{"id":36404,"date":"2015-01-27T09:00:17","date_gmt":"2015-01-27T14:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=36404"},"modified":"2022-02-05T23:59:27","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T04:59:27","slug":"movie-review-lion-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/movie-review-lion-king\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: The Lion King"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"DVD<\/a>
DVD Cover \u00a9Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Representing the summit of the Disney Renaissance, The Lion King<\/em> was released as the 32nd full-length animated feature in Disney history on June 24, 1994. The eighty-eight minute flick was re-released in 3D in September 2011 following a pair of direct-to-video sequels, The Lion King 2: Simba\u2019s Pride <\/em>(1998) and The Lion King 1 \u00bd<\/em> (2004).<\/p>\n

Plot Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the African Pride Lands, Sarabi, the wife of King Mufasa, gives birth to a cub named Simba, who replaces Mufasa\u2019s brother Scar as the first heir to the proverbial throne. Scar is furious at this development and begins scheming to kill his brother and nephew so that he can rule the land. Scar succeeds at killing Mufasa, and though Simba survives, Scar takes advantage of Simba\u2019s youthful ignorance to place the blame on the cub and, for all intents and purposes, expel him from the Pride Lands.<\/p>\n

Scar has assumed control, but Simba is the rightful king. Will Simba find the courage to return home and end Scar\u2019s reign of terror?<\/p>\n

Katzenberg\u2019s Kats<\/strong><\/p>\n

We will now take a detour to the real world.<\/p>\n

Upon bolting Paramount for Disney with Michael Eisner in 1984, Jeffrey Katzenberg helped transform Disney\u2019s blundering motion picture division into a powerhouse. The ascension of the department peaked in the early 1990s, when two animated masterpieces, Beauty and the Beast<\/em> (1991) and Aladdin<\/em> (1992), were released with Katzenberg serving as chairman of Walt Disney Studios.<\/p>\n

Katzenberg\u2019s biggest individual contribution to Disney was The Lion King<\/em>, the first animated feature in the company\u2019s history to be created from an original in-house story instead of a fairy tale, a children\u2019s book, or any other outside concept. (1) On a flight from London to Paris in the summer of 1990 to promote The Little Mermaid<\/em> (1989), Katzenberg was pondering coming-of-age stories with colleagues Roy E. Disney and Peter Schneider, when the proverbial lightbulb went on: Katzenberg told Roy Disney and Schneider that he wanted to relay such a story in an African setting with animals instead of humans.<\/p>\n

Concerning the use of animals, Katzenberg said, \u201cThe animal kingdom is a metaphor. A child loses a parent, goes out into the world, tries to avoid responsibility, then faces it.\u201d (2) Katzenberg wanted to use animals because Disney\u2019s previous three animated movies had each featured humans as main characters. (3)<\/p>\n

The project was greenlit but meandered for two years before an \u201caha\u201d moment occurred during a script meeting in the autumn of 1993. There, a story artist told Katzenberg, \u201cYou know, what you\u2019re really trying to do here is tell the story of Hamlet<\/em>.\u201d (4) Katzenberg immediately concurred with the statement, ordered the dialogue to be made \u201cmore Shakespearean,\u201d and the movie, relatively speaking, cruised to release. Hamlet<\/em> focused the concept, affording Uncle Scar a more significant role. (5)<\/p>\n

Katzenberg\u2019s Departure<\/strong><\/p>\n

The film\u2019s tremendous success notwithstanding, The Lion King<\/em> proved to be Katzenberg\u2019s last hurrah at Disney, and it was hardly a pleasant hurrah. Katzenberg departed the company in August 1994 after infuriating Eisner, who refused to appoint Katzenberg as President of the Walt Disney Company following the death of Frank G. Wells, the previous president, in a helicopter crash on April 3, 1994.<\/p>\n

Katzenberg proceeded to found DreamWorks, the animation studio behind films such as Shrek<\/em> (2001) and How to Train Your Dragon <\/em>(2010), along with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen.<\/p>\n

Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Mufasa tells his inquisitive cub, \u201cThere’s more to being king than getting your way all the time.\u201d A king must ensure fair treatment within \u201cthe circle of life\u201d because, although it might not be obvious, all creatures are interconnected in some way, and harmony among said beings must be protected.<\/p>\n

