Disney’s Aladdin First Look is a Trainwreck – Will Smith’s Genie Needs Major Work
Disney released their first look at their upcoming live-action adaptation of their classic animated film Aladdin and it looks like a massive trainwreck. If this is what Disney has to offer, my faith in the final product simply isn’t there.
Entertainment Weekly got the first glimpse into the film which is prominently featured on its front cover. Here it is for your viewing pleasure, but more likely your disgust:
I don’t know where to start. That’s wrong. I do. First and foremost Will Smith’s genie looks terrible.
Let’s start with the costume. There is no secret that he is competing with the legendary image of Robin William’s genie. A tall order I would say. While he has the cards stacked against him from the start that doesn’t excuse Disney from at least attempting to give Smith’s genie its own unique feel and flavor.
And here the Genie just looks terrible. It reminds me of the disaster that was Apocalypse from X-Men: Apocalypse. Like in that movie, it would have been easier just to hire a cosplayer to dress Smith up instead of using whoever they used to make this mess. At best the Genie without CGI looks like something I could get from a Spirit Halloween store.
Disney can do better. All you have to do is look at the live-action adaptation of [easyazon_link identifier=”B06XHQX5RC” locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]Beauty and the Beast[/easyazon_link] to see that indeed Disney knows how to CGI these sorts of supernatural creatures.
Bosslogic was also disappointed in the way the genie was first presented to us. For him, the genie lacking its blue was eye-catching for him, although it appears they tried to make the genie blue through the color of his suit.
Genie ain’t blue :'( #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/Ia9taqV1nj
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) December 19, 2018
So, of course, he had to put a stop to that and add his own fix. Which does help quite a bit:
A splash of blue 🙂 #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/n2rmaaUxy0
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) December 19, 2018
In an update by BossLogic, he said that Will Smith is claiming the Genie will be mostly CGI in the movie and that the first look is only the genie’s human form that we are being introduced to.
Update – Will Smith has said Genie will be mostly cgi in #Aladdin and the cover is just his human form ❤️ https://t.co/3upzkpdJb2
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) December 19, 2018
Will Smith confirmed on his Instagram that indeed the genie will be blue.
I hope that is the case because if not than Disney has missed the potential train. That also begs the question on why Disney would release a non-blue Genie. In fact, they released multiple images of Smith in human form as the Genie. Not one of Smith as the big blue guy. And the costume even looks like they are trying to make up for the fact that Smith’s Genie isn’t blue or CGI. They put him a bluish suit! Just a disaster.
And don’t get me started on those cuffs. Those don’t look like cuffs that would chain you to the lamp. They look like luxurious jewelry that you would show off to your rich sultan friends!
The rest of the internet had their own reactions to Smith’s Genie. With some making some frightful comparisons:
Will Smith looks like Goro from Mortal Kombat 💀 #Aladdin #Disney pic.twitter.com/xIVKEGR3pa
— ToeKnee (@tonyshaazam) December 19, 2018
Just saw Will Smith as the genie in the live action Aladdin remake. My reaction……. #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/v6irLIjRC5
— Jason Wesney (@JasonWesney) December 19, 2018
*upon seeing Will Smith as Genie for the first time* #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/uLpMzwE38P
— Nick Bosworth (@NickMBosworth) December 19, 2018
With some even parodying the rapper’s old TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air with his current role.
“Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down, and I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there…” #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/lkl9kFlO3N
— Ali Plumb (@AliPlumb) December 19, 2018
But it wasn’t just Smith’s Genie that felt like it lacked magic. The two main characters, Princess Jasmine and Aladdin were just there. There was nothing striking about their look that screamed Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. I hate to say this but they look like to me what I would expect to see from an Aladdin and Jasmine walking into a Disney world park. Not a movie.
Of course, both actors are quite talented, as is the rest of the cast. But this introduction to the three main characters are overshadowed by the more inspired Abu and Jafar.
Let us look at Jafar. His costume is brilliant and its what you’d expect from a live-action adaptation of Aladdin. Not only are the colors alive, but it seems they were able to successfully transfer the character from a cartoon format to the live world.
Just take a look:
I’m sorry but when you compare Jafar’s and even the castle guards to Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. It seems that they were a miss while he was a big plus. But it wasn’t only Jafar who seemed to overshadow Jasmine and Alladin. Abu himself looks amazing:
What do you think? Am I wrong for criticizing the appearance of Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie? Or does Disney need to flesh out this a bit more? And what do you think of Jafar? He was by far the highlight in this first look for me. What did you think?
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