Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Anyone who knows me knows that I love all things Disney and Pixar. It is an extremely safe assumption to say that I own all of the animated movies the studio has put out in the past 20 years and has seen each and every single one of them with a few exceptions. Aladdin is one of the all time greats, and thankfully Disney has released it from the vault, giving it a Diamond Edition on Blu-ray with a slew of new features.
First off, the first feature on this new gorgeous looking version of Aladdin which just enhances the classic animation, keeping it intact in HD, is The Genie Outtakes which if nothing else will bring a tear to your eye and a giant smile. The feature is comprised of outtakes that were partially animated and delivered with lines that didn’t make the final cut of the Movie all voiced by the late, great Robin Williams. Some of these jokes and gags were even better than the ones that made the final cut.
The next special feature on the Diamond Edition which is truly magical is Aladdin: Creating Broadway Magic. Firstly, I was lucky enough to see the stage production when it was here in Toronto and it truly was incredible. The feature focuses on the struggle of bringing such a magical Movie to life including everything from finding an actor to channel the brilliance of Robin Williams to having a magic carpet soar through the audience. The stage production, as well as the semi-documentary outlining the process of creating the show is both magical.
Genie 101 is the second feature dedicated to Robin Williams, hosted by Aladdin himself, Scott Weinger as he goes through the entire Movie and reveals all the impersonations that Williams’ Genie did throughout the Movie.
Ron & John: You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me is the second last feature on the Diamond Edition Blu-ray which has Ron Clements and John Musker talking about the process of making Aladdin and their absolute shock, relief, and delight that it was to have Robin Williams open armed embrace the Genie and take on the role.
Lastly, the Film’s Blu-ray transformation is flawless and perfect, unlike some other conversions we have seen in the past. Aladdin takes all the magic and pristine animation from the 1992 and essentially just gives it a facelift in glorious 1080p. There is nothing that is shocking or unnerving with the conversion thankfully, and makes this Aladdin fan extraordinarily happy.
Whether you’ve seen Aladdin before or have never been able to experience the absolute pleasure that this Movie absolutely is, the Diamond Edition is a perfect addition to anyone’s home movie collection as Aladdin is a timeless classic for all young and old. Take a ride on your magic carpet with Abu, get into an argument with Iago about disgusting crackers, and enjoy the magic that is Aladdin.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Canada release Aladdin Diamond Edition, now available on Blu-ray and Digital HD.
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