Aladdin (Live-Action)

[D82]

Sneak peek at one of the Blu-ray extras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxrZF8CTTCw

"Friend Like Me" full song clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1at7kKzBYxI

Disney has released an instrumental version of the soundtrack: http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/08/10 ... -released/

It's official! A sequel is in the works.

Even though I don't like these live-action remakes much, I'm actually glad there will be a sequel. As I've mentioned before, the cast of Aladdin is the main reason why, to a certain extent, I was able to enjoy the movie. Something I didn't expect given that the original is one of my favorite Disney films, and usually, the more I like the animated movie, the more problems I have with the remake. So I would like to see more of these characters in a film I will probably be able to enjoy more, since it won't be a remake of a Disney classic. If they take elements of the sequels, as it seems it will be the case, I wouldn't mind it so much because I'm not that fond of them. (The Return of Jafar is actually my favorite Disney DTV sequel, yet I don't like it near as much as I like the Disney classics.)

And if Alan Menken was confirmed to return to write completely new songs for the sequel, then I would be really exited for it.

[Sotiris]

Disney has released an instrumental version of the soundtrack: http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/08/10 ... -released/

If they can do that, why can't they release Dessert Moon as a digital single? We need a clean, high-quality studio recording of the song; the audio from the deleted scene on the Blu-ray is not going to cut it.

And if Alan Menken was confirmed to return to write completely new songs for the sequel, then I would be really exited for it.

Me too. I'm just hoping Disney doesn't screw him over again by hiring some other songwriter/composer or by not making the sequel a musical.

[JeanGreyForever]

I'm glad a sequel is confirmed and especially that they won't make it a retread of The Return of Jafar. I'm more excited with how they're going to progress the story from here.

Also hope Menken will be back. Would love to hear him write some classic new songs and maybe they can even make use of Desert Moon and possibly include it in a sequel.

[Sotiris]

Clips from the bonus features.

‘Aladdin’ Exclusive Clip: How Guy Ritchie Stayed One Jump Ahead of the Stunts
https://www.slashfilm.com/aladdin-exclu ... ip-stunts/

This Exclusive Aladdin Deleted Scene Shows How Wishes Can Go Very, Very Wrong
https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-exclusive- ... 1837174200

Aladdin: Your Jaw Will Drop When You See What Filming "A Whole New World" REALLY Looked Like
https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/ ... o-46489472

Watch Exclusive 'Aladdin' Featurette: New Flavors of Genie
https://www.fandango.com/movie-news/wat ... nie-753861

Disney releases exclusive 'Aladdin' blooper reel: Watch
https://abc7.com/entertainment/disney-r ... h/5515220/

'Friend Like Me' in Behind-the-Scenes Look at 'Aladdin'
https://www.etonline.com/will-smith-rev ... -exclusive

How Jasmine's empowering song 'Speechless' came together for the live-action 'Aladdin'
https://www.insider.com/how-speechless- ... din-2019-8

Aladdin and Jasmine Duet on Original Song 'Desert Moon' in Deleted Scene from Disney Remake
https://people.com/movies/hear-aladdin- ... sert-moon/

[Sotiris]

In a new interview, producer Dan Lin criticizes the original (again).

I recently spoke to Aladdin producer Dan Lin, and he told me that one of the reasons he wanted to work on the remake of Aladdin was that, while he was a big fan of the original movie growing up, he recognized that Jasmine's character wasn't what you would want from a modern heroine, and so, as Lin told me...

"I think certainly with where the Women’s Movement has gone, that we felt like, with the Jasmine character from the original movie, she felt like a classic Disney Princess from back in the day and really just ultimately focused on romance. And we felt like, there’s a chance for us to create a new kind of role model for young girls with our version of Jasmine that would be much more of a leader. Someone who wanted to stand up for herself and her ideals and wanted to have a voice. That was a big part of our pitch with Aladdin was that we were going to improve upon her character."

Jasmine wasn't the only problematic part of the original Aladdin. Dan Lin did not mince words with me, that some of the racial portrayals of the original Aladdin were also desperately in need of a refresh.

"And certainly, there are some things, if you look at the original movie, felt a little, frankly, a little racist, that we wanted to update for this generation and show that we could create a movie that was both diverse and inclusive and be wildly commercial."

Source: https://www.cinemablend.com/news/247804 ... e-producer

[Disney's Divinity]

The re-make's Jasmine is far superior to the animated character, that's for sure. She was always the weakest of the '90s heroines, imo. Despite his mischaracterization of her only being concerned with romance in the animated film, her character could still be described as being at best an example of faux feminism. The only solution to her arranged marriage conflict was marriage with someone she liked. There were never any other options put on the table for her, although at least the film did show her attempting to run away which is more than Cinderella or Aurora would've done.

[thedisneyspirit]

The only reason why it made money in the first place is because it's based on a popular IP, that problematic movie in the first place...But surely, Dan Lin knows about the ins and outs more than us plebs who watch the original movies back to back.

[WillytheDino]

Disney has released an instrumental version of the soundtrack: http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/08/10 ... -released/

Thank for letting us know! It's been on replay ever since your post, I'm in love with this version. I always love the instrumental arrangements Disney uses in the trailers for their movies, and this is pretty close to that. In the trailer the music sounds more epic, but I'm fine with this.

[Sotiris]

New interviews to promote the film's home video release.

