The Return of Jafar
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The Return of Jafar (sometimes marketed as Aladdin: The Return of Jafar on re-release) is a 1994 American direct-to-video animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Television. It is the first sequel to Disney's 1992 animated feature film, Aladdin, made by combining the planned first five episodes of the Aladdin animated television series into a feature-length film, as well as the first direct-to-video Disney sequel.
Bad Qualities
- Like most other direct-to-video Disney sequels, this film has mediocre animation akin to a Saturday morning cartoon instead of the beautiful animation found in the first film. To add injury to insult, it was released during the Disney Renaissance era where each theatrical feature film released each year had superior animation.
- Weak, poorly written storyline filled with plot holes.
- Some character issues:
- Iago get treated as a butt-monkey in this film, all because he sided with Jafar in the prequel. It’s also rather questionable to have him as the main protagonist of this film when Aladdin himself should be one.
- Abu, Aladdin's pet monkey, has been flanderized in this film by going from a mischievous, yet friendly monkey to a rather mean-spirited, unlikable jerk (see BQ#4).
- Abis Mal, the new antagonist, is a rather pointless comic relief sidekick of Jafar. In fact, his name (which is a play on the word "abysmal") is very fitting since he’s one of the lamest villains in Disney sequel history, next to Sarousch from The Hunchback of Notre Dame II.
- There's one mean-spirited scene in which Abu, fed up with Iago’s begging, lures Rajah to the bird cage, sets Iago free, only for the latter to be chased around the palace by Rajah.
- Plot holes:
- How did Iago managed to excavate himself and Jafar's lamp all the way from the Cave of Wonders, when it's impossible due to it being underground since the first movie’s ending?
- Why is Genie still with Aladdin despite being free from his lamp?
- During a scene in which Jafar calls Aladdin a street rat in his normal voice while disguised as Jasmine, how did the guards not notice him doing so?
- Bland, forgettable songs such as "I'm Looking Out for Me" and "Forget About Love".
- Cringeworthy dialogue, such as "Granny's gonna get you!"
- Some moments are too dark and terrifying for younger audiences:
- A nail-biting scene in which Aladdin is about to be executed after being falsely accused of killing the Sultan (despite the latter still being alive). Thankfully, Genie saved his life.
- An infamous death scene in which Jafar, in his Genie form, fades from existence while screaming in agony that’s WAY too terrifying to watch, let alone listen to.
- The worst part of this scene is the rapidly flashing effect which may cause seizures.
- Despite its poor reception, it somehow spawned yet another Aladdin sequel called Aladdin and the King of Thieves, which is just as mediocre as this one.
Good Qualities
- Many of the other characters are likable.
- Jafar is just as entertaining and menacing as before.
- Despite Iago being treated like crap early on, it’s good to see that he redeemed himself and sided with Aladdin against Jafar.
- In spite of the song not being as memorable as most of the songs from the first film, Jafar's new villain song "You're Only Second Rate", would get a lot of fans for being a unique and catchy song that stands on its own, as opposed to being another reprise of an existing song.
- Voice acting is good as usual.
- Dan Castellaneta (long-time voice actor of Homer Simpson from The Simpsons) did a great job voicing Genie.
- While poorly written, at least the story is canon since it's a continuation of the first film.
- A few funny moments here and there.
- The TV series that followed is a big improvement over this movie while continuing where it left off.
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