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Aladdin and the King of Thieves
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Wikipedia article
'Aladdin and the King of Thieves' is a 1996 American direct-to-video animated musical fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. It is the second sequel to the 1992 film 'Aladdin', and serves as the final chapter and installment of the 'Arabian Nights'-inspired Disney franchise beginning with the first film, and continuing with its first direct-to-video sequel 'The Return of Jafar' and the animated TV series.
The film is inspired by the tale 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves' from 'One Thousand and One Nights', replacing Ali Baba with Aladdin, and for the first time since the original 'Aladdin', the film has a completely new soundtrack instead of the rearranged music from the original film for 'The Return of Jafar' and the series. This film also marks the return of actor Robin Williams, reprising his role as Genie from the first film and not by Dan Castellaneta, who voiced him in the second film, the series, and other media afterwards.
Though this film serves as the series finale of the television series, the characters also appear in a 1999 crossover episode of the animated series 'Hercules', titled "Hercules and the Arabian Night", as well as the 2007 direct-to-video title called 'Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams', both of them after this plot. The film received mixed to negative reviews, although it was deemed an improvement over 'The Return of Jafar'.
Plot
Aladdin and Princess Jasmine's long awaited wedding has finally arrived with guests flocking to Agrabah for the wedding of the century and everyone celebrating the joyous festivities. Aladdin recovers a dagger, his only memento of his lost father, who died in his childhood and admits he worried about his role as a father in the future when the time comes for him and Jasmine to start a family. During the ceremony, the legendary Forty Thieves and their leader, the King of Thieves, have sneaked into the Agrabah to raid the wedding, while at the same time to steal a particular piece of treasure: a staff which is the receptacle of a powerful oracle. After driving off the Forty Thieves, Aladdin, Abu, Jasmine and the Genie discover the Oracle, who has the power to answer a single question about absolutely anything to any individual. When Iago unintentionally asks her why the thieves want the staff so badly, she says they were searching for the "ultimate treasure". Learning of the Oracle's power, Aladdin becomes inquisitive about his past. She hints to him that all his questions can be answered by his father, who is alive still, much to Aladdin's surprise. After some encouragement from Jasmine, Aladdin asks the oracle about his father; the oracle reveals that his father is with the Forty Thieves, "trapped within their world".
Aladdin, along with Abu, Iago and Carpet, tracks them down and stows away into their hideout, Mount Sesame, where he discovers, to his surprise, that his father, Cassim, is actually the King of Thieves himself. Though Aladdin shares a brief, heartfelt reunion with Cassim, Cassim's chief subordinate Sa'luk tries to punish Aladdin for entering the hideout. Cassim, however, cleverly suggests that Aladdin instead face "the Challenge" an initiation ritual where should he defeat another one of the Forty Thieves, he would take their place. Sa'luk fights Aladdin, but the latter just barely manages to prevail by throwing his opponent off a cliff into the sea. He is welcomed into the band, and Cassim reveals to Aladdin why he was leaving his wife and son: to find the Hand of Midas, a powerful artifact that can transform anything it touches into gold. Cassim believed that, with the Hand, he would return to his family and give them the life they deserved instead of one living out in the streets, and was instigating the raid so he would capture the oracle's staff and question the seer as to the precise whereabouts of the artifact. Aladdin convinces Cassim to return with him to Agrabah to live an honest life. Initially hesitant, Cassim finally agrees when Iago inadvertently reveals that Aladdin's wedding can be his last chance to get the Oracle.
For a while, Cassim is glad to spend quality time with his son. Cassim meets with Genie, Jasmine and the Sultan, and they take a liking to him at once. However, Cassim decides to carry on his original scheme with Iago as his new henchman. Meanwhile, Sa'luk makes his way to Agrabah, reveals himself to Razoul and sells out his fellow thieves by telling Razoul the password to their hideout in exchange for immunity from prosecution. After all but seven of the thieves are captured, Sa'luk tells Razoul that Aladdin is one of the forty, and his father Cassim is the King himself. While attempting to steal the Oracle from the palace treasure chamber, Cassim and Iago are captured by the royal guards, and Razoul reveals to the Sultan that Cassim is the King of Thieves. The Sultan has Razoul detain Cassim and Iago in the dungeon for life. Aladdin frees Cassim, but is discovered by Razoul. Despite being a criminal, Aladdin returns to the palace to take responsibility for his actions. The Sultan makes ready to punish Aladdin, but Genie and Jasmine come to his defense, stating that all he wanted was to give his father a second chance and with this understanding, The Sultan accepts Aladdin's apology and resumes preparations for the wedding.
With the oracle in hand, Cassim and Iago head back to Mount Sesame, only to be captured by Sa'luk and the remaining seven thieves. Cassim is forced to use the stolen oracle in order to find the location of the Hand of Midas and lead his men there afterwards. The Oracle directs them to the Vanishing Isle, a great marble fortress built on the back of an enormous undersea turtle that periodically dives to the bottom of the ocean, where the Hand is hidden. Iago gets away and goes off to lead Aladdin and Jasmine, Abu and Carpet to his imprisoned father. Aladdin manages to free and reconcile with his father. Working together, they retrieve the Hand just as the turtle is starting to submerge when they are ambushed by Sa'luk. While trying to depart from the flood, Sa'luk takes Aladdin hostage, demanding that Cassim surrender the Hand. Cassim throws the Hand of Midas to Sa'luk. Sa'luk grabs the Handbut by the gold hand itself instead of the bronze handleand is transformed into a lifeless gold statue, while Cassim and Aladdin depart. Realizing that his obsession with the Hand has only brought trouble and his son is actually his ultimate treasure, Cassim throws the Hand into the ship with the remaining thieves aboard, turning it into gold and sinking it.
