Overall, it was pretty much a superior live-action replication of a genie fantasy (e.g. Aladdin) for adults starring Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba. It’s notably a casualty of COVID as it filmed between 2020 and 2022, released in 2022, and it has all the hallmarks of a COVID era film, such as people wearing their face masks, limited sets, limited extras on set, and the fairy tale nature of the story kind of grew convoluted due to the inclusion of all of the Turkish-based tourism industry scenes (travel industry boost from the movie).
In my opinion, this film best parallels the fictional book The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova in that we have a female protagonist who is lovestruck by the primary male character, which in The Historian is Vlad Tepes aka Dracula. In this film, it is the djinn played by Idris Elba. So, Swinton’s character is an introvert who doesn’t understand human psychology and intimate interactions. Likewise, the Djinn has also thrown himself into his previous relationships full-on, ending dangerously, but by the end of the movie they have a mutual respect and admiration for each other but are kept separated by an outside Deus Ex Machina.
Part of me wishes that the film waited until after COVID to get a proper budget because I think this film could have been far better, like an A. The CGI is great, the acting, the writing is all great, it’s just missing some substance. I don’t know how else to further describe it. George Miller’s other films have that larger world we want to explore. It’s keeping it from getting higher on my ratings though.
First screened August 5, 2024 with special help.
