“Oh, to be free! Not to have to go ‘Poof! What do you need? Poof! What do you need? Poof! What do you need?’ To be my own master. Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world!”
– The Genie (Aladdin)
There were a lot of great quotes in the movie Aladdin but I wanted to use a quote from Robin Williams’ character. So often do we focus on the action, comedy, adventure, fantasy, or romance of the movie, but sometimes, it is the plight of the supporting characters that could use a little more attention. This was among my favorite Disney movies growing up and it continues to be a favorite to this day.
There are few things more inspiring to the imagination, than asking yourself questions like “What would I do if I had 3 wishes?” Aladdin is the fantasy movie where I first learned about what a genie was and what they were capable of. I remember thinking “What would I wish for?” and having far more than 3 answers. It is a difficult, but very fun question to contemplate.
More importantly, it is questions like this that force you to consider and focus on what it is that you value most. I am not saying that you aren’t allowed to want or like more than 3 things in this world. Far from it. I am saying that focusing on 3 things makes the pursuit less stressful, less difficult, and therefore, more likely to succeed. That is what Aladdin means to me now.
Beyond the philosophical, Aladdin was an all-around fun movie. The music was catchy and inspirational, the comedy was clean and fun, the action was abundant, and the adventure was entertaining for all. There were many powerful messages and they were delivered in a way that were good for children and adults alike.
Journeyman's Legacy 