We’ve had our own long wait, but finally we can enjoy George Miller’s return to directing after the monumental and insane ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’. He does it with a “modest” fantasy titled ‘Three thousand years waiting for you’ where he does his own interpretation of ‘The thousand and one nights’.
In this fantastic romantic drama we have Idris Elba playing a genie who offers, in addition to three wishes, an incredible collection of stories about previous owners he has had. This offers us a perfect platform to play other stories that involve geniuses and that we can find in streaming through different services. Each magical in her own way.
‘The Thief of Bagdad’ (‘The Thief of Bagdad’, 1940)
Address: Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger, Tim Whelan. Distribution: John Justin, Sabu, June Duprez, Conrad Veidt, Rex Ingram.
The original silent version by Raoul Walsh is also highly recommended, although the visual progress made by Michael Powell and the other directors involved in this epic Arabian adventure is truly remarkable. A wonder full of color, fantasy and narrative power that takes full advantage of the emerging Technicolor to make it totally spectacular and luxurious. Even with clearly badly aged elements, it is a wonderful piece of work.
See in Filmin | Criticism in Espinof
‘Aladdin’ (1992)
Address: John Musker, Ron Clements. Distribution: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried.
Similar to ‘The Thief of Bagdad’ in many ways, this musical revision of the fantastical tale of ‘Aladdin and the Magic Lamp’ takes full advantage of the heyday of Renaissance-era Disney, as well as the latest songs written by the masterful Howard Ashman for company works. A jewel of animation that offers totally amazing and dazzling worktaking advantage of all the possibilities of the medium to launch the incredible fantasy that the story carries.
Watch on Disney+ | Criticism in Espinof
‘Wishmaster’ (1997)
Address: Robert Kurtzmann. Distribution: Tammy Lauren, Andrew Divoff, Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Chris Lemmon.
It is recurrent that fiction has used the figure of the genie that grants wishes to warn of the dangers of what we yearn for, but less frequently it has been to use the figure of the Djinn in its most demonic sense. yes this one did psychedelic and supernatural slasher produced by Wes Cravenwhere the creature of desires is shown as a bloodthirsty and insatiable killing machine.
With a B-movie skeleton but with a more than interesting bill thanks to its mostly practical special effects (art that Kurtzman has worked a lot in his career) and his elaborate visual aspect that does not skimp on gore or nightmare hallucinations. Come on, an estimable piece of nineties and entertaining terror.
See in Movistar+ | From Freddy Krueger to Candyman: 13 Memorable Supernatural Killers in Horror Movies