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"ALADDIN" (1992) (voices of Robin Williams, Gilbert Gottfried) (G) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons None Minor Heavy Moderate Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None Mild None *None Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None None Mild Moderate QUICK TAKE: Animated Musical: A young commoner finds a magic lamp and has his genie turn him into a prince so that he might wed the beautiful daughter of the sultan. PLOT: Aladdin (voice by SCOTT WEINGER) is a "street rat," living by his wits on the streets of Agrabah with his pet monkey Abu (voice by FRANK WELKER). Though a thief, he only steals what he needs to survive… and even then, when he sees someone else in need, he'll give away what little he has. One day, he meets the beautiful Princess Jasmine (voice by LINDA LARKIN) who, bored by her captivity within the palace, has ventured out into the marketplace in disguise. When she innocently takes a piece of fruit without paying, Aladdin rescues her from the harsh punishment given to thieves that allow themselves to be caught. There's a romantic connection but Jasmine is bound by her responsibilities as a princess and can only be wed to a prince. Aladdin is chosen by the evil Jafar (voice by JONATHAN FREEMAN) and his sarcastic sidekick parrot Iago (voice by GILBERT GOTTFRIED) to retrieve a magic lamp from a magic cave. Aladdin manages to find the lamp (and a magic carpet) but keeps them for himself. When he rubs the lamp, he discovers a riotously funny and all-powerful genie (voice by ROBIN WILLIAMS) living inside it. He is granted three wishes as master of the lamp. His first wish is to become a prince so he might woo Jasmine. None of this sits well with Jafar who has plans to one day rule the sultanate himself. Surprisingly, it also doesn't sit well with Jasmine who, not recognizing Aladdin in his genie-designed princely robes, dismisses him as just another fortune hunter. Aladdin must prove his worth -- not only to Jasmine -- but to himself as well. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Yes they will -- Again and again and again. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G Presumably for not containing material to warrant a higher rating. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: It's debatable whether kids view animated characters - particularly non-human ones - as role models, but here's a quick look at the characters major characteristics. SCOTT WEINGER provides the voice of Aladdin, a "street rat" who is also described as "a diamond in the rough. Though he lives the life of a commoner, it is clear that he has the heart of a prince. LINDA LARKIN provides the voice of Princess Jasmine who is bored with her life inside the palace walls. She longs for romance and love and resents the current search for a "suitable" husband. ROBIN WILLIAMS provides the voice of Genie, an all-powerful being forced to live in an itty-bitty space. He, more than anything else, wants to be free. JONATHAN FREEMAN provides the voice of Jafar, the evil advisor to the sultan who desires to become all-powerful and misuse that power for his own pleasures. GILBERT GOTTFRIED provides the voice of Iago, the sarcastic pet parrot of Jafar. FRANK WELKER provides the voice of Abu, Aladdin's resourceful pet monkey. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated G. There is no profanity although one character does try to say the line, "What in the h*ll," but is interrupted before he completes the sentence. There is no sex or nudity although many of the female characters are drawn to be curvy and alluring. There is a G-rated romance between Aladdin and Jasmine. There is plenty of cartoon violence of an adventure nature, including fights with swords and narrow escapes from danger, some of which might be unsettling or suspenseful to some kids. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while magic is prevalent and used for both comedy and frights. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE There's no use, but a sidewalk vendor tries to sell a combination hookah/coffee maker. BLOOD/GORE Genie takes the form of a decaying corpse coming to life when explaining to Aladdin what he can and can't wish for. It is played for comedy. Aladdin grabs his flying carpet and sails out of an upper story window. Guards try to follow him but go crashing to the ground, landing in a cart of fertilizer. