veeleen Reviews

Aladdin (1992)

Aladdin may be the best Disney film of them all

[10/10 · 18 November 2015]

The film opens with a merchant's tell-tale song, performed by the classic Robin Williams. It begins the (inaccurate, but good) story of a boy named Aladdin, who has the power to open the Cave of Wonders, a place that holds magic and wealth. We don't meet Aladdin yet, as it first introduces us to the villain of the story, the well-written "Jafar". Jafar is cunning and witty. He is a classic villain, with a terrifying look and an evil laugh. We are shown Jafar and another man trying to open the Cave of Wonders. Since the other man is not Aladdin, he cannot go into the cave and come out unharmed. Jafar grows angry after learning this fate, and hatches a plan to find Aladdin.

Now, we center on a scraggly boy in a marketplace, stealing bread. There's the beautiful singing of Scott Weinger that immediately grabs your heart. Guards are trying to catch Aladdin for stealing. Through this song, you realize the boy is a poor orphan unable to afford food. He owns a pet monkey named Abu, who has an attitude of his own. Aladdin escapes the guards with an allusion to a magic carpet as his escape method, and lands in an alley, while the guards land in manure.

Now, one may think Aladdin deserves to be caught for stealing. It's at this moment that Aladdin notices two starving children and gives his own bread to them. Abu does the same, with a little persuasion.

I won't give everything away, but what I will say is that this film is something I hold very dear to my heart. Throughout the past 20+ years, it has touched the hearts of many. It's got a great musical score, amazing character development, great voice actresses and actors (including Robin Williams!), and a story that you can't forget. This movie truly is magical.

Reign (2013–2017)

Incredibly inaccurate, but a great show

[8/10 · 18 November 2015]

I love Reign. I watch it every time it's on. I think the actors are fantastic, the characters interesting, and enough happens in the plot to make me want to watch the next episode.

My biggest problem is how incredibly inaccurate it is. Their outfits, Queen Mary's hair (should be red! It was red in real life!), the feminism (if Mary had actually spoken that way to her king, she would have been beheaded! Go women, but this isn't accurate for 1500s France!), the actual history (Francis died at 17 of an ear infection, there was never any illegitimate brother named Sebastian, and Mary is held prisoner for 19 years for plotting against Elizabeth for her murder!), and much more.

While the story itself it beautiful, and I love the relationships and wish it was actually like that, I can't dismiss the fact that most of these events just did not happen.

I think Catherine (Megan Follows?) is a fantastic actress. She is my favorite character, despite her constant misbehavior. Mary is a likable character, and gorgeous. Francis I didn't like at first, but when he died, my heart sunk. Bash is my favorite man on the show. He's always stood up for himself and never backs down.

I'm wondering what happens next constantly. So at least they're doing something right. However, not sure if there will be a season four in the making.