barking, 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 / Barking / London
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Barking



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


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


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
barking Bathroom Suppliesbarking Bathroom Tapsbarking Bathroom Furniturebarking Bathroom Showersbarking Shower Enclosuresbarking Bathsbarking L Shaped Bathbarking P Shaped Bathbarking Wet Roomsbarking Bath Screensbarking Bath Mixer Tapbarking Bidet Tapsbarking Toilet Seatsbarking Sanitarywarebarking Combined Toilet Basinbarking Stovesbarking Wood Stovesbarking Home Stovesbarking Cooker Stovesbarking Enamel Stovesbarking Designer Stovesbarking Contemporary Stovesbarking Multi Fuel Stovesbarking Accounts Softwarebarking Sage Softwarebarking Sage Line 50barking Sage Line 200barking Pegasus Accountsbarking Access Accountsbarking Car Servicingbarking MOTgbarking Tyresbarking Car Batterybarking Exhaustbarking Journalist Jobsbarking Reporter Jobsbarking Writing Jobsbarking Freelance Writerbarking Self Employed Jobsbarking Franchise Businessbarking Franchise Opportunitiesbarking Driving Schoolsbarking Driving Lessonsbarking Driving Testbarking Driving Theory Testbarking Driving Instruction, 0000 barking Driving Instructor, 0000 barking Insolvencybarking Insolvency Servicebarking Insolvency Servicesbarking Liquidation Servicebarking Business Recoverybarking Insolvency Practitionerbarking Bankruptcy Servicebarking Winding Up Petitionbarking Business Financebarking Business Recoverybarking Voluntary Arrangementbarking Individual Voluntary Arrangementbarking IVAbarking Debt Advicebarking Debt Managementbarking Company Administrationbarking Administrationbarking Corporate Recoverybarking Corporate Voluntary Arrangementbarking CVAbarking Corporate Insolvencybarking Corporate Liquidationbarking Members Voluntary Liquidationbarking MVLbarking Partnership Voluntary Arrangementbarking PVAbarking Tax Demandbarking Invoice Financebarking Bridging Financebarking Vouchersbarking Dealsbarking Matalanbarking Firewoodbarking Fire Woodbarking Kiln Dried Hardwoodbarking Logs For Salebarking Log Suppliesbarking Logsbarking Firewood Logsbarking Seasoned Logsbarking Hardwood Logsbarking Firewood Suppliersbarking Firewood Log Suppliersbarking Firewood Dumpy Bagsbarking Firewood Cratesbarking Cheap Firewoodbarking Homefire Logsbarking Cheap Firewood Logsbarking Kindle Conesbarking Pizza Oven Logsbarking Heating Oilbarking Home Heating Oilbarking Red Dieselbarking White Dieselbarking Keresenebarking Commercial Fuelsbarking Calor Gasbarking Propane Gasbarking Butane Gasbarking Heating Gasbarking Horse Trainingbarking Horse Trainerbarking Horse Whispererbarking Equine Whispererbarking Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithbarking Rattan Garden Furniturebarking Rattan Furniturebarking Rattan Sofabarking Rattan Dining Setbarking Rattan Directbarking Cheap Rattan Furniturebarking Rattan Corner Sofasbarking Rattan Day Bedsbarking Rattan Sun Loungersbarking Rattan Cube Setsbarking Rattan Bistro Setsbarking Chimeneasbarking Firepitsbarking Patio Heatersbarking Card Payments Processingbarking Credit Card Processingbarking Merchant Servicesbarking Merchant Accountbarking Merchant Paymentsbarking Card Machinesbarking Card Terminalsbarking Online Paymentsbarking Worldpaybarking Bouncy Castlesbarking Bouncy Castle Hirebarking Garden Trampolinesbarking Pramsbarking Pushchairsbarking Strollersbarking Hauck Pramsbarking Huackbarking Childrens Trampolinesbarking Baby Mobilesbarking Baby Activity Matsbarking Baby Bedroom Furniturebarking Childrens Bedroom Furniturebarking Hygiene Vendingbarking Washroom Vendingbarking Air Freshenersbarking Air Carebarking Aerosol Systemsbarking Gel Systemsbarking Water Savingbarking Urinal Water Savingbarking Eco Capsbarking Sensaflushbarking Water Managementbarking Urinal Dosingbarking Urinal V Screensbarking Legionella Risk Assessmentbarking Legionaires Bacterialbarking Odour Controlbarking Odour Eliminationbarking Odour Removalbarking Airsterilbarking Hand Carebarking Hand Creambarking Hand Soapbarking Hand Washingbarking Hand Dryingbarking Hand Dryersbarking Electric Hand