proud of Your Boy" tone to it. Well, this is a really nice set and I am about to put in another disc.

[Stitch]

I was lucky enough to pick up the Music Behind the Magic Box when it was in it's original print at Best Buy... actually I believe I paid $40 for it when it was out so good deal to any Ebayers who can still grab it for that price. Being that my favorite movie is Aladdin, I was awe-struck to see that there were 2 out of the 4 discs devoted to Aladdin. I just about floored myself when I heard the demo version of Call me a Princess sung by I believe either Tim Rice or Alan Menken (not sure).

I do believe that they should release some sort of information on the Aladdin DVD at least how the story was going to go (to be more true to the 1001 Arabian Nights book) with the mother dying and such. I think the greatest song on the original score has to be High Adventure (a climatic scene with both genies and the three of them riding off to "save the world").

Another Disney film I wish they would have given more insight on what the story was going to be about is Emperor's New Groove aka Kingdom of the Sun, instead they just give you a few stills to make you drool.