Aladdin (2019)

The critic calls it an unexpectedly fun and frisky remake that is far better and more coherent than trailers suggested. Will Smith's full-force performance as the Genie steals the show and is singled out as the standout element.

The critic finds Guy Ritchie’s live-action remake lively, colourful and genuinely funny, with judicious tweaks to the original that keep it fun without overhauling a strong story. They single out the respectful casting of brown-skinned actors and Will Smith’s human, life-of-the-party Genie as highlights.

The critic finds it a fun spin-off rather than superior to the original, praising the energetic quadruple-act dynamic (especially Will Smith’s entertaining, elastic Genie performance and the new romance subplot), the revamped Jasmine with her new song and agency, the choreography and action, and the lavish production, while noting the villain Jafar is a weak point.

While far from vital, the movie isn’t the disastrous remake feared; it is mostly middling, fitfully funny, and never unpleasant, slyly disarming questions about its necessity with charm and some upgrades. The critic singles out the music, Nasim Pedrad’s performance, and the central romance (including the magic carpet ride) for praise while noting the slick anonymity of the direction and cosmetic nature of the changes.

The film is sometimes dazzling but more often workmanlike, achieving a faithful supersized recreation of the animated original. Despite sublime songs and occasional arresting moments, the most potent element is its intentional air of déjà vu and the sense that little risk is taken.

The critic calls it another lavish and largely entertaining Disney re-do with strong turns from Massoud and Scott, but notes it feels like standard remake business with little of Ritchie’s distinctive style beyond a slick opening and minor Jafar tweaks; the main complaint is Will Smith’s Genie feeling disappointingly constrained by the original and marred by ghastly CGI.

The remake is glittery and energetic with digital spectacle and a strong-willed Jasmine, ultimately getting the job done. It lacks the wit and magic of the original, with Will Smith's Genie feeling effortful and unsettling.

The critic calls it a big-hearted fantasy musical with a gorgeous colour palette and strict moral code that tries hard but does not quite improve on the 1992 original. They single out Will Smith’s manic chutzpah as the Genie and flashes of Ritchie’s brilliance in the latter half.

The live-action version lacks the fizz of the 1992 animation but retains street-smart charm through strong leads and dazzling Bollywood-influenced dance numbers. Will Smith's Genie never fully captures the original magic and slow-motion effects occasionally drag scenes.

The critic finds the live-action remake serviceable but lacking magic, with a politically correct diverse cast and female empowerment themes that fail to deliver wonder. The main praise goes to the engaging central love story chemistry between Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott, plus Will Smith's enjoyable take on the Genie.

The live-action remake directed by Guy Ritchie is more often lumbering, patchy, and meandering than fun, a dancing elephant of a movie that prioritizes photoreal CGI over the charm and inspiration of the 1992 animated original. The critic singles out the pedestrian filmmaking and over-reliance on CGI for complaint while noting some decent moves from the cast, particularly Will Smith's Genie in emotional moments.

The critic finds the live-action remake a dutiful but uninspired retread that leans on digital effects and Will Smith's Genie without adding much new. Ritchie invests in the thief-and-princess story but the result feels smug and pantomime-like in its staging.

The critic pans the remake as the worst of the recent lifeless Disney live-action updates, feeling anonymous, sluggish, and lacking the original's zip and charm. The unimaginative staging of musical numbers and Will Smith's subdued Genie performance are highlighted as major complaints.

The critic views the film as a slick, generated corporate product engineered for maximum effect with no downtime or real magic. Guy Ritchie's roller-coaster energy and Will Smith's eager, campy Genie performance are noted positively amid the synthetic feel.

Guy Ritchie’s live-action version falls short of its animated predecessor, reheating tropes and tunes but taking all the fun out of them with strained musical numbers, confounding action, and graceless CGI. The critic singles out Will Smith's less mutable Genie and the loss of the original's charm for complaint, while noting honors for Naomi Scott and Nasim Pedrad.

The film is a threadbare magic-carpet ride to nowhere special, pointless in an aggressive way despite some craft and a few pleasant elements like the early chase scene and Bollywood-inflected numbers. The critic singles out the incoherence highlighted by the familiar songs and the casting for mixed note, while complaining that it fails to convey novelty or wonder.

The ultra-glossy remake cleaves too closely to the 1992 original to justify its existence, feeling creatively bankrupt despite lively leads. It offers manufactured déjà vu rather than any ounce of originality.

The critic finds the remake maladroit, overlong, and moribund, with Will Smith's Genie trapped by digital effects in contrast to Robin Williams' animated freedom. They single out Nasim Pedrad's new character Dalia as the standout for her timing and emotional sense, while criticizing the film's length, messaging, and lack of wit.

The critic sees it as a perfunctory, shot-for-shot corporate remake that drains the original of vitality and settles for botched delivery of familiar material. Lack of chemistry between leads and the draining of the Genie's larger-than-life quality by Will Smith are singled out negatively.

The critic finds it a fitting remake of the classic, with Will Smith’s Genie carrying the film through strong casting and a sense of nostalgia and magic. Some leads lack familiarity and Jafar feels downbeat, but overall it delivers the goods with modern touches on the songs.

Despite a noticeably tame Guy Ritchie, the film offers more than a typical Disney remake through fresh interpretations, strong world-building, and character updates like a more empowered Jasmine. Some musical numbers feel too Broadway and execution can be cartoony, but it feels distinct and modern overall.

The critic finds it a lavish and enjoyable retelling that doesn't fully succeed as a new world but offers plenty of fun, with strong performances from Naomi Scott and Will Smith. They single out the expanded Jasmine arc and new song 'Speechless' for praise while noting issues with Jafar and the CGI-heavy finale.

The critic finds the film competent but unnecessary, with new song arrangements that fall short and little of the original's magic; it feels like Disney cashing in on IP rather than a worthy update. Praise goes to Will Smith's fresh take on the Genie character despite the CGI design.

The remake settles for recreating familiar beats rather than capturing the original magic, resulting in a confectionery musical that feels less entertaining than it should; the soundtrack and new song are central to both its strengths and weaknesses. The critic highlights the songs as the boldest choices but notes the film gets a bit pitchy overall.

The critic finds Guy Ritchie an odd fit for the material, delivering a chintzy live-action remake that feels sanitized and focused more on Will Smith's entourage than the story. It singles out the production design and costumes as underwhelming compared to the source material.

The remake is a well-meaning but hollow effort that lacks its own identity and suffers from unconvincing CGI, especially the Genie. It fails to fully embrace or reinvent the source material, resulting in a film that falls apart upon closer inspection.

The critic calls the film soullessly barren and a cynical product that fails to recapture the magic of the original, with perfunctory recreations and uncomfortable musical staging by Ritchie. They single out the dance scenes and Nasim Pedrad's chemistry for praise amid the general dispassion.