Aladdin (2019)

 

Aladdin - 2019

Coming up next is 2019's "Aladdin", a live-action remake of the 1992's original animated Disney classic.  In this tale, a young man living on the street makes the acquaintance of an undercover princess, a genie, and a magic carpet as he begins an adventure that will take him to "a whole new world".

The film's cast includes Mena Massoud, Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, and Alan Tudyk.

At the beginning of our story we meet Aladdin and his monkey Abu.  In the 

marketplace, they meet an undercover Princess Jasmine, who has run away from the palace.  Aladdin teaches her how to stay "One Jump Ahead" and survive the streets of Agrabah.

We also are introduced to Jafar, the Vizier of Agrabah, who will stop at nothing to get a treasure that he wants.

After their adventure on the streets, Aladdin takes Jasmine back to his place, where she gets to see Agrabah from a different perspective than she's used to.

Jasmine introduces herself as "Dahlia", a handmaid to the princess.  She and Aladdin have a real connection, but it is interrupted when a visiting prince on his way to the palace brings Jasmine back to reality.

She's tired of putting on a show for visiting princes (like Prince Anders) who are only interested in what her kingdom can offer them.

Her real ambition is to rule Agrabah after her father as Sultan.  She is firmly put in her place by Jafar.  But Jasmine resolves that she won't be silent and won't go "speechless".

While sneaking into the palace to visit "Dahlia", Aladdin is arrested by Jafar's men.  Jafar reveals to him that "Dahlia" is in fact the princess.  If Aladdin will do a certain task for him, Jafar will reward him with riches enough to impress her.

Aladdin is tasked with retrieving a magic lamp from the Cave of Wonders, but he is given strict instructions not to touch anything else.  Unfortunately, Abu doesn't heed that warning.

Because Abu touched the forbidden treasure, they are sealed inside the cave, where they meet a magic carpet and a genie who resides inside the lamp.

The genie tells him how the lamp works with the song "Friend Like Me".  Aladdin gets three wishes, but can't wish to make anyone fall in love or bring somebody back from the dead.

Once they are out of the cave, Aladdin tells the genie that he wishes to become a prince so that he can marry Princess Jasmine, who can only wed a prince.

The genie works his magic and "Prince Ali" of Ababwa is born!  His entourage makes its way through the streets of Agrabah to much fanfare.

After failing to impress Jasmine at their first official meeting, he later makes it up to her by introducing her to "A Whole New World".  Afterwards, Jasmine makes a connection between Prince Ali and Aladdin, which he is quick to deny.

One of the most charming things about this movie is the awkward/endearing relationship between the genie and Jasmine's handmaid Dahlia.  It's so fun to watch them interact.

As the story goes, we know that Jafar gains control of the lamp and exposes Prince Ali as Aladdin.  He also takes control of Agrabah by becoming its sultan and also a sorcerer.

Jasmine is given a chance to shine and prove what kind of leader she would be should she become Sultan of Agrabah.

Aladdin tricks Jafar into becoming a genie.  Wanting the power, Jafar jumps at the opportunity, not realizing that it means being confined to a lamp, which Genie deposits safely in the Cave of Wonders.

Genie is set free by Aladdin's final wish, and he and Jasmine (who has been deemed the next sultan by her father) are able to get married.  Genie and Dahlia get together, too.

Cast rundown:

   Mena Massoud..........................Aladdin

   Will Smith.................................Genie

   Naomi Scott..............................Princess Jasmine

   Marwan Kenzari.........................Jafar

   Navid Negahban........................Sultan of Agrabah

   Nasim Pedrad............................Dahlia

   Billy Magnussen.........................Prince Anders

   Alan Tudyk................................Iago

And that's it for Aladdin.  Will Smith wanted to bring a hip-hop flavor to his role as the Genie, but he was also very respectful to the work done by the late Robin Williams.  I think he's very successful in making Genie his own.  His rendition of the character is unique enough to be instantly recognizable but appropriately different.  Just a bit of trivia for you: the name of Princess Jasmine in the original Arab tale "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" was Badroulbadour.

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Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

Murder On The Orient Express - 2017

Next we have 2017's "Murder On The Orient Express", a remake of the classic whodunit of the same name produced in 1974.  A murder takes place on a luxury train on which travels a famous sleuth.  Can he solve the murder before another takes place?

The film's cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Tom Bateman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Derek Jacobi, Sergei Polunin, Lucy Boynton, Marwan Kenzari, and Olivia Colman.

Luxury abounds on the Orient Express, a train which travels from Turkey to Europe and affords its guests anything their heart can desire.

Super sleuth Hercule Poirot is a last-minute addition to the passenger list, and he's very excited to be getting some well-earned rest and relaxation.

Also traveling on board is Edward Ratchett, who requests some protection from Poirot on account of some threatening letters he has received.  His whole personality is abrasive, and Poirot refuses to help him because of the nature of his business and because of his manner.

During the night, Ratchett is murdered, having been stabbed to death.  Matters are compounded when the murderer seems to have escaped and the train is unable to move because it was caught in a snowbank.

The director of the line asks Poirot to handle the investigation so that he can present the police with a case closed verdict.  Poirot thinks about it and ultimately decides to take the case.

Among the suspects are Ratchett's secretary, who tries to deflect attention from himself.

Mrs. Hubbard is a talkative, pushy woman who seems to have no end of information about the possible suspect.

We also have Ratchett's personal valet, who is harboring a grudge against his deceased employer.

Pilar is a Spanish nurse who also has a connection to the case.

Beniamino Marquez is an American immigrant who sells cars and shares a room with Ratchett's valet.

Mary Debenham and Dr. Arbuthnot were overheard before the train journey plotting.  So, they are definitely of interest in the case.

A prejudiced Austrian professor is also on board and makes life generally unpleasant for those surrounding him.

Princess Dragomiroff and her maid are also of interest in the case, and the Princess is handled with care, especially as she is of royal blood.  "God blessed me with long life, but cursed me with a bad back to make it miserable."

A Hungarian count with a bad temper and his wife, who takes powerful medicinal hypnotics to help her sleep, also come under suspicion.

Also under suspicion is Pierre, the train steward, who has keys and access to everything.

Once Poirot has everything figured out, he has all of the suspects gathered so he can present them with the facts of the case.  "You tell your lies, and you think no one will know.  But there are two people who will know.  Yes, two people.  Your God and Hercule Poirot.  It is time to solve this case," he tells the assembled suspects.

Cast rundown:

   Kenneth Branagh..........................Hercule Poirot

   Penelope Cruz..............................Pilar Estravados

   Willem Dafoe...............................Gerhard Hardman

   Judi Dench...................................Princess Dragomiroff

   Johnny Depp................................Edward Ratchett

   Josh Gad.....................................Hector McQueen

   Leslie Odom Jr..............................Dr. Arbuthnot

   Michelle Pfeiffer............................Caroline Hubbard

   Daisy Ridley.................................Mary Debenham

   Tom Bateman...............................Monsieur Bouc

   Manuel Garcia-Rulfo......................Beniamino Marquez

   Derek Jacobi.................................Edward Masterman

   Sergei Polunin..............................Count Rudolph Andrenyi

   Lucy Boynton................................Countess Elena Andrenyi

   Marwan Kenzari.............................Pierre Michel

   Olivia Colman................................Hildegarde Schmidt

And that's it for Murder On The Orient Express.  It's very stylishly done, but I much prefer the original.  The film ends with Poirot being asked to go to Egypt because of a murder on the Nile River (which will segue into the next film in the series "Death On The Nile", which is supposed to be released this autumn).

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