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Aladdin Stained

I don't really know why people are so down on Will Smith's genie. He'll be fine.

Actually, what he'll be is Will Smith. Blue skin, which would look like that on anyone, won't change anyone's opinions of him. Personally, I tend to enjoy his antics, and he did a pretty good job of breaking out of my head casting of Jeffrey Dean Morgan for Deadshot. He's not a perfect fit for everything, but at the very least, his roles don't suffer by comparisons to other actors. He'll never fall into anyone's shadow because he's at the level where he doesn't even live under the same sun that creates other people's shadows in the first place. He's like Robin Williams in the fact that he has his own orbit, which is important when you're replacing such a prestigious dude. In light of the fact that the new "Lion King" guys brought back James Earl Jones to record his lines again because they didn't think that a replacement for that iconic voice would be accepted , I'm inclined to think Robin Williams's death was the only thing that prevented his inclusion in the "Aladdin" remake from being discussed. With his absence from the world, getting a star who's ebulliently charming in a unique way that's not comparable to Robin seems like the best call.

I'm probably not going to see "The Lion King" because it replaces the original's heightened cartoonish aesthetic with a level of realism I don't personally care for, but it'll be fine. But I am actually feeling some excitement for "Aladdin".


Bonus Question!

Best blue humanoid?

Nightcrawler.

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Watchability on Both Sides of the Pond

  My main draw for seeing "Sherlock Gnomes" was James McAvoy. Dude is eminently watchable. And I'd made the mistake of skipping "Gnomeo and Juliet" during its theatrical run. But I knew nothing else. Then I got in and discovered that Johnny Depp was Sherlock. My whimsy's now doubly justified. In terms of watchability, he's right up there with McAvoy. Just less British. Although maybe he's trying to be that too.

Also, the soundtrack seemed to be  built around Elton John. That's usually a good portent for animated movies. Just ask "The Lion King". Oh, wait. You can't. Because it's too untouchably successful and awesome to hear you. You should probably just see "Sherlock Gnomes" and find out for yourself.

 

Bonus Question!

Hobbits versus gnomes!

Baggins > gnomes > non-Baggins hobbits

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Gnome boy. 

Copyright © 2011, Jaymes Buckman and David Aaron Cohen. All rights reserved. In a good way.