Aladdin Producer Dan Lin Talks Bringing The Disney Animated Classic To Live-Action
https://www.comicbookmovie.com/disney/e ... on-a170549

Aladdin Producer Explains the Reason Guy Ritchie Was Chosen to Direct
https://comicbook.com/movies/2019/08/14 ... -director/

Disney's Aladdin Producer Breaks Down Why Will Smith Was Perfect for Genie Role
https://comicbook.com/movies/2019/08/13 ... e-dan-lin/

Why Aladdin Needed To 'Improve' Jasmine For The Remake, According To The Producer
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/247804 ... e-producer

Aladdin's Producer Gives Three Reasons Why The Movie Made More Than $1 Billion
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/247812 ... -1-billion

Aladdin Producer Was Surprised By Will Smith Genie Backlash
https://screenrant.com/aladdin-producer ... -backlash/

'Aladdin' producer explains why they made changes from the animated movie: 'We didn't think it held up in today's day and age of female empowerment'
https://www.insider.com/why-live-action ... vie-2019-8

From Will Smith's Genie to the magic carpet ride, 'Aladdin' VFX supervisor reveals behind-the-scenes secrets: 'Let's not get too cartoony'
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ala ... 10847.html

Chat With Gemma Jackson, Production Designer Of 'Aladdin'
https://www.moms.com/gemma-jackson-prod ... interview/

Jamal Sims Talks About Choreographing 'Aladdin' To Celebrate The Live Action Release
https://www.moms.com/aladdin-disney-liv ... amal-sims/

Aladdin: Jerry Velazquez on Being The Spanish Voice of the Title Character
https://lrmonline.com/news/jerry-velazquez-interview/

[D82]

Disney has released an instrumental version of the soundtrack: http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/08/10 ... -released/

Thank for letting us know! It's been on replay ever since your post, I'm in love with this version. I always love the instrumental arrangements Disney uses in the trailers for their movies, and this is pretty close to that. In the trailer the music sounds more epic, but I'm fine with this.

You're welcome! I'm glad you're enjoying it. It's interesting to listen to the instrumental versions. There are always arrangements you didn't hear when you listen to the songs with the vocals. I like the arrangements they use in the trailers too. It would be great if they also made an album for them.

[Farerb]

Desert Moon:

https://youtu.be/bbcqFZ9uNU4

[disneyprincess11]

Oh, gorgeous!

[Sotiris]

I love it! Like it was teased in interviews, the song does have a lullaby quality to it. The only downside is that Naomi is a much better singer than Mena which makes the duet sound uneven. The difference between the two is more noticeable here than in A Whole New World. He fails to sync up to Naomi's singing and harmonize. I think a solo version of the song with just Naomi would have been better (or replacing Mena with a stronger male vocalist).

[Sotiris]

The only reason why it made money in the first place is because it's based on a popular IP, that problematic movie in the first place...But surely, Dan Lin knows about the ins and outs more than us plebs who watch the original movies back to back.

That's so true. The arrogance of these remake filmmakers thinking they can improve on the original is embarrassing. It's kinda hilarious how not only they always fail to surpass the original but can't even match it.

[D82]

"Desert Moon" is a beautiful song. I'm so glad Disney gave it a proper release (there are links below the video to download or stream the song). I look forward to watching the deleted scene in which it's sung too.

The arrogance of these remake filmmakers thinking they can improve on the original is embarrassing. It's kinda hilarious how not only they always fail to surpass the original but can't even match it.

I think they're emphasizing the "improvements" over the originals so much because they need to come up with excuses for making these remakes, since saying the reason is just to make money doesn't sound as good. But I also hate when they do that and I too agree with thedisneyspirit; they shouldn't say negative things about the original movies when they owe all the success they're having to them.

[rodrigo_ca]

Oh no, I love Desert Moon! Can we have a Brad Kane and Lea Salonga reunion for this? I BEG YOU

I hope the potential sequel allows for something more like this

[JeanGreyForever]

What a beautiful song! Wish it hadn't been deleted but I'm glad we'll see the visuals for it as a deleted scene on the Blu-Ray.

Oh no, I love Desert Moon! Can we have a Brad Kane and Lea Salonga reunion for this? I BEG YOU

I hope the potential sequel allows for something more like this

Would love both of those ideas! I think the sequels could outright reuse this song even.

[Disney Duster]

You guys are right, "Desert Moon" is a gorgeous lullaby!

[ChrisLyne]

I've pretty much given up on Dan Lin's Jasmine comments at this point
I completely get that they have updated Jasmine and improved her character arc for this film, and I applaud them for that. I loved what they did and Jasmine becoming Sultan. But there's no need to repeatedly misrepresent the original to try and emphasis that change.

On happier to things - Desert Moon is beautiful! Can't wait to see the full footage for this scene. Really wish the Blu-Ray would have a branching option or alternate cut so you could watch it in the movie.

[Sotiris]

"Desert Moon" is a beautiful song. I'm so glad Disney gave it a proper release (there are links below the video to download or stream the song).

Me too. It's such a relief. I was worried they wouldn't release a clean studio recording version of the song. I would have preferred they induced the deleted song on the CD but a digital release is better than nothing. I have an inkling the digital release of the instrumentals and the cut song weren't planned from the start. That it was something done as an afterthought due to the film's unexpected success. I seriously doubt we would have gotten them had the movie underperformed.

Oh no, I love Desert Moon! Can we have a Brad Kane and Lea Salonga reunion for this? I BEG YOU.

That would be amazing but Disney doesn't seem inclined to do so. Just imagine an album with not just Salonga and Kane covering "Speechless" and "Desert Moon" but also all the cut songs from the original film and the new songs from the Broadway adaptation!

Really wish the Blu-Ray would have a branching option or alternate cut so you could watch it in the movie.

Yeah, what a missed opportunity. What's the point of having all that technology and storage capacity at your disposal if you're not going to use it?