Aladin Review – And Analysis
Aladin is a decent film – not great, but not as bad as some people seem to be gleefully making it out to be. It’s good clean fun, it’s laugh-out-gut-bustingly-loud in several places, and it’s the kind of film you can happily take your kids or kid cousins to. While I wouldn’t say it’s a path-breaking classic, I would definitely say all seven of us had a good time watching it and at no point did we feel like saying ‘Abbe kya hai ye’ – except for the Siachen Valley bit.
The film is set in a fairy tale town called Khwaish, which has its own newspaper called Khwaish Times and a university called, ahem ahem, Khwaish University. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the town looked too inspired by Rohan or Minas Tirith from Lord of The Rings.
Let me first put down some of the bits I liked. Diarrhoea. “Main dardi rub-rub kardi.” The Sardar truck driver. “Aap aise kisi ke ghar mein ghus ke unke bheje mein haath nahi daal sakte.” Insanely brilliant. This is the stuff I expect from Sujoy Ghosh. Jhankaar Beats is the film I’ve watched and shown others more times than any other film. Maybe around 15 times.
The Big B was fabulous. Leaving all politics aside, separating the art from the artist etc etc, he deserves his status as a legendary actor. Ritesh Deshmukh’s comic timing was very sharp, as expected. Sanjay Dutt is always himself in all his roles, but there’s a supreme ease and confidence about him that translates into fantastic screen presence. Irrfan Khan is another example of an actor who works with the barest minimum required. It’s kind of hard to explain what I mean, but it’s easier to understand from the opposite angle, which is a wannabe actor trying too hard with too many facial expressions to convey an emotion.
Jacqueline Fernandes is very beautiful, but – nothing personal – it’ll take at least one more film to see if she’s more than just another assembly line beauty queen. I don’t think I’ve ever said that an actor’s been wasted in a role, but I’m afraid I felt that was the case with the brilliant Ratna Pathak Shah and Mita Vashisht.
I first realised the importance and power of individual scenes when I saw the first scene of Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket. My own personal writing philosophy – by the way, I’m not doling out advice; I’m only sharing my ideas – is that engrossing films are made of tight sequences. Tight sequences are made of good scenes, and good scenes contain one definite point – a joke, an emotional punch, a fulfilment, anything. Look at Inglourious Basterds – just 15-16 scenes/sequences. Koi Mil Gaya, if one were to compare genre-wise, had very distinct story movement in its sequences. Prologue – the hero grows up – the hero finds E.T, oops, Jadoo – the hero has fun with Jadoo – the government tries to get him etc. The second quarter of Aladin is kind of fuzzy, going neither here nor there.
What elevates a film to another level is magic moments. The great thing about magic moments is that their formula can’t be found in any screenwriting book. Ideas for magic moments either hit you or they don’t. For example, the one magic moment I found in Love Aaj Kal was the kaali-chai-under-chunari scene. Jhankaar Beats had several. I used to practice Rahul Bose’s condom one-liner presentation scene – “Haan mujhe ye pasand hai.” The thunder and lightning in the boss’ office was another magic moment, that too immediately after.
My main grouse with Aladin is that it had quite a few magic moments, but they got lost in a maze of unnecessary item songs and CGI displays and unbelievable fights. The first song was totally unnecessary. In fact, I found the situation itself highly unconvincing. “How is this song happening? What’s going on?” The second song was a shock. It seemed like it came barely five minutes after the first one. Even the third one was unnecessary. A proper sequence, maybe in Bedazzled style, would’ve been better. I’ve been saying for nearly two years now that I’m tired of item numbers, but who’s gonna listen to li’l me. Anyone else wanna joing the anti-item-number movement? The climax song, where the heroes and villains wear very bad disguises and sing songs with intimidating lyrics, belonged in the 80s. (Anyone remember Mithunda’s Paap Ki Kamaee’s ‘Deva aaya hai’, sung to Kulbhushan Kharbanda as the villain?)
I have huge issues with unbelievable fights. A stunt double performing jump spinning kicks and front flips for the Big B, who’s pretty much a senior citizen, was too much for me. Jackie Chan or Jet Li at that age would be a different matter.
