Adapted from "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp"

Robert 2021-10-18 19:50:27

The story of Aladdin and the magic lamp was not originally derived from the original Arabic version of "One Thousand and One Nights", but was compiled into "One Thousand and One Nights" by a translator named Galang in France. (I read the version translated by Li Weizhong) The story mainly tells that Aladdin, a gangster on the street, was deceived by an African magician to get a magic lamp for the magician. But after getting the magic lamp, the enchanter was angry because Aladdin didn't give him the magic lamp the first time, and shut him and the magic lamp directly in the cave. (Don't ask me why the sorcerer is so stupid, that's what he did) Aladdin then accidentally triggered the ring that the sorcerer gave him, and there was a ring spirit hidden in it. Ring Spirit brought him out safely. Later, Aladdin and his mother discovered the secret of the magic lamp. It turns out that there is a more powerful magic lamp hidden in the magic lamp. So Aladdin lived a good life by relying on the lamp spirit, and married the princess whom he fell in love with at first sight. The enchanter found that Aladdin had escaped from birth, so he tried to use the method of "replace the old lamp with a new one" to defraud the magic lamp from the unknown princess, and moved Aladdin's palace and the princess back to his hometown of Africa. . Fortunately, Aladdin still has the ring spirit in his hand. With the ring spirit, Aladdin came to Africa and returned to China after eliminating the enchanter with the princess. Number of Arab countries). Unexpectedly, the enchanter also has a big brother (soy sauce), knowing that he wanted to avenge his younger brother after his death. The conspiracy was revealed by the magic lamp, and he was also killed. In the end Aladdin became the emperor and lived happily with the princess.

There are many problems with the logic of the original text and the rationality of the plot. For example, the sorcerer directly locked Aladdin in a cave because of his anger, or what did Aladdin suddenly become wise and martial artist (Of course it is also possible that he asks the gods The lamp made a wish), and the emperor was so stupid that he was not at all wary of young men like Aladdin. Although the story is still very tortuous and magical, it is obvious that Disney cannot directly use this script.

So Disney's Aladdin made many adaptations of the original. The first is that the three big villains are too troublesome (there is also a petty prime minister who wants to marry his son to the princess in the original text), the plot line will become very complicated, so simply combine the three characters together to become a meeting The prime minister who plays black magic. Then the magic lamp is too powerful. If the same unlimited wishes in the original text are too buggy, the story may not be fulfilled, so three wishes and three unachievable conditions are set for the magic lamp (the magic lamp has three It is said that the wish setting originated from Disney. When I was a child, I always thought it was really only three cries). Secondly, the princess' playing time was adjusted, so that the princess's main role after marriage directly mentioned the acquaintance of the two before the marriage, in order to increase the princess's personal charm.

There is no doubt that Disney's creation has its own uniqueness. The first is to add a funny monkey to Aladdin, a pet tiger to the princess, and to give the magic lamp his own consciousness. The addition of these three characters adds more diversified elements to the animation. It also allows more characters to shake their burdens and make fun of them, so that Aladdin and the princess have more time to talk about the love that everyone loves to watch. The second is to inject new connotations into the story, where Disney chooses freedom. The princess wants freedom of marriage, Aladdin wants financial freedom, and Deng Ling wants personal freedom. Each protagonist has the freedom he wants, and in the end, the protagonist group has the freedom they want. This kind of princess movie that highlights the spirit of women's yearning for independence and freedom in the new era is also easy to act on the preferences of the audience at that time.

However, the new connotation of this adaptation cannot stand scrutiny in the pursuit of freedom. The first is the princess. Princess Jasmine saw Aladdin at the market. The two escaped from the capture together, and then they fell in love with each other and wanted to kiss. Aladdin pretended to be a prince to ask for a kiss. Princess Jasmine hadn't determined whether the prince was Aladdin or not, so the two of them sat on the magic carpet and went for a drive. May I ask the princess whether you are pursuing the freedom of marriage, or are you just pursuing the feeling of rebellion? What do you fall in love with Aladdin? If you don't even understand why love, does the freedom of marriage really mean so much? Secondly It's Aladdin. Aladdin wants financial freedom. What normal modern people should think of is how to change themselves and strive to strengthen their abilities. But Aladdin didn't see any growth in the whole film. Instead, he still mixed for a while. How can you convince the audience that you have the ability to be good to the princess after the magic lamp is gone? The last is the lamp spirit. It is understandable that Deng Ling is endowed with personality, because if it is not endowed with personality, there is no way to pursue freedom. But a lamp spirit with his own independent personality, and a lamp spirit with his own independent ability to judge, is it because he loves Aladdin in the film? Is it because of Aladdin who promised to give the magic lamp freedom but turned back? Why is the magic lamp willing to not be free for Aladdin, and how does it rank the values ​​in its mind? So when the two values ​​of don't be greedy and don't lie are added to the film, I don't think it's reasonable. One kind of value has not been well stated, so why bother to add so many things.

Of course, it is undeniable that as a product of Disney, "Aladdin" does have the animation effects and soundtrack that still seem to be very good now, and the character creation is also very vivid. But as an adaptation of the story, I still recommend telling the story first, and then other things can be the icing on the cake.

View more about Aladdin reviews

Extended Reading
  • Maegan 2022-04-21 09:01:11

    The first Disney animation I watched was shocked by its Broadway opera style, when I was young

  • Jules 2021-10-20 19:01:02

    The voice of the genie is the brightest, it turned out to be Robin Williams, no wonder

Aladdin quotes

  • Genie: Oh, Al. I'm getting kinda fond of you, kid. Not that I wanna pick out curtains or anything.

  • [Abu is swinging a stolen sword at the guards]

    Guard: [frightened] He's got a sword!

    Razoul: [to his subordinates] You idiots.

    [louder]

    Razoul: We've all got swords!