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Blu-Ray : Recommended
Ranking:
Release Date: March 15th, 2013 Movie Release Year: 1992

Aladdin (Holland Import)

Overview -
OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/MPEG-4 AVC
Length:
90
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.85:1
Audio Formats:
Ukranian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
Dutch, French, English, and English SDH
Special Features:
Music Videos
Release Date:
March 15th, 2013

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

Sandwiched between two of Disney's biggest, most beloved hits, is 'Aladdin.' It could easily have gotten lost in the crowd coming out after 'Beauty and the Beast' and before 'The Lion King.' Similar to the way 'Mulan' seemed to get forgotten because it was surrounded by a host of mediocre Disney films, but 'Aladdin' stands on its own as a bona fide Disney classic despite the threat of being overshadowed.

Everything seemed to go right for 'Aladdin,' (even though the movie was initially seen as a failure after it's first full screening; it was promptly reworked). The soundtrack was as memorable as any other Disney movie, the animation was lush and vibrant, its villain is still one of the best in Disney's illustrious vault, and the world wasn't sick of Robin Williams' shtick yet. The stars aligned and it ended up becoming an instant classic. It was slated for Blu-ray release in the U.S. earlier this year, but got bumped to make room for the anniversary edition of 'Peter Pan.' So, it's a good thing we can import this from Holland if we want (as well asfrom the UK on April 15th).

Aladdin (voiced by Scott Weinger) is a street rat of no consequence. "Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat," he sings as he dodges palace guards while snatching some bread. Like all paupers, however, Aladdin dreams of something bigger. Something that will make his life mean something. And that something includes being filthy rich.

Only, life inside the palace walls isn't as peachy as Aladdin dreams it is, which is usually the case with palaces. Jasmine (voiced by Linda Larkin) is deeply depressed by her situation. Sure she's surrounded by wealth, but she dreams of seeing the world, or at the very least, of venturing out beyond the palace walls to see what the real world is like. She's also angry that the law of the land is very adamant that the princess marry a prince, and she's coming of age. Jasmine isn't impressed by the pomp and circumstance. She wants a real man, preferably one with an American accent living in Agrabah.

'Aladdin' isn't without its faults though. As much fun as it is watching Williams bring the Genie to life with the kind of madcap flare that only he can provide, and as great as Jafar is as the chief baddie, its treatment of ethnicity is bizarre. It's pretty obvious that Disney didn't think the audience would feel sympathetic toward characters that didn't look and sound like them. So, while the population of Agrabah speaks in thick Arabian accents and appear as Middle Eastern caricatures, Jasmine and Aladdin look and sound like Americans. It's interesting to note that after 'Aladdin,' Disney movies that featured foreign-born main characters such as 'Mulan,' 'Brother Bear,' and 'Pocahontas' don't go down the same route.

The movie doesn't bear the same weight as 'Beauty and the Beast' or 'The Lion King.' 'Aladdin,' however, is an intoxicatingly fun ride with unforgettable songs and some of the best animation that Disney had to offer in the '90s. It will remain a Disney classic for as long as The Vault is around.

Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

This is an import from Holland (sent to us by faithful reader Julian). It was apparently released in the country without much publicity at all. It's a single-disc release that comes in a standard keepcase and no slipcover. The Diamond Edition that Disney is going to release in the U.S. at some point will undoubtedly have a slipcover so if you love them then you'll have to wait for that release. None of 'Aladdin's sequels are included here either. This is a region free disc.

Video Review

Ranking:

I've always loved the look of 'Aladdin.' It was so vibrant and colorful. Even when I watched it over and over on VHS I remember being blown away by its stellar animation. I'm glad to report that this transfer (it remains to be seen if this is the transfer that will be used on the U.S. release) depicts 'Aladdin' in all its glory, and stays true to the Disney perfectionism that we've become accustomed to.

I don't ever remember seeing 'Aladdin' look this clear. Colors have a bit more life than they did on DVD. Color fills never waver in transparency. Lines are crisp, and the artwork really shines. Black areas are sufficiently dark. There is no noise to report. It's all as clean as you'd expect it to be.

There was one minor hiccup that keeps it from reaching that lofty 5-star mark. There is some banding that is visible during the Genie's opening number, and again when Genie and Aladdin are hanging out in the desert oasis. The moments of banding are fleeting and confined to the gradients in the sky, but they're there. They don't last long though and before you know it they're gone.

