Aladdin (1992) Review

Let’s start by showing y’all the trailers, shall we?

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Non-Spoiler Plot Overview

Aladdin is one of those Disney Renaissance classics where the second you hear the music, you’re mentally flying on a magic carpet through your childhood. Set in the fictional city of Agrabah, the film follows a street-smart “diamond in the rough” named Aladdin, who stumbles into an adventure after finding a mysterious lamp. Turns out, the lamp holds a powerful and hysterically unfiltered Genie, and with his help, Aladdin tries to change his fate, win over Princess Jasmine, and avoid being vaporized by the evil sorcerer Jafar.

It’s a tale full of charm, chaos, and talking animals who are somehow more emotionally intelligent than half the cast. The animation is vibrant, the jokes still land (yes, even decades later), and it’s one of those rare animated films that somehow feels both epic and cozy at the same time.


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Character Rundown

Aladdin – Your classic underdog. He’s a thief, sure, but he has a heart of gold. His charm and awkward attempts at being “prince material” make him easy to root for, even when he’s being kind of dumb.

Jasmine – Finally, a Disney princess with a backbone. Jasmine doesn’t just sit around waiting to be married off; she has opinions, sass, and a tiger. What more do you need?

Genie – Robin Williams is the Genie. His performance is legendary, chaotic, and still unmatched to this day. He practically invented rapid-fire meta humor before it was cool.

Jafar – Now this is how you do a villain. Jafar is cunning, theatrical, and genuinely intimidating. What makes him so frightening isn’t just his sinister magic or his sinister voice—it’s how patient he is. He bides his time, manipulates everyone, and when he finally snaps? You feel it. His design is peak Disney villain: the robes, the staff, the twisted beard, and the cobra motif. Which is why it’s criminal what the 2019 live-action remake did to him. They turned him into Discount Prince Zuko with zero intimidation factor.

Bring back scary Jafar, not “softboy who mumbles.”

Iago – Gilbert Gottfried screaming about crackers. That’s it. That’s the character. 10/10.

Also here’s 2 my favorite clips.

A friend like me.

Prince Ali.

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Pacing / Episode Flow

The movie is paced like a perfect magic carpet ride: smooth, fast, and full of wow moments. It knows exactly when to hit you with a heartfelt moment and when to go full chaos mode with Genie hijinks. There’s never a point where it drags—every scene either pushes the story forward or gives you something memorable.


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Favorite Songs List

“Friend Like Me” – Chaotic brilliance. Robin Williams goes off.

“Prince Ali” – A royal entrance like no other. Extra, loud, and fabulous.

“A Whole New World” – Romantic, iconic, and still the blueprint for every Disney duet.

“Arabian Nights” – Sets the tone with mystery and flair. Absolute vibe.

“Jafar’s Hour” – Sets the tone for how powerful Jafar is.

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Final Thoughts

There’s a reason Aladdin is cemented as one of Disney’s all-time greats. It mixes heart, humor, romance, and magic without ever losing its footing. The characters are likable, the villain is iconic, and the Genie is a one-man show that makes every rewatch worth it. Plus, it holds up ridiculously well in both animation and emotion.


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Rating

10/10


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Spoiler Warning

Past this point, it’s all flying carpets and plot twists. You’ve been warned!


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Spoilers

So Aladdin uses his first wish to become Prince Ali, all part of his plan to woo Jasmine. Problem is, pretending to be someone else doesn’t exactly work out great in relationships. Jasmine sees right through it. Meanwhile, Jafar is scheming with Iago to manipulate the Sultan and get access to the lamp himself.

Eventually, Jafar gets his hands on the lamp, becomes a sorcerer, and then wishes to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world!

BTW here’s the scene of Jafar exposing Aladdin to Jasmine and her dad.

🐍 Spoiler Discussion – The Final Battle With Senior Psychopath

Like Genie said…
“Al, I can’t help you. I’m working for Senior Psychopath now.”

It’s a line that’s funny on the surface — classic Robin Williams — but there’s something deeper and more gutting underneath it. Genie wants to help, but he’s magically shackled to Jafar’s will. That moment where he sees Aladdin sneaking behind a pillar, and he can’t do anything but warn him that he’s powerless now? That’s not just comic relief — that’s the reminder that power in the wrong hands is enslaving, and even the most powerful beings can be used against you. It adds so much emotional tension to the final act and gives Jafar’s defeat real catharsis. Because yeah, Jafar may be powerful… but he ain’t smart.

Now let’s address the rancid elephant in the room:
Jafar is disgusting. Like, we’re not sugarcoating it — he’s a creep.
He was about to forcefully marry Jasmine. A young woman in her early 20s. While he’s a wrinkled old decrepit slimeball in his late 50s or 60s. And he does it not because he loves her — ew — but because it would solidify his power over the kingdom. He literally mind-controls her, tries to chain her, and uses her as bait to mess with Aladdin. Dude was one feathered snake staff away from joining a criminal registry. Disney villains have done dark things, but Jafar? He brings a whole new level of gross.

And then… the battle begins.
Once Jafar goes full chaos-mode with his sorcerer powers, we get what is arguably one of the best villain showdowns in Disney history. He turns Abu into a toy. Carpet gets tied up. Jasmine gets trapped in an hourglass like she’s a damn prop in The Price Is Right. And then we get to that moment:

The snake.
Jafar’s ego isn’t enough — he has to go full reptilian overlord. He turns into this massive, coiled red cobra, hissing at Aladdin and literally saying “You will kneel before me!” in the most power-drunk hiss imaginable. The animation here is intense — the glowing eyes, the scale texture, the way he wraps around Aladdin like prey. It’s menacing. It’s epic. It’s gross. And it works.

But Jafar’s downfall? Poetic.

Aladdin outsmarts him.
He plays into Jafar’s fatal flaw: his hunger for more. Aladdin taunts him, saying he’ll never be as powerful as Genie. And that’s all it takes. Jafar’s ego combusts. He wishes to become an all-powerful genie — and in a move of pure karmic genius, he gets his wish.

But here’s the catch:
Genies come with shackles.
Unlike Robin Williams’ Genie — who is blue, lovable, and full of life — Jafar becomes a red, demonic-looking genie, instantly bound in shackles, sucked into a lamp, and yeeted into oblivion with Iago screeching the whole way down. The key difference?
Robin’s Genie had heart.
Jafar’s genie form is just raw, ugly power — no soul, no freedom, no humor. Just enslavement. Fitting for someone who spent the whole movie trying to control everyone else.

And that, folks, is why Aladdin delivered one of the most satisfying villain endings in Disney history.

Aladdin proves that being true to yourself actually works, sets Genie free with his last wish, and Jasmine finally gets the choice to marry who she wants. Happy endings all around—except Jafar, who is now Lamp Boy forever.