The live action adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin stays faithful to the animated version that was released in 1992. The tale starts with Aladdin, a thief living in the fictional city of Agrabah who meets and falls in love with a girl. The trouble is that the girl turns out to be Princess Jasmine, and as with most fairy tale tropes, she must marry a prince not a thief.
The film’s pace picks up steam as Aladdin is thrown into the Cave of Wonders by the villain, Jafar. He is asked to find the magic lamp in exchange for riches to impress the princess. In a sudden twist of events Aladdin ends up with the lamp, the genie inside it, and three wishes at his command. He then wishes to be a prince so that he may have a chance with the princess. The genie warns him against the danger of wishing for power and riches, but Aladdin says he’s not the type to get drunk on power. He pledges that he is not such a person and promises to use his last wish to set the genie free. This catapults Aladdin’s quest to woo the princess and at the same time puts his principles to the test.
Aladdin, both the animated and the live action versions, is at its core a story of love and friendship that your kids are sure to love. The film was bursting with color from start to finish and it brings classic songs like “A Whole New World” and “Prince Ali” into life. While the film as a whole may have mixed reviews from critics and fans alike, it’s definitely a treat for the eyes. The timeless tale also brings moral questions to the table. As parents, we must be ready to answer questions from our children. Apart from it being a fun children’s movie, it teaches children values through the situations or dilemmas experienced by the main characters, and raises questions that everyone can learn from, such as:
Will you choose to do what you want or what is right?
[SPOILER] At the end of the film when all is well, and Aladdin only has one wish left, he had a choice to make. He can wish to be a prince again or set Genie free. This is a difficult question for the character as he supposedly needs this title to marry the princess. But by doing so he relinquishes who he is and will continue to live a lie. On the other hand, Genie has been trapped in the lamp for thousands of years. If Aladdin sets him free, as promised, he will finally get a chance to live a normal life as a human.
In the end Aladdin chooses to do the right thing. It’s important for children to be exposed to tough questions of choosing between what is right and what is easy. It’s vital for them to learn that doing what is good is not always pleasant, and sometimes, it comes with a sacrifice.
Will you speak up for what is right?
[SPOILER] One main difference of the live action adaptation is that Princess Jasmine has an additional character arc. It can be seen throughout the story that she struggles with speaking her mind. She knows within herself that she can make good decisions but because of the villain, is not able to do so. At the climax of the story she bursts into song and fights back for her people.
By letting children see characters who struggle to speak their mind and yet is able to overcome it, this can encourage them to find the heart to do the same thing.
Can you stand on your own two feet?
[SPOILER] At the end of the movie Jasmine was named the next Sultan. This is a major turn from the animated version where the Sultan simply allows Jasmine to marry Aladdin and that was the big happy ending. In this version, the resolution revolves around the princess being able to stand her ground on what she believes in, which is serving her people.
The movie asks the audience the question of independence. In the end, Jasmine fought for what she believed in and for her kingdom, Agrabah. Her happy ending involved both love and achieving her goals. Seeing a Disney princess who is not boxed in a stereotypical happy ending is good exposure. It can help children understand that there’s more than one kind of happy ending.
Is your heart in the right place?
[SPOILER] Both Jafar and Jasmine have the same ambition of being Sultan. The difference is their motivation for wanting the title. Jafar wants power, to be number one. He wants to conquer other kingdoms to gain more dominion.
Jasmine on the other hand wants to serve her people. She has seen them suffer and wants to be of help to them, a true public servant. Jasmine’s main goal of helping Agrabah was apparent from start to finish. From how she went out of the palace as a way of learning about the kingdom to deflecting Jafar’s devious schemes.
By showing children two characters who want the same thing but for different reasons, it challenges them to be mindful. It asks them: Do you want your goal for the right reasons? Is your heart in the right place?
Is it Kid-Friendly?
[SPOILER] As can be seen in IMDB, Disney’s Aladdin (2019) is rated PG, as is the original animated version. The film shows a kiss between Aladdin and Jasmine, but it’s mild enough to not raise any serious concern among parents.
If you have very young children however, you may want to be aware of some scary scenes. There is no explicit violence but some imagery may need your supervision. The villain, Jafar, at one point pushes a man down a well and uses his magical powers to attack the Sultan. In addition, if you have seen the animated version, you may recall the cave scene where Aladdin gets the lamp may be intense for a child. The same goes for the live action adaptation.
Sources:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6139732/parentalguide
Lotie Mercado is an Editorial Assistant at Familywise Asia. She loves literature, art and films.
