Disney seems to be rushing through their extensive catalog of animated classics and turning them into live action films at a fast pace. This year alone, there had already been "Dumbo" (which was not so good) and "Aladdin" (which was unexpectedly good). Coming up in the wings are "Lady and the Tramp" (in November) and "Mulan" (in March 2020). And then, there is this one, the "live action" version of the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time -- "The Lion King."
The film told the story of Simba, a young lion cub destined to be the king of the Pride Lands. However, his evil Uncle Scar connived with the hyenas to murder the reigning King Mufasa, force Simba into exile and claim the throne himself. Simba grew up with new friends meerkat Timon and warthog Pumbaa, leading a blissful "Hakuna Matata" ("No Worries") lifestyle, until fate compelled him to return home and fulfill his destiny to be king.
Director Jon Favreau practically followed the original animated film frame for frame, with all the iconic scenes intact, like the presentation at Pride Rock, the stampede at the gorge, the maturation of Simba while singing "Hakuna Matata," the tender frolicking scenes between Simba and Nala, the final fight between Simba and Scar. There were just some added comic relief scenes care of Timon and Pumbaa, especially one surprising reference to another Disney classic that . The pacing can be very slow at times, especially in that lengthy sequence following a tuft of Simba's hair as it got passed around by various animals.
As can be seen in the trailers, the photo-realistic computer-generated imagery used in this film followed the style used in "The Jungle Book" (also by Favreau, 2016) which won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. The animal imagery in "The Lion King" was strikingly realistic, the whole film practically looking like an actual wildlife documentary with a dramatic story. However, limitations were apparent during scenes when the animals' faces could not completely convey the appropriate emotions, especially joy during the upbeat songs (like "Just Can't Wait to Be King" or "Hakuna Matata").
The Hyenas were not laughing at all in this one. There were no witty Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin gags here. These new hyenas were scary as they were ugly. This live action version is not really a G film, more of a PG especially because of these hyena scenes. The Elephant Graveyard scene was so much more terrifying for young kids, together with their violent brawls with the lions and that final grisly fate of Scar.
The voice work of the cast was excellent, led by Donald Glover as adult Simba and 11 year old JD McCrary as child Simba in the title role. Beyonce was being very Beyonce here, as she's unmistakable as adult Nala, dominating "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and the new song "Spirit." Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen were scene-stealing as the comic sidekicks Timon and Pumbaa, still the life of the film here as they were back then. Chiwetel Ejiofor captured the bitter jealousy of Scar but I missed the slimy Jeremy Irons version. The great James Earl Jones basically repeated his former lines as King Mufasa, his voice as formidable and noble as ever.
Certainly, the film was beautifully shot with grand cinematography of the African landscape, with the amazing realism of the computer-generated animal images being its greatest achievement. However, this lifelike realism of the animals turned out to be the film's main drawback. It did not seem to be the most appropriate medium to show wild animals cracking jokes and singing songs. Anyhow by the end, the timeless story of the beloved 1994 original still ultimately prevails to envelope you with its undeniable spirit of nostalgia. 7/10.
مراجعة فيلم The Lion King (2019)
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