Dryersbarking Fast Hand Dryersbarking Commercial Hand Dryersbarking Energy Efficient Hand Dryersbarking Hand Dryer Rentalbarking Hand Dryer Salesbarking Paper Towelsbarking Roller Towelsbarking Cotton Roller Towelsbarking Blue Roller Towelsbarking White Roller Towelsbarking Janitorial Suppliesbarking Janitorialbarking Cleaning Suppliesbarking Cleaning Productsbarking Cleaning Equipmentbarking Office Cleaningbarking Home Cleaningbarking Debt Recovery Servicesbarking Debt Recoverybarking Debt Collectionbarking Outsource Credit Controlbarking Collection Agencybarking Debt Collection Agencybarking Commercial Canopybarking Steel Canopybarking Bike Shedsbarking Bike Storagebarking Bicycle Storebarking Bicycle Storagebarking Bikes Storebarking Bike Storebarking Outdoor Canopybarking Cycle Sheltersbarking Cycle Shedbarking Cycle Storagebarking Cycle Rackbarking Cycle Compoundbarking Cycle Solutionsbarking Scooter Storagebarking Scooter Shelterbarking Canopiesbarking Canopybarking Play Area Canopybarking Entrance Canopiesbarking Entrance Canopybarking Waiting Shelterbarking Smoking Shelterbarking Parent Waiting Shelterbarking Parent Shelterbarking Teen Shelterbarking Nursery Canopybarking School Canopybarking Play Canopybarking Envirolawnbarking Astroturfbarking Cheap Astroturfbarking Artificial Grassbarking Cheap Artificial Grassbarking Astro Turfbarking Artificial Lawnbarking Fake Grassbarking Fake Lawnbarking Fire Stove Glassbarking Heat Resistant Glassbarking Fire Glassbarking Stove Glassbarking Fire Resistant Glassbarking Replacement Stove Glassbarking Glass For Stovesbarking Spill Kitsbarking Spill Control Kitsbarking Spill Kit Refillsbarking Spill Kit Refill GK6barking Chemical Spill Kitsbarking Oil Spill Kitsbarking Solar Panelsbarking Solar Panels Costbarking Solar Heatingbarking Solar PVbarking Commercial Solarbarking Photovoltaicbarking Dust Matsbarking Entrance Matsbarking Reception Matsbarking Anti Fatigue Matsbarking Floor Matsbarking Logo Matsbarking Washroom Servicesbarking Principal Washroomsbarking Washrooms Suppliesbarking Washrooms Solutionsbarking Sanitary Disposalbarking Sanitary Binsbarking Sani Binsbarking Lady Binsbarking Feminine Hygiene Unitsbarking Sanitary Waste Disposalbarking Sanitary Wastebarking Sanitary Unitsbarking Feminine Unitsbarking Hygiene Servicesbarking Sanitary Bin Supplierbarking Sanitary Bin Rentalbarking Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesbarking General Wastebarking Trade Wastebarking Commercial Wastebarking Business Wastebarking Waste Managementbarking Waste Collectionbarking Cardboard Wastebarking Paper Wastebarking Plastic Wastebarking Glass Wastebarking Biomass Wastebarking Metal Wastebarking Confidential Wastebarking Confidential Waste Servicebarking On Site Shreddingbarking Off Site Shreddingbarking One Off Shreddingbarking Contract Shreddingbarking Dental Wastebarking Dental Waste Disposalbarking Dental Waste Legislationbarking Dental Waste Compliancebarking Accupuncture Wastebarking Accupuncture Waste Disposalbarking Accupuncture Waste Collectionbarking Tattoo Wastebarking Tattoo Waste Disposalbarking Sharps Binbarking Sharps Collectionbarking Hazardous Sharpsbarking Non Hazardous Sharpsbarking Cytotoxic Sharpsbarking Cytostatic Sharpsbarking Ink Blockbarking Wet_Wastebarking Tattoo Inkbarking Drug Destructionbarking Drug Disposalbarking Drug Denaturingbarking Unwanted Drugsbarking Out Of Date Drugsbarking Pest Controlbarking Rodent Controlbarking Bird Controlbarking Bird Proofingbarking Guano Controlbarking Pest Call Outbarking Pest Preventionbarking Pest Deterrentbarking Nursery Wastebarking Nappy Wastebarking Nappy Binbarking Nappy Disposalbarking Nappy Wheelie Binbarking Nursery Waste Disposalbarking Nursery Waste Collectionbarking Incontinence Padsbarking Offensive Wastebarking Human Wastebarking Nursing Home Wastebarking Care Home Wastebarking Hazardous Wastebarking Infectous Wastebarking Pharmaceutical Wastebarking Medicinal Wastebarking Medicine Wastebarking Infection Controlbarking Hand Sanitisersbarking Clinical Waste Disposalbarking Clinical Waste Managementbarking Clinical Waste Policybarking EA Registrationbarking Hammocksbarking Garden Hammocksbarking Adult Hammocksbarking Childrens Hammocksbarking Baby Hammocks