The best male-oriented film of the Disney Renaissance.
Growing up, I never felt Disney movies were something that appealed to me as a young boy. Most were fairy tales of princesses, and I didn't connect with Snow White (1937), Sleeping Beauty (1959), or The Little Mermaid (1989). Then along came Aladdin (1992). Not only was the main character male, but the movie was full of action, adventure, and a funny performance by Robin Williams as the Genie. It quickly became my favorite Disney film and remains so to this day.
Ultimately, Aladdin taught me a few things about life. Being content with our circumstances can keep us out of a lot of trouble; telling the truth is easier earlier on before the lies grow into more complex scenarios; and sometimes the quick magical fix isn't the right way to go about solving a problem. That I could relate much easier to Aladdin and his struggles as he tries to woo the princess just goes to show how one-dimensional the princes from other Disney films had been for decades.
While I've seen Aladdin performed on Broadway and thought the 2019 live-action remake wasn't entirely terrible, there is just something magical about the original 1992 movie. The limited CGI was used in the most effective ways for the time-it's only noticeable now because we're used to what it looks like. The songs were catchy and fun, and the setting was entirely different from the European-style medieval era that I expected of Disney films. But the best part of all (which also somewhat dates it) was the Genie, who fused pop culture references in a quick-fire way that I was still unwrapping years later.
The best male-oriented film of the Disney Renaissance, I give Aladdin 5.0 stars out of 5.
Ultimately, Aladdin taught me a few things about life. Being content with our circumstances can keep us out of a lot of trouble; telling the truth is easier earlier on before the lies grow into more complex scenarios; and sometimes the quick magical fix isn't the right way to go about solving a problem. That I could relate much easier to Aladdin and his struggles as he tries to woo the princess just goes to show how one-dimensional the princes from other Disney films had been for decades.
While I've seen Aladdin performed on Broadway and thought the 2019 live-action remake wasn't entirely terrible, there is just something magical about the original 1992 movie. The limited CGI was used in the most effective ways for the time-it's only noticeable now because we're used to what it looks like. The songs were catchy and fun, and the setting was entirely different from the European-style medieval era that I expected of Disney films. But the best part of all (which also somewhat dates it) was the Genie, who fused pop culture references in a quick-fire way that I was still unwrapping years later.
The best male-oriented film of the Disney Renaissance, I give Aladdin 5.0 stars out of 5.
- Benjamin-M-Weilert
- Sep 8, 2025