I saw the Aladdin remake, and I surprisingly liked it very much. Fun song and dance numbers. I enjoyed Will Smith’s zingers. I don’t want to compare too much of the movie to the original, but I was still most charmed by Aladdin being a street rat. It’s easy to see why Jasmine was so attracted to him. My friend and I were awed. I agree with her in saying it’s one of Disney’s better live-action remakes. I left away wanting to sing, dance, and go on a magic carpet ride—with Aladdin, please.

Time for some seriousness. Today, many women in the Middle East world are extremely oppressed. Forced into marriages, voiceless, murdered in honor killings are a few examples. Also, princesses—as well as princes—go missing. Even at this moment. They’re locked away. Some escape, but a lot don’t. What would these people say?

I wonder if the movie will be shown to such oppressed peoples. I want to know what five certain locked-away princesses think.

Four are sisters in their forties—they haven’t had the opportunity to pursue a career or have a family. Last I heard, they were still locked away but give credit to their faith for their strength to keep going. (Yes, that video is five years old. I haven’t found a recent one yet.)

Then there’s the other princess who tried to escape from her father but was discovered. The family says she’s fine and even has shown pictures of her shown to be alive—though, she looks ill.

What are your thoughts? I really, really want to know.