While The Return of Jafar was a passable pilot for the TV series, King of the Thieves did something remarkable. It gave our street-rat-turned-prince something he never had in the first movie:
This raises the stakes higher than a flying carpet chase. It turns the final battle into a horror-lite scenario where our heroes have to dodge not swords, but the touch of death (or financial prosperity, depending on how you look at it). Watching the villain get his comeuppance via this item is incredibly satisfying. The bookends of the movie are the wedding of Aladdin and Jasmine. The first scene is interrupted by the thieves; the final scene delivers on the promise. aladdin and the king of thieves movie
Voiced by the legendary Jerry Orbach (yes, that Jerry Orbach—Lumiere and Detective Briscoe), Sa’Luk is a menace. His song, "Are You In or Out?" (written by David Friedman), is a dark, percussive masterpiece. It has the same rhythmic intensity and theatrical menace of "Be Prepared" from The Lion King . It’s a shame more people don't know this track. Forget the lamp. The MacGuffin this time is the Hand of Midas —a mystical scepter that turns anything (or anyone) it touches into solid gold. While The Return of Jafar was a passable
This movie asks a heavy question for a kids' cartoon: Can you forgive a parent who left you, even if they had a good reason? Let’s address the elephant in the lamp. The Return of Jafar was notably missing Robin Williams as the Genie (Homer Simpson’s Dan Castellaneta filled in). While Dan did a valiant job, the magic wasn't fully there. Watching the villain get his comeuppance via this
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Robin Williams’ pop culture rants, Jerry Orbach’s singing voice, and the catharsis of a street rat finally finding his family. Did you grow up watching this trilogy? Were you Team Cassim or Team "Aladdin deserves better"? Let me know in the comments below!