Movie Review: Arabian Nights (2000)

I knew this was going to be a fantastical adventure just based on the cover art.  There's this lovely picture of John Leguizamo as a creepy tattooed genie that just kind of points in that direction.  I love me some fairy tales and how often do you actually find Middle Eastern ones in English?  (Sinbad's on like, a whole other level, okay?)  Anyway, why not?

The setting of the miniseries is immediately bizarre as it starts out in a dream-like sequence featuring a giant, red demon.  It progresses into a story about a mad king who is sure every woman is out to get him, but must find a wife.  He plots to marry only to have her killed the next morning before her inevitable betrayal.  His own advisor's daughter decides to spare any other girl this fate and tells the king only half a story each night, in hopes he'll keep her alive to hear the ending the next night.

It's intriguing because you want this clever woman to live, but it's clear the king could flip his lid at any moment.  In between all of that drama (yay!) you get live-action versions of the stories she's telling.  The stories tend to be a bit silly in comparison to the king's madness and I think it balances nicely.  Keeps the story moving and holds your interest.

I don't know who pulled this cast together, but they did a great job.  We've got Rufus Sewell (Dark City) as Ali Baba, Jason Scott Lee (Jungle Book) as Aladdin and Dougray Scott (Ever After) as the crazy sultan.  For being a made-for-TV miniseries, they really went all out.  The costumes were gorgeous and there are several more people you'll recognize as the story unfolds.

MEMORABLE SCENE:
When John Leguizamo pops up as a second genie and takes over the whole building.  Yeah, probably that.

QUOTE:
Aladdin: "Who are you?"
Genie of the Lamp: "Who am I?  Who am I?!  I am the Lamp Genie...THE Lamp Genie.  Wishes, dreams, power, premature and violent death...ohhh, scratch the last one."

RATING:
I'll give this 7 out of 10.  While I quite enjoyed it, it's clear that this is not the tale for everyone.  If you can't handle a good bit of silly...stay far away.