Originally written in February 2007
The two defining Disney films of our generation are Aladdin and The Lion King. These two movies far overshadow its predecessors. The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast were released when we were four or five years old. Later films like Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame and Mulan lack some combination of the classic stories, memorable songs and cultural impact of previous Disney films.
Aladdin and The Lion King appealed to both boy and girls, focusing on patriarchal heroes rather than princesses such as Ariel, Belle and Cinderella. The widespread appeal of these movies is so great that it would be difficult to find many people on this campus who have not seen both of these movies. For this reason, the question that must be asked is, “Which is better?”
For your sake, I have broken down and compared the crucial elements of both movies. Comparing each movie side-by-side, it is clearly evident that Aladdin is the superior film.
Heroes:
Aladdin and Simba represent two major patriarchal heroes in the Disney world who come from different backgrounds and face different circumstances. Aladdin is a poor, homeless orphan whose only friend is a monkey, Abu. Despite his disposition, Aladdin dreams of a brighter future, works hard and looks out for people who are even less fortunate than him. His challenge arises when he tries to be someone he is not, and attempts to impress Princess Jasmine by becoming a prince. He comes to learn he is more than “a street rat” and that his worth as a human being is based on who he is and what he does, not how society labels him.
Since birth, Simba has had it made. He was heir to the throne of Pride Rock, had a loving family, and a wise, affectionate father. He also had a love interest since he was born – Nala. When Simba’s father dies, Simba blames himself and runs away from his problems. Simba indulges in the carefree lifestyle while everyone in Pride Rock is starving due to Scar and the hyenas. In the end, he is brought back to his senses by Nala and sees a vision of his father in the clouds talking to him. Although the death of a father is an extraordinary source of pain, Simba neglected the support systems around him and caused turmoil for others. Aladdin constantly fought through the adversity and owned up to his mistakes immediately after making them.
Advantage: Aladdin
Villains:
On the surface, Jafar and Scar have many similarities. They have the same infamous Disney complexion – tall, dark, slender face and deep voice. Both villains were driven by the pursuit of power; Jafar sought to be Sultan of Agraba and Scar wanted to be king of Pride Rock. However, each of their quests for power failed. Jafar sought to be more powerful than the Genie whereas Scar compromised his loyalty to his followers, the hyenas, to avoid severe consequences.
The old cliché goes “Choose your friends wisely.” Scar chose the hyenas, the lowest animals in Pride Rock’s caste system. Jafar associated primarily with his devout sidekick parrot, Iago, and the Sultan of Agraba. Jafar was truly villainous until the very end whereas Scar tried to masquerade his evil intentions by blaming the hyenas.
Advantage: Jafar
Love Interests:
This one is easy. Nala is loyal, but is submissive and far too easily wooed. Clearly something must be wrong with her if she couldn’t find a mate in the years that Simba was gone. Princess Jasmine is a strong, independent woman. She is stubborn yet idealistic, determined yet thoughtful, adventurous yet not easily impressed. Plus, she is the hottest animated Disney character, ever.
Advantage: Jasmine
Friends:
Timon and Pumbaa are Simba’s two friends who taught him the phrase “Hakuna Matata” which means “no worries.” This phrase persuaded Simba to avoid his problems and neglect his responsibilities. Timon and Pumbaa are able to make fart jokes, but their humor is of low quality, and Timon’s rationale for being Simba’s friends in the first place is that he believed Simba would protect them.
The voice of Genie is Robin Williams, who steals the entire movie. His character is lively and energetic, incorporating humor that people of all ages can enjoy. He also gives good advice to Aladdin. Although he wants Aladdin to set him free, Genie still puts others in front of himself at the end of the movie.
Advantage: Genie
Monkeys:
Abu displays a wide range of personality traits and the full spectrum of emotions. He is humorous, well-dressed and spontaneous while experiencing guilt, greed, joy and fear. He proves himself to be loyal to Aladdin. Abu rescues him from being captured by Agraba’s guards, busts him out of jail, and steals the magic lamp from Jafar.
Rafiki is a socially maladjusted baboon. He lives by himself and spends his time meditating, chanting to himself, connecting with the earth, and, apparently, practicing martial arts. If there was one word that defines Rafiki, it is weird.
To relate these characters to The Office, Abu is Jim Halpert and Rafiki is Dwight Schrute. If you are a girl, you would date Jim. If you are a guy, you’d want Jim to be your best friend. If you are a girl, you would loathe the very thought of dating Dwight. If you’re a guy, you would laugh at Dwight, not with him. Similarly, you would prefer Abu over Rafiki.
Advantage: Abu
Music:
Yes, Lion King fans, the film won the Academy Award for best original score. Yes, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” won for Best Original Song. And yes, Elton John helped write and perform some of the songs. But get over it. Aladdin also won best original score, “A Whole New World” won best original song, and the film was nominated for best sound and best sound effects editing.
Without a doubt, both soundtracks would be an excellent addition to any music lover’s collection. However, Aladdin’s soundtrack is flawless, with songs like “Arabian Nights,” “Friend like Me,” “One Jump Ahead” and “A Whole New World.” Each song is meticulously worded and adds to the scene, the characters and the overall story.
The Lion King is filled with a number of great songs, including “I Just Can’t Wait to be King,” Hakuna Matata,” “Be Prepared” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” The soundtrack has two main flaws. First, the creepy carnival music playing while Simba is running in slow motion back to Pride Rock to face Scare in a final showdown. Second, “Circle of Life.” The music is good, but the lyrics are weak. There is no “circle of life” that “moves us all through despair,” hope, faith and love. The chorus is so overtly cheesy that the song lacks all integrity and authenticity, making the song an absolute joke.
Advantage: Aladdin
Symbolism:
The story of Aladdin is the classic rags-to-riches story that America thrives on. This story personifies the “American Dream” where the lowliest of people in society can rise to be wealthy and powerful. If you work hard and stay optimistic, your dreams will come true. We see these stories constantly in the worlds of sports, music, Hollywood, businesses and politics. Because Aladdin embodies this, he should be an inspiration to all Americans.
The Lion King is communist propaganda. The ever-important “circle of life” is essentially a caste system that each animal is born into and cannot get out of. Each organism has a specific purpose and it’s their duty to fulfill that purpose. The circle of life is what communism is essentially about.
In Marxist terms, the lions are the bourgeoisie, who exploit the other animals, who are the proletariat, for food and labor. The lowest of the proletariat are the hyenas, who are the outcasts of the society. As Marx predicted, an uprising occurred in Pride Rock in which the proletariat, led by Scar, seized control. While in control, everyone was miserable, including the hyenas. There was no food to eat, no water to drink, and the land was inhabitable. In the end, however, Simba leads a revolution and the bourgeoisie regain power. When order is restored, everyone is instantly happy and all is well in society, which is a blatant attempt to show that communism works and can make everyone happy.
Advantage: Aladdin, America, and Democracy
Not only does Aladdin have a more legendary hero, a more sinister villain, better developed characters, more comic relief and better music, it is also patriotic. Clearly, those who prefer The Lion King are Communist supporters. Your own attempt at an uprising against Aladdin fans will leave you with the same fate as Aladdin left Jafar: defeated and hopeless.
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