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Aladdin lies about who he is to Jasmine in order to get her to like him A character uses the phrase "You moron." A camel collapses on its legs after making a long journey across the Arabian desert. His rider hops off, ambivalent to his camel's condition. Abu blows a "raspberry" at a guard. Aladdin rips a guard's belt sash that causes the guard's pants to fall down to his ankles. A would-be suitor for the hand of Jasmine storms out of the palace, his underwear showing through a gaping hole in his pants. We then see Raja, Jasmine's pet tiger, with cloth from the suitor's pants hanging from his teeth. Jafar uses hypnotism to get the sultan to do his bidding. Aladdin and Abu steal a melon for their breakfast. When making Aladdin into a prince, Genie takes the form of an effeminate fashion designer. Genie, from inside the lamp, blows a raspberry. The following are examples of the film's uses of magic for those who are concerned with such material: Jafar uses a magic scarab to find a hidden cave. Aladdin discovers a magic carpet that flies and is capable of independent thought Aladdin rubs a magic lamp that releases a giant blue genie who morphs into multiple shapes, forms, and personalities. Genie turns Aladdin into a prince. Genie turns Abu into an elephant. Genie turns Jafar into a sultan, then a sorcerer, and finally into an all-powerful genie like himself. Jafar has a staff that he uses to send magic energy bolts. Jafar, with his magically enhanced powers, controls the sultan, Jasmine and Aladdin to do his bidding. Jafar traps Jasmine in a giant hourglass. Jafar turns himself into a giant cobra. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" might be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers, particularly younger kids. A cave, whose mouth resembles the mouth of a giant beast rises from the sand. A thief, entering the cave despite warnings, is swallowed up by it. Three guards approach Aladdin, swords drawn. One of them vows to cut off his hand (for stealing a loaf of bread). Jasmine innocently gives a piece of fruit to a hungry child. Because she didn't know to pay, she is accused of stealing from the vendor. The vendor draws a sword and prepares to cut her hand off. Prince Ali and Jasmine fly on a magic carpet, swooping and gliding among clouds and tall buildings. Jafar, in control of the lamp, forces the Genie to turn him into a powerful sorcerer. He grows to a threatening size. Jafar accuses Aladdin of kidnapping the princess and sentences him to death by beheading. After Abu touches the "forbidden treasure," the magic cave begins to collapse around them. Aladdin, Abu, and the magic carpet narrowly escape falling rocks and lava flows. Aladdin clings to a rock face. Jafar, in disguise, brandishes a dagger and threatens to kill him. Abu distracts Jafar but Aladdin and Abu fall off the cliff and back into the abyss of the magic cave as it collapses back into the desert sand. Jafar traps Jasmine in a magically created giant hourglass and causes the sand to begin to pour down upon her. Jafar turns himself into a giant cobra and attacks Aladdin. He strikes at Aladdin with his fangs. Aladdin manages to dodge and slices the cobra with his sword (no blood is seen). Aladdin loses his sword, regains it and stabs the snake (no blood is seen). Aladdin goes to free Jasmine from the hourglass but the snake traps him in his giant coils and begins to squeeze the life from him. Genie, obeying Jafar's command, turns Jafar into an all-powerful genie. Jafar grows to monumental size of unbelievable evil. GUNS/WEAPONS Swords/Knives/daggers/Horsewhip/Magic: Used to threaten and/or try to harm others. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You moron." All of the Genie's mannerisms and dialogue might be enticing for some kids to imitate, as might some of the action and other such behavior. Both the Genie and Abu the monkey blow raspberries. Jafar uses hypnotism to get people to do what he wants them to do. Jasmine accidentally bumps into a fire-eater, causing him to swallow the gas. He belches fire and smoke. Aladdin lies about who he is to Jasmine in order to get her to like him. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A mild amount of intense sounding/ominous music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY Iago begins the sentence, "How in the h*ll..." but Jafar clamps a hand over his beak, effectively cutting off the sentence. SEX/NUDITY Aladdin, evading capture, enters the window of a harem containing scantily clad girls (bare midriffs, harem pants, and bikini-style tops). Genie conjures up a number of dancing girls during the song "You Ain't Never Had A Friend Like Me." Dancing girls precede Prince Ali in his parade. Genie takes the form of a giant, buxom harem girl. Prince Ali and Jasmine kiss. Jasmine pretends to seduce Jafar in order to distract him. She kisses him. SMOKING None TENSE FAMILY SCENES None. