“The Lion King” (2019) Film Review
I’m sure I speak for all of us millennial-era humans, or anyone else who grew up watching the Golden Age of Disney movies, when I say that The Lion King (1994) is a classic. You can ask anyone what their favourite Disney movie is, and The Lion King will almost always be an instant reply as being on their list. The soundtrack, all-star cast, Shakespeare-inspired concept, one of the most heartbreaking deaths of film history, and an epic redemption arc makes it one of the most lauded animation movies of all time. Simply put, it is unbeatable.
Yet, it was only a matter of time when Disney, in its relatively newfound fad of remaking its animated classics as “live-action” (or, photorealistic CGI, for the films that revolve around talking animals), picked up The Lion King (2019). And though it was to be directed by the ever-amazing Jon Favreau and starring an exciting cast, the likes of which included Donald Glover, Beyonce, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and a shocking reprise of legend James Earl Jones as Mufasa, many of us were skeptical. And rightfully so. How could computer-animated animals possibly live up to the expressive, distinctive style of the classic animation?
I heard mixed reviews, many of the negatives stating how dull it was to watch real-looking lions speak. Because, as mentioned, capturing their expressions in a way that mimics the 2D-animated original would be a difficult thing to do. Thus, I went into the theatre – on the opening night of the film – with low expectations. And I still maintain that that’s how you should go into it if you haven’t seen it already. I can completely understand why some viewers couldn’t get behind the way it was animated, and how that affected their opinion of the film negatively.
However, let me say: I was honestly surprised at how much I liked this remake. It is perhaps my favourite Disney remake thus far – something that I myself am shocked to admit. Perhaps it was the fact that I went in with little to no expectations that brought about such a positive reaction. Or perhaps it truly was an excellent film that played on my sentimentality for the classic extremely well. I will say that the brilliance of the original soundtrack, composed by Hans Zimmer, is reason enough to go see this film, and is a huge part of why I may or may not have teared up multiple times throughout. Even if you don’t enjoy anything else about the movie, if you have fond memories of watching the original, you will feel the most overwhelming sense of nostalgia when you hear the music swell (Hans Zimmer, who has composed the soundtracks for multiple successful movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception and Gladiator to name a few, truly is a genius). I was even pleasantly surprised that the film’s new original song written by Beyonce, entitled “Spirit”, was a welcome addition. Also, be sure to prepare yourself for the scene (yes, the dreaded Mufasa scene), because even though the death itself was less dramatic in this version than in the original, the aftermath was equally heart-wrenching. Bring tissues.
Without spoiling too much, I will say that while the film did do the shot-for-shot method for most of the duration, there were little moments of visual deviation that balanced it out. The backdrop of the fictional Pride Lands in Africa (inspired by the real-life Serengeti region of Tanzania) provides the most breathtaking landscape, one that the film did not shy away from showcasing. There was also a larger focus on the various animals in this region, as opposed to just the lions, which I thought was a beautiful way to debut some originality in this remake.
I also shouldn’t be remotely surprised that the voice cast did an incredible job in their respective roles, proving that they truly were a multi-faceted roster of talent. Donald Glover as Simba was perfect, mimicking the likable boyishness (and at times, naivete) that Matthew Broderick brought to the original. Beyonce did a gorgeous job as Nala, despite not having acted in many films prior. James Earl Jones’ inimitable baritone voice reminded me that nobody else can play Mufasa, a character who was made iconic precisely because of Jones’ remarkable presence and expertise. Chiwitel Ejiofor, who perhaps had the hardest job of all in having to play Scar – who was originally played by the illustrious Jeremy Irons – brought his Shakespearean practice to the table and pulled off playing one of the most quintessential Disney villains of all time. In fact, I liked his performance so much that I was deeply disappointed to find out that Scar’s song, “Be Prepared”, was cut down significantly in this adaptation. Alfre Woodard played Sarabi perfectly, John Kani did an even kookier version of Rafiki which I thoroughly emjoyed, and John Oliver was the absolute epitome of Zazu (honestly, he embodied Rowan Atkinson so well that it borderline scares me).
I’m saving the best for last. The absolute highlight of this film by far was Timon and Pumbaa, the pair that I was initially most scared to see recreated — because how could you recreate such an iconic duo? Apparently, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen can. With Eichner playing a quirkier Timon and Rogen who was apparently born to play Pumbaa, the most original parts of the entire film were the moments that the pair brought to the screen. This is largely because Rogen and Eichner, under the instruction of Favreau, ad-libbed many of their lines and/or riffed off existing lines, and boy did it pay off. I can’t convey just how hilarious the pair were, playing off the original hilarity of the duo and transforming it into something slightly more new, fresh, and on-brand with their real-life comedic selves. One of the best moments, entirely, was the film’s version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. (You can hear this version in the link below!)
Ultimately, I don’t think I will ever say that I’ll enjoy a Disney remake more than the original. A classic like The Lion King will forever be engrained as being a pivotal part of my childhood, a nostalgic element that cannot be recreated. However, I can say that Favreau’s photorealistic CGI animated remake was full of stunning visuals, great original additions, and a stellar voice cast, all with an underlying respect for its 1994 counterpart which was cemented by the presence of James Earl Jones. I personally didn’t feel that the photorealistic animation of the animals felt emotionless or soulless, because the voice acting accomplished so much of the necessary legwork. I can honestly say that I left the theatre feeling happy, emotional, and ultimately satisfied. The film allowed me to adequately reminisce about the good ol’ days, while simultaneously showing me that I don’t always have to doubt the newer, shinier things.
~ Z ~
Photo by Ivan Diaz on Unsplash