The Ringmaster’s menagerie would have been much better if there were just two or three of them, and they were paid a little more attention to. I get the feeling resources were spread out thin over them. Another thing I’m rather allergic to is the excessive use of slow motion in action scenes.
Sujoy Ghosh’s genius shows in the scene with the Sardar truck driver. THAT was the kind of scene I expected – the sensibilities of the man who gave us Jhankaar Beats transposed into a fantasy world where anything could happen. The bheja khaali hai bit was another. Dialog was always good. I loved the rishtey mein hum tumhare lines. Honestly speaking, I’d rather have had another 3-4 great scenes like these instead of item numbers and CGI demos. If it were up to me, I’d have drawn a lot from the animated Disney TV series (where Chetan Sashital was mindblowing as the genie in the Hindi version). I’d have modeled the relationship between Genius and Aladin on the cartoon, where the genie keeps on constantly changing shape and voice depending on the situation. Hence, more moments like ‘Ye gadha kaun hai?’
On the hole, that I dug six feet deep for some esteemed people to fall into three years ago…naah, just a bad joke. The bottomline is that Aladin is worth a watch. One can go with friends and family, temporarily suspend disbelief, and have a few clean laughs together. It’s not Harry Potter, but it’s not F… I mean, Luck, either.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
i like the last line of the post about f… :D nice write
Its such a very Professional and honest review. I saw the movie yesterday and it is a nice film to watch..I m nt getting it why Rediff, IndiaFm or other sites are writting bad about this movie…i will recommend u guys 2 go for Aladin…dont follow other stupid reviews…it is a decent movie…Big B rocks!!!
Well the casting and characterisation is spot on.Big B,Sanjay Dutt and Riteish more than did justice to their roles.Yes its too early to say if Jacqueline is the next best thing or not.And while I certainly agree that its not that bad a movie as the reviews are projecting it to be, it is still a disappointment for me.
Considering Sujoy had a great base to start with
( a modern adaptation of a fable like Aladin is great stuff to be utilised ) and with a solid star cast, he could have done so much more.I mean nearly half the movie is “dedicated to Jasmine ” with Aladin & Genius doing their bit – that takes away a lot of charm from the movie.All the more considering there’s hardly any actual romance between the lead pair inspite of so much ” dedication to Jacqueline “.
And what was also disappointing was the usage of songs as pointed out by Kenny as well.For one atleast couple of songs stuck out like sore thumb and then Vishal-Shekhar who have a good track record haven’t done a great job over here.
At best its an average movie,watchable for AB,Sanjay and Riteish.And yes it will also make you wonder what the movie could have been!!!
Kenny- thanks for reminding me of ” Devaa Aaya Hai” from Mithunda’s Paap Ki Kamayee
I have seen Hyenas in China, but a balanced review of Aladin like this? No. Mundu!
Am watchin Aladin later this evening. Thanks bro Kenny for making the wait worthwhile. Till I read this post I was seriously doubting the combined intellect of all the people who agreed to get on board a projekt as lousy as this (as the reviewers want us to believe) or that Sujoy is a master con-man who fooled everyone to sign the dotted line. Well hope is not lost. Thank God.
Kenny,
I’ve read your reviews before and know your ‘taste’ and ‘temperament’ for films by now.
Though its foolhardy to draw comparisons between the written word and the projection screen, there’s still something I’d like to recco for you in between all the ‘Paap ki Kamayee’ and the adulations for the ‘comic timing’ of a privileged Neta ka beta who’s living his 70mm dreams out 26/11 at the expense of the Indian junta.
There’s a series of adult-comics named FABLES by Bill Willingham that also tries to dig into myths/mythologies/nursery rhymes/fables and conjure up some modern magic. Please get hold of a book or two from the series and read it if you can.
Thanks for the reco. Will check them out next time I’m in Landmark. I hope your use of quotes over ‘taste’ and ‘temperament’ doesn’t mean that mine are suspect ;)
you beg the answer Kenny.. your taste is in serious suspect, no doubt about it..
Thani, you @#$*%!
Kenny, Felt really good that you mentioned Chetan Sashithal… I used to watch Aladdin just to listen to his fantastic voiceover ..Did complete justice to the idiosyncrasies of the genie… Great guy .. dont know what he has done apart from aladdin.. But a true genius in the world of Voiceovers. Thanks for reminding.