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Is there ever a good reason to lie about who we are? What three wishes would we ask of an all-powerful genie? Is magic real? VIOLENCE An underling retrieves a piece of jewelry for his master saying, "I had to slit a few throats." Aladdin, to escape capture, leaps off a building, slides down a clothesline, collecting clothes along the way, and eventually smashes into the side of a building and lies crumpled at the floor. Three guards approach Aladdin, swords drawn. One of them vows to cut off his hand (for stealing a loaf of bread). A guard repeatedly swings his sword at Aladdin who ducks and weaves to avoid being hurt. Aladdin ducks behind a wooden post just as a guard slashes at him with his sword. The sword embeds itself into the post, just out of reach of Aladdin's head. Aladdin climbs a rickety wooden scaffold that the guards proceed to shake in order to capture Aladdin. Aladdin pushes a barrel off the platform, and it falls upon a guard, sending him crashing to the ground. Aladdin hides behind a post as various knives, swords, and axes are thrown at him. Aladdin leaps over a man who is lying on a bed of nails. A guard tries to follow but fails and falls upon the man who is pushed into the nails. Guards, chasing Aladdin, walk on a bed of hot coals that briefly set their feet ablaze. Abu, looking for a weapon, draws a sword from the throat of a sword-eater who was not expecting the interruption. A group of guards converge upon Aladdin who escapes by climbing a rope ladder. Aladdin grabs his flying carpet and sails out of an upper story window. Guards try to follow him but go crashing to the ground, landing in a cart of fertilizer. A man tries to use his horsewhip to strike children standing in his path. Aladdin intervenes and is knocked down into a mud puddle. Jasmine accidentally bumps into a fire-eater, causing him to swallow the gas. He belches fire and smoke. Jasmine innocently gives a piece of fruit to a hungry child. Because she didn't know to pay, she is accused of stealing from the vendor. The vendor draws a sword and prepares to cut her hand off. Iago, peddling on a wheeled device, loses his footing and is caught in the gears. Jasmine and Aladdin jump from an upper story window and crash through an awning to land upon a sand pile. A guard grabs Aladdin by the throat. Abu pulls the guard's turban down over his eyes. The guard pulls Abu from his head and hurls him into a ceramic pot. Jasmine confronts the guard who backhands her and knocks her to the ground. Iago gets stuck in a sliding door and begins to squawk. Jafar kicks him to keep him quiet. Jafar accuses Aladdin of kidnapping the princess and sentences him to death by beheading. Aladdin is locked in chains and kept prisoner in a dungeon. After Abu touches the "forbidden treasure," the magic cave begins to collapse around them. Aladdin, Abu, and the magic carpet narrowly escape falling rocks and lava flows. Aladdin clings to a rock face. Jafar, in disguise, brandishes a dagger and threatens to kill him. Abu distracts Jafar but Aladdin and Abu fall off the cliff and back into the abyss of the magic cave as it collapses back into the desert sand. When Genie checks a recipe book, he comes to the entry for Caesar Salad and a giant hand holding a dagger pops out of the book. The sultan, taking a ride on Aladdin's magic carpet, flies into the rear of an elephant. Iago, trying to avoid the carpet, smashes headfirst into a pillar. Prince Ali is grabbed by five guards. Abu (as an elephant) is bound. Ali is shackled and his magic carpet is tied around a post. Jafar grabs Iago by the neck, which briefly causes him to turn blue. Iago, on stilts pretending to be a flamingo, hits another bird with one of his stilts. Jafar strikes a blow that sends Aladdin and Abu into a distant frozen land. Iago stuffs the ex-sultan's mouth with crackers. Jasmine, in shackles, is forced to serve Jafar. Jafar sends an energy bolt into Aladdin, which repels him back into a mountain of treasure. Jasmine wrestles with Jafar and is thrown to the ground. Aladdin then jumps on Jafar and he too is thrown to the ground. Jafar traps Jasmine in a magically created giant hourglass and causes the sand to begin to pour down upon her. Abu hits Jafar with a metal lid and tries to reach the magic lamp. Jafar turns him into a windup toy. The magic carpet swoops down and grabs the lamp, Jafar sends an energy bolt into it that causes it to unravel into a pile of yarn. Aladdin grabs a sword to fight Jafar who blows a ring of fire around him and then harmlessly passes through the fire to confront Aladdin. Jafar turns himself into a giant cobra and attacks Aladdin. He strikes at Aladdin with his fangs. Aladdin manages to dodge and slices the cobra with his sword (no blood is seen). Aladdin loses his sword, regains it and stabs the snake (no blood is seen). Aladdin goes to free Jasmine from the hourglass but the snake traps him in his giant coils and begins to squeeze the life from him. Posted May 31, 2007