DVDizzy Forum

In serving up these new spins on much-loved films, the studio is trying to strike a delicate balance, delivering a warm and fuzzy nostalgia fix — amplified by familiar songs like “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me” from “Aladdin” and “The Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King” — while also offering audiences something unexpected.

“We really try to weigh, what is in the contract with the audience? What do they want to feel? What are specific moments that, if you are going to change or lose them, you do so at your own peril?” said Sean Bailey, Disney’s president of production. “Then you combine that with what gets us really creatively excited. When you can find those two things in concert, that’s wonderful.”

As the studio has discovered, however, even with the most seemingly timeless films, certain elements may not have aged so well in the intervening years. With attitudes shifting over time, depictions of gender roles and other cultures that were acceptable in decades past may now induce cringes or eye rolls. In the case of “Aladdin,” director Guy Ritchie’s new version tweaks the original film’s love story between Princess Jasmine (now played by Naomi Scott) and the street hustler Aladdin (Mena Massoud) to give it a female-empowerment spin fit for today’s era.

“Jasmine’s main goal in the original movie is really to find a spouse, and in this movie there’s much more than that,” said “Aladdin” producer Dan Lin. “She really wants to help to rule Agrabah and take a much bigger leadership position.”

JeanGreyForever wrote:I'm so glad people are appreciating Naomi because she's one of the reasons I'm especially hyped for this film and there was so much flack over her casting.

D82 wrote:She actually looks the part, can sing really well, and, though I've never seen her in anything, from what I've seen of her in the trailers, she's the one whose acting looks most promising to me.

Sotiris wrote:New info and stills.

Aladdin star Naomi Scott breaks down Princess Jasmine's revamped turquoise outfit and whole new wardrobe
https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/27/aladdi ... -wardrobe/

nomad2010 wrote:RUNTIME: 2 hours 9 Minutes according to various ticketing websites.

JeanGreyForever wrote:

WarriorDreamer wrote:A shame Jasmine's outfit isn't a bit more.... like the original hehe.

I wish it was more blue than green for sure and I wish her ponytail was more like in the animated movie, but I do like her new peacock veil a lot. She always had a simple outfit in the animated movie that was demanding to be embellished like how it is in the Parks and Broadway musical.

WarriorDreamer wrote: Yes, I don't mind the ponytail. I am warming up to her in the role. But I liked the harem pants of the original because it made Jasmine feel very independent despite the fact she was a princess, it seems she is in dresses by the looks of all the stills.

Still not sure about Jafar though, I guess a bit part of what made Jafar great was the voice of Johnathan Freeman and I guess it'd be hard for any actor to replicate or copy that.

But Jasmine is no ordinary princess, and even in formal regal robes, she still has her own way of doing things – the gown hides a pair of turquoise trousers under the skirt. “I was always very, very adamant that the more trousers, the better, as to me, that is Jasmine’s trademark,” Scott says.

JeanGreyForever wrote:
I agree with you about Jafar and that seems to be the popular consensus from all the reactions I've seen online. People feel he's a weak actor and that the actor playing Hakim (Jafar's right hand man in this film) has more presence and would have been the better choice to play him.

Sotiris wrote:Dan Lin is at it again!

“Jasmine’s main goal in the original movie is really to find a spouse, and in this movie there’s much more than that,” said “Aladdin” producer Dan Lin. “She really wants to help to rule Agrabah and take a much bigger leadership position.”

Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/m ... story.html

Sotiris wrote:New TV spot and stills.

D82 wrote:Here are also a new interview with Mena Massoud and a snippet of "A Whole New World" from a Jasmine doll.

Sotiris wrote:I found another new interview with him.

Sotiris wrote:I love Naomi's singing voice. If she sounds that good coming from a doll, imagine how great she'll sound on the soundtrack!