The Lion King (A or 4/4 stars)
Over the last 5 yrs., Disney has given us The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, & Aladdin, and now, they've come roaring back again with 'The Lion King', directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff. To me, Beauty ... is the pinnacle, but this film is right up there in its excellence. 'The Lion King' tells a story of guilt & redemption. Simba (voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, & then Matthew Broderick), a young lion cub, is the son of the great & mighty King Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones). The royal family (so to speak) is close, but tragedy befalls them. And Simba - heir to his father's throne - is tricked into believing that he was the prime cause of the king's untimely death. The mental trauma and shame caused by this is so enormous that young Simba flees into exile, attempting to find peace through anonymity (he's to be the future King) in the boisterous company of a wart hog & meerkat.
But Simba's past comes back to haunt him. Namely, the ghost of his father alludes to Simba that his unsavory Uncle Scar (voiced by Jeremy Irons) - the lion responsible for his brother's death - is 2nd in line to the throne, & plots with some evil hyenas (one voiced by Whoopi Goldberg) to get rid of him next! Having to grow up quickly, can Simba, his loyal allies, & his newfound lioness girlfriend, Nala (voiced by Moira Kelly), defeat this treacherous foe (Scar)? Will Simba be able to accept the responsibilities of adulthood & fulfill his destiny in the 'Circle of Life' as King of the Jungle?
I love this movie! Let me count the ways. Firstly, I love how this film's narrative framework is the same as Shakespeare's Hamlet (prince's King father is killed by his brother, prince flees in shame, delays vengeance, comes back strong, hates how his uncle has treated his mother, & uses that as fuel for revenge & re-assertion in the royal court. There are a myriad of other parallels, but I won't go into them here.). Because of the Hamlet tie-in, 'The Lion King' is the darkest Disney animated film to have been released In nearly 20 yrs. - or going back to the Bambi days (poor deer). Don't get me wrong, 'TLK' provides enchantment, tons of humor, & toe-tapping music, but the dark 'adult' element is very present; both thematically (multiculturalism, ecology) & literally (watch out for King Mufasa's disturbing demise in a wildebeest stampede). And there's a violent (for animation) battle btwn. 2 lions later in the proceedings.
On a purely subjective level, I just found 'TLK' to be wonderful, epic entertainment. I loved the voice acting; especially Jeremy Irons' gravely, sinister Scar, Whoopi Goldberg's maniacal hyena, Rowan Atkinson's bad-mouthed bird, & Nathan Lane's humorous meerkat, Timon. The animation is bright, detailed, & most importantly, inventive. The African-tinged music (by Hans Zimmer, Tim Rice, & Elton John) is spectacular! The opening number to 'Circle of Life' is both a visual extravaganza, as well as a musical triumph; setting you up for one Hell of a movie (the ballad 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' is a beauty, as well). You see, 'TLK' is not just some great animated movie ... it's a truly excellent film; with emotional resonance & visual wonders to behold. And the film's blend of heartwarming animal characters, intriguing plot, incredible music, great humor, & intense thrills will make it a qualified success - both critically & at the box-office.
But Simba's past comes back to haunt him. Namely, the ghost of his father alludes to Simba that his unsavory Uncle Scar (voiced by Jeremy Irons) - the lion responsible for his brother's death - is 2nd in line to the throne, & plots with some evil hyenas (one voiced by Whoopi Goldberg) to get rid of him next! Having to grow up quickly, can Simba, his loyal allies, & his newfound lioness girlfriend, Nala (voiced by Moira Kelly), defeat this treacherous foe (Scar)? Will Simba be able to accept the responsibilities of adulthood & fulfill his destiny in the 'Circle of Life' as King of the Jungle?
I love this movie! Let me count the ways. Firstly, I love how this film's narrative framework is the same as Shakespeare's Hamlet (prince's King father is killed by his brother, prince flees in shame, delays vengeance, comes back strong, hates how his uncle has treated his mother, & uses that as fuel for revenge & re-assertion in the royal court. There are a myriad of other parallels, but I won't go into them here.). Because of the Hamlet tie-in, 'The Lion King' is the darkest Disney animated film to have been released In nearly 20 yrs. - or going back to the Bambi days (poor deer). Don't get me wrong, 'TLK' provides enchantment, tons of humor, & toe-tapping music, but the dark 'adult' element is very present; both thematically (multiculturalism, ecology) & literally (watch out for King Mufasa's disturbing demise in a wildebeest stampede). And there's a violent (for animation) battle btwn. 2 lions later in the proceedings.
On a purely subjective level, I just found 'TLK' to be wonderful, epic entertainment. I loved the voice acting; especially Jeremy Irons' gravely, sinister Scar, Whoopi Goldberg's maniacal hyena, Rowan Atkinson's bad-mouthed bird, & Nathan Lane's humorous meerkat, Timon. The animation is bright, detailed, & most importantly, inventive. The African-tinged music (by Hans Zimmer, Tim Rice, & Elton John) is spectacular! The opening number to 'Circle of Life' is both a visual extravaganza, as well as a musical triumph; setting you up for one Hell of a movie (the ballad 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' is a beauty, as well). You see, 'TLK' is not just some great animated movie ... it's a truly excellent film; with emotional resonance & visual wonders to behold. And the film's blend of heartwarming animal characters, intriguing plot, incredible music, great humor, & intense thrills will make it a qualified success - both critically & at the box-office.