An adaptation completely botches the original theme and message

[u/Morr4Seiya]

Mulan(2020)-They give Mulan superpowers which is not only lame it goes against the message of the original about equality and struggle,plus they removes Shang because apparently having Mulan date her superior was "problematic" even though Shang genuienely respected Mulan and their rank was never brought up

I am Legend(2007)-You know why the story is called "I am legend"? SPOILER ALERT the protagonist is the actual monster,humanity is gone and the vampires have a actual society and the protagonist kills and terrorize them

Animal Farm(2026)-On the very slim chance that Andy Serkis ever sees this,here's the thing Andy,Animal Farm was not a children work it was not supposed to have a happy ending,you never heard of cautionary tales before?

[u/hollowcharlotte]

Aladdin’s remake absolutely bothers me for a similar reason. We’ll consider the Disney Aladdin the “original” here, even though I know it’s technically an adaptation as well.

Aladdin is supposed to be the hero, and he’s on a Hero’s Journey. At the very end of the animated film, it is Aladdin the Street Rat who wins. He is stripped of everything he thought made him worthwhile and won with his own two hands, his own skill, his own abilities. No genie. He outsmarts a literal sorcerer by himself. Abu is turned into a toy; Carpet is turned into thread. Genie is incapable of helping. Aladdin is ALONE. Jafar even says “Without the Genie, boy, you are NOTHING.”

The live action remake took ALL of that away from him. The ending gave the win to literally everyone else. Aladdin just sort of stands around while Jasmine has a badass fight and then Genie beats Jafar by himself. Aladdin doesn’t even get a chance to prove that he was worthwhile the whole time. They wanted Jasmine to be a Girl Boss so bad when she was freaking awesome in the animated film by herself. Girl was resourceful and smart and cool.

Nfnfndndnmdnfnfnkfng

[u/Anthyrion → u/hollowcharlotte]

There were only three things in the movie, that I liked:

1. Will Smith didn't tried to imitate Robin Williams and made his own Genie.
2. The Sultan made the impression of being at least some kind of ruler and not the totally naive man-child that he was in the animation.
3. Jasmine seemed to be a good educated princess, who knows the surrounding kingdoms and called Aladdin's bluff with his fake kingdom after she studied some maps. It needed the intervention of the Genie, that his bluff didn't blow up.

[u/somethingfak → u/Anthyrion]

On point three I will once again bring up his wish was to BE A PRINCE not to larp a prince not to lie about being a prince not to have all the wealth of a prince, by all means he should have taken over a nearby kingdom or one should have gotten retcon'd into existence for him from the wish

[u/Anthyrion → u/somethingfak]

It should've been like that, yes. But I think, even in the original animated movie, it wasn't like he took over another kingdom.

[u/somethingfak → u/Anthyrion]

Yeah its a plothole in the Animated one to, its just kinda glossed over more cus the reveal that hes not really a prince is never from hard facts like doing map research, its his own insecurities and IIRC the other super pwerful magic being calling his ass out

[u/Royal_Bitch_Pudding → u/somethingfak]

You hear prince and you think "of a kingdom". Meanwhile Aladdin's father held the title King of Thieves, thus making Aladdin the Prince of Thieves.

Genie twisted the wish in a way that would benefit Al long term.

[u/komododave17 → u/Anthyrion]

Honestly, I liked Will Smith as the genie. I thought it was a great casting choice because Williams brought such a bombastic unique energy to genie that the new movie couldn’t abandon that idea but also absolutely couldn’t try to ape William’s performance. Smith is that type of person and character and could bring that energy. I wish he’d put a bit more “Big Willie Style” into it though, but that was probably more playing off green screens and empty sound stages, cause god forbid we actually find a real life Agrabah and make a real parade. Must use computers!

[u/hollowcharlotte → u/komododave17]

I totally didn’t mind Will Smith either honestly. I think it’s just the ending that ultimately gets me. Aladdin is deprived of basically any growth; now it’s “my friends are my power”, and not a true Hero’s Journey.

[u/Last_Shopping6251 → u/Anthyrion]

I actually really don't like that Jasmine is a well educated princess. The story works better when she starts off well-meaning but naive. They are both trapped by their circumstances, Aladdin by his poverty, and Jasmine by her royal privilege.

[u/hollowcharlotte → u/Anthyrion]

I think it sort of ruins the betrayal though. She trusted Aladdin in the original movie, and thought the eh had a kinship because he was “like her”, a royal who wanted to get away from the palace and pretend to be a commoner. In reality, he was a liar.

Her discovering this too soon and for herself ruins the betrayal. Aladdin fully intends to keep lying to her, but is revealed by Jafar, thus breaking up the team.

There’s more to the decision to have Jasmine believe Aladdin than just “girls are stupid and she fell for it lol”; it’s pivotal in Aladdin’s character development. When he is revealed for who he is and loses the genie, that’s the darkest part of his journey- the Dark Valley of the Soul, I think. He’s become a terrible, shitty person. He lied to the girl he loved and totally fooled her, lost sight of himself, and ultimately has to figure out how to keep going as just Aladdin the Street Rat.

Jasmine took away a LOT of his chances to grow in the remake. Aladdin doesn’t get a chance to be deceitful, or suck. She’s too smart for that, and he becomes flat and weak because of it.

All things in balance.