David Pierdomenico
During the Grammys this past weekend, Disney dropped the latest teaser trailer of their new Aladdin remake, and naturally the internet lost its mind. Like most teasers, it didn’t show very much, but we did get our first glimpse of Will Smith in character as the iconic genie, and many fans were less than impressed, to say the least. However, while many criticize how terrible the effects look to make him blue, it demonstrates just what’s wrong with Disney and their whole obsession with these live-action remakes.
The Whole Point of Remakes
Remakes and reboots aren’t inherently negative by any means. Often times they can be great way to bring in a fresh take or new perspective on an old classic. Films like The Thing or The Fly come to mind as ’80s classics which even surpassed the popularity of their original films. And in a more family-friendly sense, Disney’s Maleficent is a great example of this. It very easily could have been a pointless shot-for-shot retelling of the original Sleeping Beauty, but instead offered a fascinating take on the story from the point of view of its titular villain (or antihero).
One could watch both the original and the “remake” and still get two completely different stories and viewing experiences. Fans rolled their eyes when it was first announced, but the film not only justified its own existence, but surpassed all expectations.
Most Disney remakes since, however, have been cheap imitations of their cinematic predecessors. Films like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast simply followed most of the same story beats (as well as songs) but in a live-action format. At no point do they ever justify themselves as remakes, and they remain greatly inferior to their original counterparts. So why do they even exist (other than the obviously financial reasons for Disney)?
Afraid to Try Something New
Which brings us to Aladdin. The world of the original is a vastly intriguing one that could genuinely benefit from a live-action setting. And while the late Robin Williams gave one of the greatest performances of his career in the original, there is still more room for a reinterpretation of that character. Will Smith is an incredibly talented and charismatic actor who will no doubt bring a great deal of energy and comedy to that role.
But why sully his performance with incredibly fake-looking CGI color grading, just to make him look more like the original version? Clearly Disney simply wants this film to be a carbon copy of the original without trying something new. Will Smith has a very different style of humor than Williams did, as well as a different physicality than the original animation. If they want this film to succeed, they need to let him be his own unique iteration of the beloved character.
Negating the Past
The real issue with Disney’s insistence upon these live-action remakes is that they’re seeking to replace the classics of the past. If they were doing new and unique takes, as they did with Maleficent, there would still be room for the older versions. But by redoing the films in essentially the same way, but live-action, all they’re doing is making younger audiences think of the newer one when they hear that title. And if the remakes aren’t any different, who can blame audiences for doing that?
Disney’s plan is far too shortsighted. Of course they’re making millions upon millions in box office revenue, but at what point is it enough, especially when they already own the MCU and Star Wars? But they’re not at all considering their legacy as a studio. Decades from now audiences will have forgotten about the animated classics of old, just so that Disney could make a few more billion at the box office!
