A flying carpet. An evil sorcerer. A magic lamp. A diamond in the rough. And a quest to win the heart of a princess. All of these sound exciting.
This is the reason why I think Aladdin is one of the best Disney movies of all time. And I was so excited when I heard the news that Disney is doing a live-version of the film.
I didn’t let the chance pass when Globe invited me, my husband and my daughter Zeeka to watch it. The movie didn’t disappoint.
Stepping Into A Wondrous Experience with Disney and Globe
Zeeka and I got to experience what it was like on Agrabah through “A Wondrous Place” at the premiere of Disney’s Aladdin last May 25th at the SM Aura.
We got to walk in an Agrabah-themed marketplace and enjoyed magical activities together. There was a magic carpet you can ride and take pictures on.. You can also win gold coins in fun games and activities that you can exchange for movie tickets.
Zeeka had fun playing kinetic sand and making her own crystal necklace.
I also had awesome freebies from Globe. I got my own Abu shirt and a purple blanket to keep me warm while watching.
Rediscovering Aladdin’s Magical World
I knew Disney was preparing something special for Aladdin fans. And I was pleasantly surprised with the twists they added to the movie’s live-version.
Check out this side-by-side comparison of the trailers.
First of all, the casting was on point! Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott were perfect for the roles. One would think Mena was the inspiration for the drawing of Disney’s Aladdin. And Naomi had the beauty and elegance fit for royalty.
But it was Will Smith’s Genie that made it extraordinary.
There was some criticism about him playing the Genie at first, but watching the film made absolute sense.
Of course, Robin William’s Genie still tops the bill. But Will gave the Genie a much-needed glow-up and he made it his own.
He was fun and hilarious, and you can tell that he knew how to work the crowd. See for yourself here:
I also love that Jasmine wasn’t portrayed as a weak and helpless princess who cries at the smallest inconvenience. She was strong, opinionated, and she knew what she was capable of.
Jasmine was bound by the words of people around her. Her overprotective father kept her hidden behind the walls of the palace. Jafar emphasized her lack of experience and her being a woman, which meant that she was just an eyepiece.
In the end, she proved that she didn’t need anyone to save her.
Aladdin was also funny, awkward, and charming at the same time. Zeeka had so much fun watching him and the Genie dance inside the cave. And the jam scene was also hilarious.
Mena’s parkour skills upped the ante, and it made Aladdin stand out even more. Mena was able to show Aladdin’s vulnerability, especially when he was conflicted about setting the Genie free or fulfilling his lifelong wish.
The movie was everything I imagined it would be, and I’m really glad I got to see it happen in my lifetime.
3 Life Lessons We Learned from Disney’s Aladdin
Let me share with you three life lessons we learned while watching Aladdin. Here are some of the quotes that stood out to me while watching the film.
You’ve got to be confident about what you have to offer
Genie
Throughout the film, you can see how Jasmine and Aladdin had doubts about themselves and what they can do.
Aladdin wasn’t a prince but he definitely had the wits and the heart of one. And although she was a princess, Jasmine was limited because of who she was.
The rules of the land dictated that she needed to marry a prince for the good of the kingdom. On the other hand, Aladdin was always told that he amounted to nothing.
But you know what made these two click? Both of them decided to believe in themselves and what they had to offer. Because of that, they got to take control of their lives and change the lives of others too.
Sometimes we fall into this trap and we think that we are not enough.
We’re not good enough as parents. We’re not expert enough to land that deal we’ve always wanted. We’re not ready to take on that huge project.
We get scared of failure when in fact it’s a part of the process. We think too much of what others would think about us. We talk harshly about ourselves and forget the things we’ve already achieved.
Truth is, we all have the potential to be great. The problem is, we often get in our heads too much.
Mindset is everything. That’s why we need to change our scripts when we talk to ourselves.
We need to be more encouraging, more patient, and kinder to ourselves. We need to be more grateful for what we have.
And yes, we need to be more confident with what we have to offer.
Sometimes you just have to take a risk
Aladdin
There are two kinds of people in the world.
One are those who would stay in the balcony and sleep the whole night. The other would be those who’d hop on a magic carpet ride.
The first ones would probably think of how dangerous the ride would be. No helmets, no seatbelts, and the chances of falling to your death is more than 95%. But the second ones are those who would be like, hey, you don’t see a magic carpet all the time right?
Sure, you can choose to be comfortable and safe. But wouldn’t it be lifechanging to see the world from a different perspective?
Everything in life is uncertain, and sometimes even the best-laid plans fail. But that’s the fun of it all. Your biggest mistakes can also be your best blessing. It’s all a matter of perspective.
Sometimes the best things in life lie just beyond the safety line. And all you need to do is take a leap of faith to get it.
I made you look like a prince on the outside, but I didn’t change anything on the inside. Prince Ali got you to the door, but Aladdin has to open it.
Genie
Most of us go out of our way to impress other people. And most of the time we end up becoming more miserable because of this.
Just like Aladdin, we often think we need to be rich or powerful to be accepted. But in the end, it was his true self that made the princess fall for him.
So the biggest lesson here is to be yourself. The right people will love and accept you for who you are. And your truth will always be enough to them.
Disney did a great job of bringing this classic tale up to date. The actors were great, the execution was spectacular, and the magic was kept alive.
Even if I’ve already watched Aladdin a hundred times, Disney was still able to pull a lot of surprises. It was still as magical as ever, and I’m glad I got to share the experience with my little girl.
Did you get to watch it? How was your experience? Share it with us below.
