Blu-Ray Review 'Aladdin Diamond Edition'

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Climb aboard for a magical carpet ride with nonstop laughs, action-packed adventure and Academy Award®–winning music that will make your heart soar (1992: Best Music, Original Song, “A Whole New World,” Original Score). Now for the first time ever, a whole new world of Disney’s Aladdin is revealed in a whole new way on Blu-ray and Digital HD—with a never-before-seen Bonus!

Aladdin Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras:

  • Audio Commentaries: Two audio commentaries are available (under “Bonus Features,” in the “Classic Bonus” submenu), the first with producers/directors John Musker and Ron Clements & co-producer Amy Pell, the second with supervising animators Andreas Deja, Will Finn, Eric Goldberg and Glen Keane.
  • The Genie Outtakes (HD, 9 minutes): Musker, Clements and Goldberg introduce a (kid-friendly) selection of Robin Williams recording session outtakes. There isn’t any footage of Williams behind the mic, though. Instead, storyboards envision what each extended and alternate bit or take might have looked like had any of it made it into the final cut of the film. The outtakes are capped off with a heartfelt tribute to the late comedian.
  • Aladdin: Creating Broadway Magic (HD, 19 minutes): In this lengthy featurette, host and actor Darren Criss takes viewers behind the scenes of the Broadway adaptation and production of Aladdin, touching on the many challenges it faced on its way to the stage (chief among them bringing Genie and the flying carpet to life without the luxury or freedom of animation).
  • Unboxing Aladdin (HD, 5 minutes): Disney Channel’s Joey Bragg reveals easter eggs sprinkled throughoutAladdin. Kids may laugh. I couldn’t wait for it to end. Five minutes too long.
  • Genie 101 (HD, 4 minutes): Voice actor Scott Weinger (Aladdin) explains some of Genie’s early historical, early cinema, and ’90s pop culture references to kids born in the 21st century. It’s a clever addition, and it’s far more tolerable than “Unboxing Aladdin.”
  • Ron & Jon: You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me (HD, 6 minutes): Musker and Clements reminisce about Walt Disney Studios in the early ’90s, the first time they met, their early collaborations, and the reasons their partnership has been so productive and that they work together so well.
  • Classic Bonus Features: Disney has included most, if not all, of the special features from the film’s previous DVD-era releases. Extras, including the seventy-minute “A Diamond in the Rough” production documentary, are primarily presented in standard definition and break down as follows:
    • A Diamond in the Rough: The Making of Aladdin (SD, 70:52)
    • Alan Menken: Musical Renaissance Man (SD, 19:55)
    • The Art of Aladdin: Art Review with Filmmakers’ Commentary (SD, 8:45)
    • Deleted Song: Proud of Your Boy, Original Demo (SD, 3:58)
    • Deleted Song: You Can Count on Me (SD, 2:22)
    • Deleted Song: Humiliate the Boy (SD, 3:54)
    • Deleted Song: Why Me (SD, 3:42)
    • Deleted/Alternate Scene: Aladdin & Jasmine’s First Meeting (SD, 2:51)
    • Deleted/Alternate Scene: Aladdin in the Lap of Luxury (SD, 2:52)
    • Music Video: “Proud of Your Boy” with Clay Aiken (SD, 2:20)
    • Proud of Your Boy Original Story Reel (SD, 2:18)
    • Behind the Scenes of “Proud of Your Boy” (SD, 3:20)
    • Music Video: “A Whole New World” with Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey (SD, 4:14)
    • Behind the Scenes of “A Whole New World” (SD, 3:46)
    • Music Video: “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson (SD, 4:07)
    • Disney Song Selection with Optional On-Screen Lyrics (HD, 11:28)
    • Inside the Genie’s Lamp: Guided Tour (SD, 6:13)
    • The Genie World Tour (SD, 3:14)
    • Publicity: Trailers (SD)

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The Disney classic Aladdin finally arrives on Blu-ray, and what a Blu-ray release it is. The film’s video presentation is wonderful. Its DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track as powerful and immersive as classic 2D animation gets. And its supplemental package is brimming with material, old and new. Without hesitation, the Diamond Edition release of Aladdin comes highly recommended.

Aladdin Concept Art Gallery


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