Aladdin 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Aladdin 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

An entertaining adaptation of the beloved Disney animated classic

Aladdin (2019) is Disney's live-action adaptation of the beloved animated 1992 musical. Featuring a cast that includes Will Smith (Genie), Mena Massoud (Aladdin), and Naomi Scott (Jasmine), family audiences will be taken on a magic carpet ride to a fun and high-spirited land worth experiencing. Brimming with high production values and the great music of legendary Disney composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), there is plenty of fun for the entire family.

"I'm ready for my first wish, Genie. Can I just hand you my Blu-ray.com wish-list..."

To read more on the film and release please refer to the review published by my fellow Blu-ray.com colleague, Martin Liebman. Please note my rating on the film itself is my own opinion on the film.

Aladdin 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a complete evaluation of the video quality on the 4K release please click here to view the published review on the standard edition.

Aladdin 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For a complete evaluation of the audio on the 4K release please click here to view the published review on the standard edition.

Aladdin 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Walt Disney Studios and Target have collaborated together to present a special collectors edition of Aladdin (2019). The release contains the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and a digital copy code tucked on the inside of the packaging.

EXCLUSIVE to the Target edition is the following:

Collector's Edition Packaging

Upon opening up the deluxe packaging, fans will be greeted with a beautifully designed digi-pack style case which stands out with its own distinctive cover-art (differentiating it from either the standard 4K or Blu-ray editions). It's a pleasure to see such nice effort put into the design of the release. With the colorful purple artwork displaying the iconic and romantic image of Aladdin and Jasmine on their magic carpet ride (with the playful Genie by their side) there's a sense of real magic to the release.

Fans will instantly feel a sense of nostalgia for the scene from the animated masterpiece. (The only thing "missing" is a shiny button to press for the scene's music to magically play back.) This is a handsome looking package that will please the most enthusiastic of Disney fans. In addition to collectible packaging this exclusive Target release contains a 36 page gallery book printed on high quality glossy paper which contains a written introduction from director Guy Ritchie and a a making-of guide featuring writing about the film by Emily Zemler alongside some gorgeous production photographs and illustrations.

There are several sub-sections included in the booklet which focuses on a variety of different topics: from the filmmaking returning to the roots of Agrabah, the portrayal of Aladdin by the skilled actor Mena Massoud (and the process of casting him in the part), the showstopping performance of Naomi Scott as Jasmine (with a focus on her singing and multiple costume changes), and the choice of Will Smith for the iconic part of the magical Genie.

Delving into the production of the film, the release also contains information about the implementation of the magic carpet (and how the designer approached making it look realistic by utilizing real carpet materials) as well as the production design aspects regarding the Agrabah marketplace, parade, palace aesthetics, Jasmine's bedroom, and the cave of wonders. There is also a section about the music by composer Alan Menken. Fans of the film will absolutely enjoy the production information with a number of interesting quotes about the development behind making this version of Aladdin.

For a complete break-down of the on-disc supplements please click here to view the published review on the standard edition.

Aladdin 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

When the live action version of Aladdin was first announced by Disney I greeted the announcement with a sense of trepidation. Yet another live-action adaptation of a classic animated film? The beloved animated musical version remains one of the best achievements in the long history of Disney animation feature-film productions and to try and out-do it with a remake seemed like a fool's errand. Yet that skepticism was kept at bay while waiting to see what the studio would cook up for moviegoers (especially after the interesting directorial choice of Guy Ritchie as the champion to take the helm).

The end result was surprisingly much more entertaining, heartfelt, and worthwhile than I originally expected. While I wouldn't say the film feels necessary or essential in the same vein of the original animated version, this adaptation has enough of its own distinctive voice to keep things interesting. What might be even more exciting is the prospect of a sequel now beginning development (as it gives the filmmakers an opportunity to potentially divert the story somewhat from the original). Will Smith might not be able to match the iconic Genie that Robin Williams brought to the table but he gives it his all. The cast generally impresses and Naomi Scott steals the show as Jasmine.

The Target exclusive 4K/Blu-ray combo pack edition is a beautiful release which contains the film with an engaging booklet containing an introduction from director Guy Ritchie. This is an admirable edition which offers fans collectible packaging that any Disney fan would feel lucky to display in their film collections. The new adaptation of Aladdin might not feel like a "whole new world" but it's still an enjoyable magic-carpet ride that the whole family can get behind. The Target exclusive edition has the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, digital code, and collectible packaging (along with a booklet) to make the release well worth owning.