That night, Aladdin and Jasmine finally get married, with all their friends and family present, including the cameo appearances of several characters from the TV series. Cassim attends the wedding in the shadows, since he is still a wanted man and Iago decides to join Cassim on his travels. Aladdin and Jasmine leave for their honeymoon with the newlyweds waving goodbye to Cassim and Iago as they go off to adventures unknown.
In a mid-credits scene, the Genie was speedly screams: "We're not gettin' outta here, man!!! We're not gettin' outta here!!! Don't ya understand it, man!!! This is it!!! Game's over, man!!!", and the Genie is speedly dead on the brokenhearted magic lamp.
Voice cast
* Scott Weinger as Aladdin
** Brad Kane as Aladdin (singing voice)
* Robin Williams as Genie
* John Rhys-Davies as Cassim
** Merwin Foard as Cassim (singing voice)
* Linda Larkin as Princess Jasmine
** Liz Callaway as Princess Jasmine (singing voice)
* Gilbert Gottfried as Iago
* Jerry Orbach as Sa'luk
* Frank Welker as Abu
* Val Bettin as The Sultan
* Jim Cummings as Razoul
* CCH Pounder as The Oracle
Additional voices are provided by Jeff Bennett, Corey Burton, Jess Harnell, Clyde Kusatsu, Rob Paulsen, and Frank Welker.
Production
Following the success of 'The Return of Jafar', Disney announced in January 1995 that a third film was in production. Later in June, it was scheduled for a home video release in 1996. In September 1995, it was confirmed that Robin Williams would reprise the role of the Genie reportedly for a $1 million salary after he received an apology from Joe Roth for Disney breaching an agreement not to use his voice to merchandise products inspired by 'Aladdin'. With Williams on board, all recordings and animation footage of Dan Castellaneta as the Genie was scrapped, and all of the Genie's scenes were rewritten to fit Williams' comedic style.
Songs
Adaptation
Two comic adaptations of the movie were on sale September 1996.* The first was in 'Marvel Comics Disney Comic Hits' #13.
* The second was in 'Disney Adventures' Volume 6 #12.
Release
Upon its release, the film was accompanied by a marketing campaign at more than $70 million with commercial tie-ins with Best Western, Welch's, Chuck E. Cheese's, Tropicana, Reese's, Hershey's, TGI Fridays, Red Lobster, Friendly's, Applebee's, SEGA, Hasbro, Dairy Queen, Popeyes, Wendy's, Mattel, McDonald's, Scholastic, General Mills, Wawa, Kellogg's, Mars, Nestl, Cadbury, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Days Inn, Capcom, Oral-B, Duracell, Energizer and Kodak.
Home media
At the time of its release, 'King of Thieves' was reportedly outselling 'The Return of Jafar', but Disney declined to disclose actual sales figures for the release. In 1996, the film sold million units in the United States, generating at least in sales revenue. It was the sixth best-selling film video release in the United States during 1996.On January 18, 2005, the film was re-released as a special edition DVD and VHS, the same day as the previous film, 'The Return of Jafar', with the DVD version receiving digitally restored picture, remastered sound, two additional games, and a behind-the-scenes bonus feature. However, the film was matted into a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen ratio (an aspect ratio Disney has rarely used for television animation at the time). The DVD went back into the Disney Vault along with the other two films in the series in January 2008. 'Aladdin and the King of Thieves', along with 'The Return of Jafar', was released on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD Combo Pack on January 5, 2016 as a Disney Movie Club exclusive in North America (with both films matted into a 1.78:1 widescreen ratio this time).
Reception
Based on 12 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 33% approval rating from critics, with an average score of 4.84/10. Caryn James of 'The New York Times' praised the sequel as "far better than 'The Return of Jafar'", while acknowledging that "the video has some other weak spots, but these hardly matter when 'Aladdin and the King of Thieves' is so brimming with comic invention and adventure." Scott Blakey of the 'Chicago Tribune' wrote that the story grows tedious after an hour and recommended 'The Fool and the Flying Ship' instead. 'The Washington Post' stated the "art of animation is strictly Saturday morning quality again (jobbed out to Disney's overseas JV team), and the score is a long step backward from the original, meaning the movie lacks the lingering resonance and memorable visual moments of Disney's big-budget affairs. Essentially, the movie is comparable to other reputable animated titles like 'The Swan Princess' and 'Balto' pretty good, but not exactly Disney."
Awards and nominations
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| 1997
| 'Aladdin and the King of Thieves'
| Annie Award for Best Home Video Production
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|-
| 1997
| Mark Watters, Carl Johnson
| Annie Award for Best Individual Achievement: Music in a Feature/Home Video Production
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|-
| 1997
| 'Aladdin and the King of Thieves'
| World Animation Celebration Award for Best Direct to Home Video Production
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|}
Cancelled sequel
In 2005, screenwriter Robert Reece pitched a fourth 'Aladdin' film to DisneyToon executives, although it never came to fruition.
References
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