The original Disney movie is brilliant, sequel The Return of Jafar was disappointing, and the cartoon TV series was fine, this was the conclusion to the trilogy and indeed to the animated franchise, another straight-to-video release. Basically, Aladdin (Scott Weinger) and Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) are finally getting married. Aladdin recovers a dagger, his only memento of his lost father, who apparently died when he was a child. The Agrabah wedding ceremony is interrupted by a raid by the infamous Forty Thieves, with their leader, the King of Thieves (John Rhys-Davies), searching for a particular piece of treasure in the palace. Aladdin, Abu (Frank Welker), Jasmine and the Genie (Robin Williams) discover the treasure, a staff containing oracle, an all-seeing spirit. Iago (Gilbert Gottfried) unintentionally asks a question that summons the an Oracle (C. C. H. Pounder). Aladdin becomes inquisitive about his past, but the oracle hints that all his questions can be answered by his father, Cassim, who is alive, much to Aladdin's surprise. After some encouragement from Jasmine, Aladdin asks the oracle where he can find his father, who tells him he is "trapped" in the world of the Forty Thieves. Aladdin, Abu, Iago and Carpet follow the trail of the Forty Thieves, leading them to their secret hideout, Mount Sesame. Aladdin is surprised to discover his father Cassim is the King of Thieves. Chief subordinate Sa'luk (Jerry Orbach) tries to punish Aladdin for discovering their hideout, but Cassim persuades him and the other thieves for Aladdin to face "the Challenge", an initiation ritual . Sa'luk fights Aladdin, who barely defeats his enemy, who falls off a cliff into the sea, and Aladdin is officially welcomed into the band (as Sa'luk's replacement). Cassim explains to Aladdin why he left him and his mother; to find the Hand of Midas, a powerful artifact that can transform anything it touches into gold. He wanted a better life for him and his family, but he lost them. Aladdin convinces Cassim to return with him to Agrabah to live an honest life. He is initially hesitant, but Iago persuades him with the opportunity to get the Oracle in order to find the lost treasure. Meanwhile, Sa'luk has survived the fall and returns to Agrabah, selling ou this fellow thieves by telling captain of the guards Razoul (Jim Cummings) their hideout in exchange for his immunity from prosecution. While the Genie helps Cassim to be presentable to Jasmine and the Sultan (Val Bettin), Sa'luk tells Razoul that Aladdin was supposed to be with the captured thieves, because his father is the King of the Thieves. Cassim is arrested, along with Iago, trying to steal the staff from the treasury, and the Sultan sentences them to the dungeon for life. Aladdin asks Genie for his father's clothes, he frees his father and has the guards chase him, as the King of the Thieves, allowing his father to escape. Razoul catches Aladdin, but Cassim rescues him and they flee the kingdom. But Aladdin chooses to return to the palace to take responsibility for his actions, while Cassim and Iago ride away. Sa'luk returns to the thieves' hideout where there are seven thieves remaining, hepersuades them to become their new leader. Cassim and Iago are captured by the thieves, Iago manages to escape, while Cassim is forced to ask the Oracle for the location of the Hand of Midas, on the Vanishing Isle. Aladdin is defended by Genie and Jasmine when he returns and apologises for his criminal actions, the Sultan accepts his apology and pardons him. Aladdin, Jasmine, Abu, Iago and Genie catch up to Cassim and the thieves at the Vanishing Isle, a great marble fortress built on the back of an enormous undersea turtle. Aladdin rescues his father and they work together to find the Hand of Midas before the Vanishing Isle submerges into the ocean. They find the Hand, and Cassim uses its power to turn the fortress to gold. Sa'luk demands Cassim to surrender the Hand, he throws the Hand to him, but he catches it by the golden hand, and is turned into a lifeless gold statue. Aladdin and Cassim escape the fortress while the flooding continues, but Cassim realises that he lost his family with his obsession finding the treasure, he tells Aladdin that he is his "ultimate treasure". Cassim chooses to throw the Hand of Midas into the sea, inadvertently landing it on the thieves' ship, turning it to gold and sinking it, with the thieves aboard. Aladdin, Cassim and the others flee the Vanishing Isle as it returns to the ocean and they return to Agrabah. It ends with Aladdin and Jasmine finally marrying, with Cassim watching from a distance, and he rides away with Iago to adventures unknown. Dan Castellaneta provided the voice for Genie for The Return of Jafar and the TV series, but he is no comparison to the hilarity of original star Williams, with his high-energy vocals and spot-on impressions (Sylvester Stallone, Walter Cronkite, Forrest Gump, Rain Man, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Marx Brothers, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope), the makers were wise to bring him back. The animation is improved from the previous sequel, the story is fun and entertaining, the father-son element is a good idea (reminiscent of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), some of the songs ("There a Party Here in Agrabah", "Out of Thin Air", "Welcome to the Forty Thieves", "Are You in or Out?") are catchy, for a home video release this is a pleasant surprise, a most worthwhile animated musical fantasy adventure. Very good!
Review of Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
(1996 Video)
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
15 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers