Aladdin (Live-Action)

[nomad2010]

New Interview with Mena Massoud who plays Aladdin:

https://ew.com/movies/2018/12/21/mena-m ... y-aladdin/

[unprincess]

It looks cheap and bad but the kind of bad that it's fun to laugh at like Maleficent.

they're tearing this apart on 4chan. Also they think Jafar is really hot.

I think it looks good, except Will Smith... he just looks like Will Smith in silly genie garb. HE NOT MUH GENIE!

[D82]

Two more articles from EW:
Exclusive: Guy Ritchie on finding his blue Genie and crafting a new Aladdin
How Disney handled the casting and cultural authenticity of live-action Aladdin

And hairstylist Pierce Austin has shared some pictures of Will Smith from the set:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Brk8s0oHc5s/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrlIBzwnwQP/

[Disney's Divinity]

they're tearing this apart on 4chan. Also they think Jafar is really hot.

I saw an article about how hot Jafar's actor is (with pictures) on NewNowNext last night, just didn't post it here.

[D82]

I wanted to highlight some things that caught my attention from the latest EW article, which was an interview with Disney's Vice President of Multicultural Engagement, Julie Ann Crommett.

This is how she explains the casting of Naomi Scott as Jasmine (which was received with some backlash because she's of Indian descent and not Arabian):

I think what’s interesting about Naomi was that — and we had a deep conversation about it — there are South Asian individuals who associate with Aladdin and with Jasmine as well, and I think there was a sense of we should reflect some part of the community in the principle cast so that we’re actually being inclusive of who sees themselves and identifies with this text…What we’ve done intentionally with Naomi’s character as part of the plot is that her mother is actually from a different land, and it’s very clear in the movie that her mother is from a different land that’s not Agrabah and that’s drawing on a lot of her motivations in terms of how she sees the future of Agrabah as a welcoming place that embraces people from other places because her mother was from somewhere else.

She also said they've changed some of the original song lyrics as part of an effort to be more respectful of the culture of the region:

We really went through the animated version, all the feedback that happened then, and we looked at this new text and we did a fine tooth and comb and had deep conversations and you will note the changes, they are definitely obvious and that includes lyric changes as well, additional ones than even were done in 1992.”

[Kyle]

This is turning to an overly pc mess. No swords? Give me a break.

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, considering there had to be lyric changes even when the original film was first released nearly 30 years ago, I can't really see it as being that extraordinary for the same to happen now.

[thedisneyspirit]

No swords? So how the hell are they gonna do the climax and so many pivotal scenes?

Also, the "message" they're trying to put in such a first-word US / Europe feel-good thing...Like in Asia and Arab countries they don't discriminate harshly between each other. As if Iranians and Iraqis had gotten so merrily along.

[Sotiris]

Also, the "message" they're trying to put in such a first-world US/Europe feel-good thing...Like in Asia and Arab countries they don't discriminate harshly between each other. As if Iranians and Iraqis had gotten so merrily along.

It's a Disney movie. What did you expect? Insightful political commentary?

[JeanGreyForever]

I don't care about the reworked lyrics but it seems ridiculous that swords have been removed from the film. I always loved the design of Aladdin's scimitar.

[Disney's Divinity]

I hope the sword thing isn't true at least because how else are they going to do the fight scene with Jafar (still the most well-done climax of a Disney film, imo)? And I guess that would mean re-creating one of the funniest moments in the movie isn't in the cards.

Guard: HE'S GOT A SWORD!!!
Razoul: You idiots, we've all got swords!

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Aladdin was probably the last animated feature from Disney where they didn't care about if anyone found it offensive or not. That changed with the release of the VHS, where a line of the intro song was changed. Things that were not removed was the attempt to cut off Jasmine's hand after she stole a fruit, and how Aladdin would have been beheaded if he hadn't been saved in time.

The next movie was Lion King, and with no humans or cultures around, obviously nobody could be offended. I don't know if anyone had anything negative to say about Pocahontas (other than it was a rather boring movie compared to the previous Disney features).

The idea of removing the swords is taking it too far. It reminds me about how Steven Spielberg removed the weapons in the re-release of E.T., where they are running around with walkie talkies instead. It looks hilarious.

[D82]

Interview with Naomi Scott: https://ew.com/movies/2018/12/23/naomi- ... y-aladdin/

She talks a bit about the new songs:

The song that Jasmine sings connects to everything about her arc, about her finding her voice. That’s what that song is about, it’s about not being shut down but being able to speak out, which I would say resonates. The other song is a lovely lullaby song, which comes more at the beginning of the movie.

[Disney Duster]

Do they say why they won't use swords? And is it official?

[Sotiris]

New still. Orange doesn't look good on Jasmine.


Source: https://www.fandango.com/movie-news/201 ... ver-753541

"First and foremost, I’m excited to have audiences see these beloved animated characters come to life in live action and to know that a new generation of fans will be introduced to the Aladdin story and its timeless themes," Aladdin producer Dan Lin told Fandango. "They’ll see the fresh and ingenious take on the Genie character that Will Smith brings to our favorite blue genie, and they’ll be introduced to our breakout stars who play Aladdin and Jasmine in the movie, Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott. I can’t wait for audiences to see their chemistry and, frankly, to see all of our lead actors showing their amazing range as they act, sing and dance."

As to why you need to see Aladdin in theaters, Lin added, "Aladdin is a movie that is best seen on a big screen. The movie takes you to faraway places, with sweeping landscapes and the bright, colorful world of Agrabah. We want moviegoers to feel they’re enveloped in the richness of the story, the characters and the music, and I’m especially excited for people to see the elaborate song and dance numbers. They will remind everyone of why they love the experience of seeing movies in a theater."

Source: https://www.fandango.com/movie-news/201 ... ver-753541

[nomad2010]

New still. Orange doesn't look good on Jasmine.

I actually love the design on this one, but the color... yikes. She has one of the most recognizable color palettes clothing-wise of any princess. Why would you stray so far from that?!

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm sure the character will be changing outfits pretty often. I think it's fine. I just hope we get something similar to her purple outfits--they were always my favorite for Jasmine.

[disneyprincess11]

I actually love the dress! The color is gorgeous on Naomi and the shape is beautiful and flattering. Glad to see Sultan too.

[JeanGreyForever]

I don't mind the dress too much even though I've never been a fan of orange but I was also hoping for a more movie-accurate wardrobe. Disney never seems to acknowledge anymore that Jasmine wears purple even though all her 90s and early 2000s merchandise had her constantly in purple.

[Disney Duster]

I actually think the orange dress is beautiful in design and color on Jasmine, too. And orange is my least favorite color.

I also hope for purple Jasmine clothes, too.