ALADDIN 2019 movie review

The 2019 remake of the Arabian tale Aladdin is a feast to the eyes and gives pure nostalgia with fresh twist for everyone who've seen it before.

Featuring majority of the cast that makes Hollywood diversity alive, Mena Massoud's portrayal of Aladdin inks in the books. Naomi Scott's Jasmine also gave a more stronger character than the animated movie and puts women empowerment a concrete picture. Will Smith gave a credible Genie that has a hip hop and pop approach to our blue friend and they gave him a love interest! Who says magical creatures can't fall in love? However, the lovable Sultan was very serious and lost the connection to the audience. Marwan Kenzari's Jafar would be a more connection to the audience with his younger features than the animated counterpart.

Mena Massoud and Will Smith in Aladdin

Navid Negahban and Naomi Scott (Sultan and Jasmine)

Marwan Kenzari as Jafar

An ambitious production especially when they sang "Prince Ali" is what gave me the whole theatrical feels. It was so grand, better than "A Whole New World" actually, and all I can say is it's glorious.

Will Smith (Prince Ali)

With new songs from Alan Menken and the team, each of the characters were given quite a deeper meaning of their joys and obstacles. Jasmine's "Speechless" moves us to fight for what is right. We also felt Aladdin's sorrows in "One Jump Ahead." In "Friend Like Me" and "Harvest Dance," Mena Massoud wows us in his dancing skills -- it was also like Bollywood greatness combined with an HSM twist.

Aladdin is still showing in cinemas.

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Disney names Aladdin live-action cast

They got a new story about the street rat of Agrabah.

Disney finally casts Aladdin for it's live-action movie last D23 and we'll meet new characters portray the most-loved Arabian tale.

The “Aladdin” cast includes: Two-time Oscar® nominee Will Smith (“Ali,” “Men in Black”) as the Genie who has the power to grant three wishes to whoever possesses his magic lamp; Mena Massoud (Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”) as Aladdin, the hapless but lovable street rat who is smitten with the Sultan’s daughter; Naomi Scott (“Power Rangers”) as Princess Jasmine, the Sultan’s beautiful daughter who wants to have a say in how she lives her life; Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express”) as Jafar, an evil sorcerer who devises a nefarious plot to unseat the Sultan and rule Agrabah himself; Navid Negahban (“Homeland”) as the Sultan, the ruler of Agrabah who is eager to find a proper husband for his daughter, Jasmine. Check out this selfie by Will Smith during production:

Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Merwan Kenzari and Mena Massoud
at the set of Aladdin. (c) Will Smith

And they are adding new characters from what we knew more than 25 years ago. Nasim Pedrad (“Saturday Night Live”) as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s hand maiden and confidante; Billy Magnussen (“Into the Woods”) as Prince Anders, a suitor from Skanland and potential husband for Princess Jasmine; and Numan Acar (“Homeland”) as Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man and head of the palace guards.

Nasim Pedrad as Dalia

Billy Magnussen at Prince Anders

Numan Acar as Hakim

Guy Ritchie directs and will feature old and new songs from Alan Menken.

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Princesses and Heroes on DISNEY ON ICE

Christmas would always be fun when you celebrate it with a little snow. and this season, Araneta Center will bring our favorite fairy tales at the Big Dome, Smart Araneta Coliseum, as Disney On Ice comes back to Manila presenting Princesses and Heroes. the spectacular show will come December 25, 2012 to January 3, 2013. it was again a wish come true for me after seeing Holiday On Ice more than 15 years ago. i can still remember Mickey Mouse as The Sorcerer's Apprentice in one number.

8 of the well-loved princesses and their princes will perform in one stage and present the famous musical numbers from each of their movies. the royal set-up takes 12 hours to complete for that wonderful show. Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine and the new-age princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana, together with their handsome princes will tell their romantic and timeless stories of love and courage through creative skating and acrobatics to show everyone that true love and wishes do come true.

other than the colorful spectacles, the show includes Aladdin's wild market place chase and Prince Phillip's battle with a fire-breathing dragon. what's more, our well-loved rodent, Mickey Mouse and Minnie will entertain all the spectators.

here are the schedules of the shows:
December 25 - 2PM and 6PM
December 26 - 2PM and 6PM
December 27 - 6PM
December 28 - 2PM and 6PM
December 29 - 2PM and 6PM
December 30 - 1PM, 430PM and 8PM
January 1 - 1PM, 430PM and 8PM
January 2 - 2PM and 6PM
January 3 - 6PM

kids can also meet Mickey Mouse and some of the princesses in their mall tour within Metro Manila. at Gateway Mall on December 21, Eastwood Mall December 22, 4PM; Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill on December 22, 6PM; Lucky Chinatown Mall, December 23, 6PM.

you can get your tickets for DISNEY ON ICE Princesses and Heroes at TicketNet outlets or by calling 911-5555.

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A magic carpet ride

i was transported back in time when i saw Atlantis Productions' newest musical, Disney's ALADDIN. starring Tom Rodriguez as Aladdin and our new Disney Princess from the Philippines, Kayla Meagan Iovan as Princess Jasmine. opening November 16 to December 9 2012 at the Meralco Theater, this is one musical that you have to take your kids and kids-at-heart to.
one of the very famous Arabian Nights tales, ALADDIN takes us all into the adventure of a street rat getting lucky rubbing a magic lamp and assisted by a genie (Aiza Seguerra) to grant his wishes. including to impress a girl who happens to be the princess of Agrabah and whose title throne would be sacrificed when not married at the right time. living in a lie and adding to the big ambition of Jafar, a wizard with an evil plan to rule Agrabah, Aladdin discovers that greatness is not what found on the outside, but what is inside.

when Atlantis Productions makes this musical to happen, i already had a lot of things to think on how they will do the set, the Cave of Wonders, grandiose productions and most of all, the magic carpet. some characters from what we know of the Disney animation, Abu the monkey was replaced by three men who also come as narrators and comic relief of the story. when Tom and Kayla went out, everybody was already expecting A Whole New World over the magic carpet which flowed gracefully onstage. both of them are in their prince and princess aura. Tom also had that Aladdin role very well suited for him from a playful street rat and to a gallant prince. Kayla, on the other hand, is a strong-willed princess. and she sang almost like Lea Salonga! A Whole New World turned very romantic while seeing them up the magic carpet.

ALADDIN takes us more to the Arab culture with the set and costumes. the market to the palace and to Genie's production numbers, are wonderful.

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