Aladdin (Disney Special Platinum Edition)

I sure hope so, because Disney's take on "Aladdin" is a wonderful rollercoaster ride of a tale. Tucked securely in the middle of Disney's animated "Renaissance" in the late 80's to mid 90's, this fun-filled story pops off of the screen thanks to a wonderful digital transfer that highlights both the traditional animation of Disney and the (at the time) growing digital animation of Pixar. This is most evident in the Cave of Wonders, where Aladdin, Abu and the Magic Carpet go for a wild ride as the cave collapses in on them.

The plot is fairly generic. It's a love story about a young man living on the streets and longing to become a "somebody" who falls for a young woman intent on breaking free from the chains of tradition. Throw a power-hungry Vizier into the mix and you've got yourself a basic dramatic love story. What makes this story more than just another run-of-the-mill animated romance, however, is a solid string of supporting characters who steal the show. The chemistry between Aladdin and Jasmine is nice, but Robin Williams' Genie, who's own longing for freedom is an interesting subplot, injects the story with humor and action. Gilbert Gottfried's Iago, the highly intelligent and cocky pet of the wicked Jafar, injects humor as well, though with quite a bit more bite than the Genie. Heck even characters with smaller roles such as Abu, the Sultan, and the speechless Carpet, add fun to the story.

Although the soundtrack isn't quite up to par with other Disney modern classics such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King," "Aladdin" has one of my personal favorite tunes in its arsenal, "A Whole New World." Both the film version and the pop radio cut by Regina Belle and Peabo Bryson are excellent. This particular DVD features a new version of the song performed by then-married couple, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. Unfortunately for them, though, their version lacks the heart and soul that the film's and BelleBryson's version contains.

This platinum edition DVD is a nice addition to any collection. As stated before, the animation pops off of the screen. The audio is excellent and the extras are a nice addition as well. A Clay Aiken video, the original radio version of "A Whole New World" video, the Simspon/Lachey cut, and a pop-up information option highlight disc one. Disc two contains plenty of fun and games, documentaries and other wonderful features.

As a whole, "Aladdin" is a wonderful tale sure to capture the imagination of children and adults. It isn't as breathtaking as "Beauty and the Beast," nor is it as epic as "The Lion King," but it has secured a spot for itself as one of Disney's greatest modern classics. Highly recommended.

Aladdin (Disney Special Platinum Edition)When my soon to be 18year old daughter requested this for Christmas I was a bit surprised! I decided to go the used route as I was not sure exactly how "bad" my older teen really wanted this DVD. The product arrived exactly as I read in the review and the price was very good.

I got this for my almost-age-four daughter for Christmas. She LOVES it. It's very entertaining for adults too. Robin Williams is great.

I love this movie. This was the first movie I saw in the theater! Loved it since. Get your copy today because it will be locked into the Disney Vault on January 31, 2008!

This is one of my Disney favorite movies. I love some of the Disney movies. This one is the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp. Robin Williams is hilarious as the "genie."