It’s nearly the end of the year, which means it is time to prepare to get gifts for your loved ones, particularly those who may love watching films. Throughout the year, we have seen many films from various genres ranging from the action blockbuster films like Avengers: Endgame and horror flicks like Midsommar to the animated features like Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and fantasy fun like Aladdin (2019).

Check out this year’s Holiday Geek Gift Guide: Blu-ray & DVD Edition…

Aladdin (2019)
4K Ultra HD | Blu-ray | DVD | Digital
Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Guy Ritchie, John August
Cast: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Alan Tudyk, Billy Magnussen
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios
Rated PG | Runtime: 128 Minutes
Release Date: September 10, 2019

Walt Disney Studios continues to go through its vault to turn their animated classics into live-action films. Their latest is Aladdin. Based on the 1992 animated film of the same name, this live-action take is directed by Guy Ritchie, who brings his penchant for fun and stylized action sequences and a cast of wonderful characters to his first family-friendly film. The updated film dazzles thanks in part to its cast, consisting of Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, and Will Smith, and its new take on some favorite songs.

Now, Disney’s hit film has its own release, along with some of the bonus features that detail the making of this live-action remake.

Aladdin (1992)
4K Ultra HD | Blu-ray
Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Writer: Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio
Cast: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, Douglas Seale
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios
Rated G | 90 Minutes
Release date: September 10, 2019

Disney adapting their animated classics into live-action films are sometimes predicated on the critical and commercial success of the predecessor, though the studio’s recent wave of live-action adaptations has been met with varying degrees of success. But what matters most is how these films perform at the box office, and as long as they at a hit, the studio will come out with more and more. And, of course, none of these live-action films would be here without their animated origins.

Take, for instance, 1992’s Aladdin, before we can get into reviewing the live-action film from Guy Ritchie (to come soon), we must look back at the animated film by Ron Clements and John Musker. Considered to be one of the best from the Disney film era known as the Disney Renaissance, Aladdin is a beautifully animated musical that continues to hold up well. But with new technologies and televisions bringing us higher definition and better picture quality, it was only a matter of time before Disney started to go back in their vaults to release upgraded versions of their greatest hits.

Disney’s Aladdin surprised many (including myself) with its strong box office performance. Earning over a billion dollars worldwide, it should come as no surprise that we are hearing talks about a sequel.

But that’s what it strictly is, just talks. In a new interview, producer Dan Lin says a sequel to the Guy Ritchie film is in the early stages of development. More on the report below.

Back in May, Disney gave their classic animated hit Aladdin a live-action makeover by director Guy Ritchie. Now, both versions of the film will be getting a release on Digital, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD this Summer.

Both versions of the film will be released to Digital and Movies Anywhere on August 27, 2019 and in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD edition on September 10, 2019. The 1992 animated film will be a part of the studio’s Walt Disney Signature Collection, and will be available for the first time in 4K Ultra HD.

Guy Ritchie‘s filmography is splattered with heavy amounts of witty dialogue and gritty action sequences. While it may not necessarily lend itself well to a Disney family-friendly film, his filmmaking style works in Aladdin. Based on the 1992 animated film of the same name, the upcoming live-action version is part of a successful trend that has Disney going through their vault to see which one of the animated classics they could reimagine into a live-action film next.

There’s action, suspense, and a bit of romance. But there is also humor, singing, and dancing. All of these are key aspects the animated original had. So to say that director Ritchie and the cast had a huge responsibility to do the film justice would be a vast understatement. And yet, they pulled it off.

Geeks Of Doom attended the Aladdin global press conference with their fellow journalists to talk to Ritchie about the production, how he stayed true to the spirit of the animated original, his style of filmmaking, the positive vibes that helped set up the camaraderie and set the tone, and more. Check out what he had to say here below.

Based on the 1992 animated classic of the same name, Aladdin was one of Disney’s first animated features to have characters of color. Representation is important in this day and age because it allows people of color and the marginalized to see themselves in the characters seen on screen. So it was significantly important to reflect that in the casting of the live-action adaptation of Aladdin. Though there were reports of some casting issues, director Guy Ritchie and the rest of the Disney team were dedicated to finding the right actors for the film. And they found them in Mena Massoud, who plays the title character, and Naomi Scott, who plays Princess Jasmine.

Geeks of Doom and a group of journalists were invited to attend the global press conference in Los Angeles, CA, where Massoud and Scott talked about what it was like to be a part of the production, working with Ritchie, and how they all infused some of their own personalities and quirks into the characters while also respecting the animated original. Check out what they had to say below.

Disney’s live-action take on Aladdin will see Will Smith bring the high-spirited and energetic Genie to life. With his own brand of charisma and a bit of hip-hop flair, this Genie is not like the Robin Williams take in the animated original, but the performance still pays homage to the late comedian. In fact, the actor says the remake is the highlight of his career. And you can see how much fun he is having in that performance.

Geeks of Doom and a group of journalists were invited to sit down at the Aladdin global press conference where Smith spoke about believing in that Disney magic, how he made some of those memorable songs his own, finding a career resurgence, and what representation means to him. Check out what he had to see below.

Aladdin
Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Guy Ritchie, John August
Cast: Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Alan Tudyk, Billy Magnussen
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios
Rated PG | Runtime: 128 Minutes
Release Date: May 24, 2019

There is absolutely no room for error when it comes to adapting a Disney animated classic into a live-action film. The studio has recently found some modest critical and commercial success with some of their titles. But the one common thread that each of them shares is that all of them are a part of a legacy and each has a large existing fanbase. So the bar of expectation for a live-action take on Aladdin is pretty high. Especially when it comes to capturing the same spirit of the story, themes, and music. But most of all, the characters, like Aladdin, Jasmine, and the unforgettable Genie.

Luckily, Guy Ritchie‘s take on the film is something that stays true to the spirit of the animated original while still maintaining his style of filmmaking. A huge surprise at best, the film captures everything that we love about the animated original through its cast, especially with Will Smith‘s Genie and Naomi Scott‘s scene-stealing performance as Princess Jasmine. With some slight updates to the story and songs, along with a brand new song from Alan Menken, this version of Aladdin is an upbeat and fun contemporary take on the 1992 original.

Alan Tudyk is considered a good luck charm to Walt Disney Studios, having appeared and voiced multiple characters in different Disney properties from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and Lucasfilm.

Now the actor will be taking his voice talents to a different part of Disney, their live-action department. According to new reports, Tudyk will be voicing Iago in director Guy Ritchie‘s live-action adaptation of Aladdin. More on the report below.