As far as I know, he’s still one of the top dogs among VO artists. Totally agree that he did full justice to the genie
Hi Kenny,
Very good and honest analysis. I think this is a movie that either works for you or doesn’t. I watched it today and was bored most of the time but was surprised when there were loud claps after the movie ended! This never happened before in that multiplex
Shalu
sorry but movie was COMPLETE TRASH
worst of all Bachan ruined the movie with his OTT acting
this guy need to retire and save us from his terribke acting
Movie fan..shut up your mouth..you are saying as if you the one who will dictate term n tell Sir what to do when..if you dont like him n his movies you are free not watch..go n watch some hakla movies.. :P ..you cant be a movie fan as your name suggest as movie fan means liking movie not getting personal with any actor to tell him when to retire..n Sir is not in league to tell when he sud retire..plz have some respect for legends who have given us many moments to forget our wrries n just to enjoy life
What’s wrong in saying Bachchan should retire instead of starring in crappy films? Why is that personal?
What’s wrong in calling his acting terrible, if it is terrible in a film? Can Bachchan do no wrong, because he is what Sir? Abusrd!!
In fact I think Bachchan is having a roll with the roles he is doing. Directors are able to cast him without his past image, and that is an actor’s achievement that at 65 he is able to reinvent himself with every role.
What goes wrong with both Bachchan and Akshay Kumar is that both seem to agree to work just based on one line ideas of films. If you look at some films both have done recently, the single line ideas are lot intriguing (CC2C, 8 by 10, Blue, KI for AK; Aladin, Pa and some others for AB Sr.). For Akki films the execution was a let down (which includes scripts, screenplay and all upto the release of the film), while for AB Sr, some have terrible execution others we will see.
I agree. With Bachchan, it’s also a fan boy issue. The directors are so enamored of him and so happy to have him in his films that they forget everything else that matters.
Ahem ahem…”For Akki films the execution was a let down”
Nagesh Kukunoor makes Hyderabad Blues, Rockford, Bollywood Calling, Iqbal and Dor. Takes Akshay Kumar – 8×10 happens.
Nikhil Advani makes Kal Ho Na Ho. Takes Akshay Kumar – CC2C happens.
Think about it
Nagesh Kukunoor made an okay’ish Bollywood Calling, a very good 3 Deewarein and nothing to write about films like Bombay to BangCock and HB-2 in between. Just to show that he is no Midas himself.
Nikhil Adwani made a Salaam E Ishq before CC2C and he had already shown the signs of weariness.
Should I say more?!
And pray, can someone tell me what is the difference between Sirjee in Aladin and Sirjee in , say, Aankhen ? (Chose the latter with a desire to select two completely different roles) I mean, does the guy have anything new in his kitty to offer ?
Other than the baritone, I mean.
@anirban – r u really serious when you say you were not able to find any modulation or body language difference in Mr. B’s performance in Aankhen and Aladin?
Objective viewers were stunned by the difference in his performances in Aks and Aankhen (both bordering on -ve roles)and you say you couldn’t between Aankhen and Aladdin??
If you are serious, then there is nothing left to say.
Learn to spell first. Its Bachchan not Banchan. Were you high when you wote this????
He did not spell it “Banchan” either. Were you high when you read it? Works both ways mate :-)
Very honest review but i wonder you no where praised any artists work or direction or music. All songs according to you were misplaced but in the end you still praised the movie.
I did not LIKE ALADIN. It bores you to death.
Regards
It was a very decent movie. I didnt get why the reviews in newspaper and websites were so negative.
I agree the songs were a excessive, but rest was more or less ok. I found the special effect to be of good standard while not being spectacular. At no point it felt tacky which was a big relief.
It is hard to make a fantasy/superhero kind of movie in India due to lack of tradition and support and unwarranted criticism just because u were in rich vien of sarcastic humor on friday is not good. It will adversely impact the industry.
Sure you should criticize the movie for its fault but you should also be understanding of the fact that how difficult it is for a director to make such a movie because of lack of reference point for fantasy movies in Hindi cinema.