Those that can't wait for the U.S. release will find that this is a decent option. This is an exceptional transfer for a beloved film.

Audio Review

Ranking:

'Aladdin' gets a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix here. This might be where fans will want to hold out for the U.S. version. Chances are pretty good that Disney will include a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix on the Diamond Edition release. The last Diamond Edition, which was 'Peter Pan,' was accompanied by a full 7.1 lossless remix.

As it stands, the 5.1 mix here is ample by any stretch. There is a ton to love here. The rear channels are alive with activity. When Aladdin comes marching into the streets of Agrabah with his parade the ambient sound is perfectly placed. Musical numbers are belted out with force and clarity. Low-end sound is wonderfully presented. When the Cave of Wonders bellows its dire welcome to its visitors, the sub shakes with rumbling bass. The fight with Jafar at the end is a perfect example of the deft directionality on display here. When he turns into a giant snake he can be heard slithering in and out of one channel after another. Pans are tremendously effective.

Dialogue is always clear. Williams' voice throws itself all over the place as he appears here and there with different voices and accents. Nothing ever gets muddled. Alan Menken's beautiful score fills the soundscape and provides a wonderfully memorable experience.

Will an inevitable 7.1 mix add a bit more dimensionality? I presume it will. However, if you can't wait for the U.S. release, and feel that 5.1 is enough for you, then this isn't a bad way to go.

Special Features

Ranking:

There are no new features added to this release either. Something that could change on the U.S. release. These are the same special features that were present on the Special Edition DVD released in 2004.

  • Audio Commentaries - Co-directors John Musker, Ron Clements are joined by producer Amy Pell in the first commentary. The second track is full of the film's animators. Andreas Deja (supervising animator for Jafar), Will Finn (supervising animator for Iago), Eric Goldberg (supervising animator for Genie), and Glean Keane (supervising animator for Aladdin) join in on the fun. This is the best commentary of the two, especially for fans of animation. They casually walk the viewer through what it takes to animate a Disney film. Interesting stuff.

  • Sing Along with the Movie (HD) - This is located in the bonus features menu. It's simply an option to pick if you want subtitles to appear during the songs.

  • A Diamond in the Rough: The Making of 'Aladdin' (SD, 110 min.) - Comprised of a variety of different parts, this feature-length documentary, hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin, goes into extreme depth to cover how the movie was made. Heck, with all the segments added together the making-of doc is longer than the movie itself. This feature covers everything from voice acting to animation to production. It's an all-encompassing feature that fans will surely want to watch. One of my favorite parts is the segment called "Reflections on Black Friday" where the directors and supervisors talk about the daunting task of restructuring the entire movie because the first time it was screened everyone thought it was awful.

  • Deleted Scenes (SD, 6 min.) - Two deleted scenes here. First is "Aladdin and Jasmine's First Meeting," which had the two meeting in a very different way. The second is "Aladdin in the Lap of Luxury" where he's soaking up the palace life. It also features the character of his mother who was meant to play a big part in the movie originally, but was axed in the restructuring. Both of these are presented in storyboard form.

  • Music Videos (SD, 6 min.) - Three videos are included here. "A Whole New World" performed by Regina Belle and Peabo Bryson, "A Whole New World" performed by Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, and "Proud of Your Boy" performed by Clay Aiken.

  • Deleted Songs (SD, 14 min.) - These are pretty much like the deleted scenes. They have a quick introduction from one of the directors setting the scene. There are four included here. The songs are: "You Can Count on Me" sung by Aladdin, "Humiliate the Boy" sung by Jafar, "Why Me" also Jafar, and "Proud of Your Boy" sung by Aladdin for his mother. The last song was obviously cut because the entire mother character was cut out of the story.

'Aladdin' is one of my favorite Disney movies. Having it before the U.S. release comes out is a big plus in my book. Although, a few hesitations on importing this still remain. If you're willing to accept a 5.1 mix (rather than a 7.1 mix, which will likely be on the Diamond Edition) then this import will work well for you. There's also the question of whether any special features will be added for the U.S. release. That's anybody's guess really. This is a recommended import, but it's understandable if people want to wait.