Also the few people who turned up after bad reviews seemed to like the movie,, specially the children.
yes, its not as bad as suggested in reviews, if not too good. The story is simple, and straightforward. Songs are not good at all, and disturb the momentum but its usual in bollywood movies. But yes, its a good family watch. Not intelligent but a clean entertainment.
political correctness and roziroti is getting the better of u.
B@ll@cks, dabba. I wouldn’t have written at all if that were the case.
BTW, I thought Nvdp had killed you off…..
you have adequately contradicted yourself within this review to sum up you personally did not like the moview as such but would not really mind if other people wish to see the film. as for Big B, there is no need to mention how big a star he is. thanks for your good heartedness.
Well I M still amazed how blue got 4 stars And this movie got 1. But then we shouldn’t really be refering to taran adarsh’s reviews. Aladin was a good movie especially for kids. Definitely worth watching once but definitely not worth all the hype it got here. Would have loved to see more of ringmaster. Good write up Kenny.
Good review. i Agree. When interval came i was happy i came to the theaters to watch this, but when the film ended i felt like i got a bottle of mazaa when i came in looking for a juicy alphonso.
some scenes were pure genius like riteish and jackeline’s dinner date, but there were equally lame ones like that climax.
was Jhankar Beats really that AWESOME!!!
I need to watch it again.
“Sujoy Ghosh’s genius…..”
Why is Sujoy’s bar for film making raised so high? What am I missing here?
Why the ganging up on me?
Its a bad movie. Trust me. Songs popping up from nowhere, trash dialogues most of the time. Most sequences started promisingly, but were stretched beyond imagination…
Wondering why no one is talking about the climax?? The climax was a joke.
If anyone else but Sujoy Ghosh had made this movie esp. Yash Raj ,people on this forum would have come out at this movie with their daggers drawn out. But since it’s from the director of Jhankar Beats everyone feels that he should get some benefit of the doubt and hence we are picking out great scenes from the movie and giving it thumbs up….what bull.
We need to be honest in our reviews whether it’s from Anurag Kashyap or Karan Johar ,a movie has to be reviewed independently, we are rating the movie not the director and on that count Aladin fails plain and simple, a few good laughs do not save the movie, heck everything is good about this movie, the costumes, the premise, the actors, the effects….everything.
But the movie is plain bad, it has nothing going for it, you don’t feel anything at all for the movie when you come out of the theater. Jaane Tu.. was a thousand times better than this and it was a movie that had nothing going for it, no fancy promotion, no fancy sets, no special effects, not even a proper story, and yet the movie was such an entertainer.
Jaane Tu…no fancy promotion???????
Just read your essays ‘Black & White’ and ‘The Great Naxal Problem.’ Two thumbs up. Very nice. Especially this line ‘any guy who doesn’t dream of a Rihanna or a Beyonce in the bed should promptly rush to the doctor for a psych consult.’
Indians run to buy Fair and Lovelies while Caucasians run to buy sun tan lotions and tanning beds. Oh the irony!
I am glad someone read those two…..but my writings there are amateurish…borders on the bad….
Well the movie came out with almost very little hoopla….it got most of it’s publicity through word of mouth…and it’s music..
Well said!! 5 stars for your comment.
Entirely agree ..well said!
I spent my saturday night watching Aladdin and for me it did’nt clicked…may be for somebody it may but for me it was not good…Waste of such a good star cast. There was no content in the film and end was too bad… Expectations were high from sujoy but I was disappointed big time. I think story should have been more about struggle between Genius and Ringmaster but it was more about a lousy love story. I hope that next time Sujoy will come with some treat to watch…lets hope..
I agree with Akash.. the story should have been more about the struggle between Genius & Aladin Vs Ring Mastet… but it never happened… May be the expectations were too high from this movie… Although it would be unfair to compare the Joker from the The Dark Knight to the Ring Master from Aladin….but I was really hoping for something like this… The sheer presence of Ring Master should have lightened/energized the screen… but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
being namesake, i saw the movie but found it a bit less than what i expected. However, it was good in pieces
sorry for repeat of message. i guess there was a technical glitch as i didn’t my comment over the post.
one more thing… i really found the special effects bettering Indian standards. Bachchan was apt to his towering persona… Reitesh is following up fast.
I found this movie really boring though it was better than the London Nightmares. I would put this closer to Sujoy Ghosh’s Home Delivery than Jhankar Beats.