Scar clearly disagrees with Mufasa\u2019s philosophy on government. Upon taking control, the rogue king demonstrates complete self-interest to the detriment of society.<\/p>\n

Throughout the film, Simba faces decisions that place self-interest against the greater good of nature. Simba learns that his decisions impact other creatures. Taking his friend Nala to the elephant graveyard might have seemed fun, but the trip jeopardized not only Simba\u2019s life, but also the lives of Nala, Mufasa, and the creatures of the Pride Lands as a whole. Regarding the latter party, had both Simba and Mufasa been killed by the aggressive hyenas at the graveyard, Scar would have become the rightful, uncontested king.<\/p>\n

Later in the film, Simba must decide between continuing the worry-free life he had been living with his friends Timon, a meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warthog, and returning to the devastated Pride Lands to save the kingdom from the disastrous rule of Scar. The latter course presents more risk, but it also holds greater potential reward.<\/p>\n

Maturity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Simba transforms from a cocky and impressionable cub to a true leader over the course of the movie. The scene where Mufasa\u2019s spirit scolds Simba over the latter\u2019s unwillingness to fight Scar for control of the Pride Lands symbolizes Simba\u2019s development. Mufasa displays passion but offers no demands to his son. Mufasa\u2019s legacy can guide Simba, but Simba must make his own decisions and accept the consequences, whether they are positive or negative, of said choices. Indeed, Simba is no longer a child.<\/p>\n

Scar<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scar is conceited and cruel. The manner in which he kills Mufasa is terrible, and Mufasa\u2019s death is perhaps one of the saddest occurrences in any Disney film. Considering the care Mufasa showed for Simba, I shed tears when the King died.<\/p>\n

Scar terrified me so much as a child\u2014I was four when the film was released\u2014that after watching the VHS once, my parents resorted to hiding the tape on a high closet shelf so that I was not tempted to watch it again.<\/p>\n

Humor<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Lion King<\/em> is hilarious at points.<\/p>\n

Mufasa\u2019s majordomo, Zazu, displays wisdom but is largely ignored by everyone; he basically serves as a punching bag.<\/p>\n

Timon and Pumbaa dispense puns, dish out bathroom humor, and dine on nature\u2019s finest and slimiest delicacies. Pumbaa also demonstrates an advanced knowledge of astronomy and a surprising aptitude for opera singing.<\/p>\n

Scar utilizes sarcasm, which is amusing at first but quickly grows irksome. He is a villain after all.<\/p>\n

Music<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is the best song in The Lion King<\/em>? Now, that is an easy question! It is “Circle of Life.\u201d On second thought, it is “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”! Or, maybe it is \u201cHakuna Matata\u201d? Umm, maybe this question is not so easy after all.<\/p>\n

Suffice to say, The Lion King<\/em> features one of the greatest and most complete soundtracks in Disney history. All the songs are catchy, and they bring different vibes to the table. \u201cCan You Feel the Love Tonight\u201d and \u201cThe Circle of Life\u201d are beautiful and sentimental, \u201cHakuna Matata\u201d and \u201cI Just Can’t Wait to Be King” are whimsical, and \u201cBe Prepared\u201d is foreboding.<\/p>\n

As an aside, while I usually prefer the popular versions of Disney movie songs to the in-film versions, I find the in-film rendition of \u201cThe Circle of Life\u201d superior to the Elton John version, which is still excellent. The song provides an exhilarating commencement to the film.<\/p>\n

Question<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being that he aged in a matter of seconds during \u201cHakuna Matata,\u201d I wonder how long Simba was actually away from the Pride Lands.<\/p>\n

Relationship to Other Disney Films<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maturity is a major theme in Pinocchio<\/em> (1940).<\/p>\n

Evil family members also wreak havoc in Cinderella<\/em> (1950).<\/p>\n

Uncle Scar makes a cameo in Hercules<\/em> (1997).<\/p>\n

In the Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the Africa section of Walt Disney World\u2019s Animal Kingdom<\/a> theme park and the Adventureland section of Hong Kong Disneyland, guests can enjoy \u201cFestival of the Lion King,\u201d a show featuring music, audience participation, and acrobatics.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
Photo \u00a9Kelly Nobles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Photo<\/a>
Photo \u00a9Kelly Nobles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Animal Kingdom\u2019s \u201cKilimanjaro Safaris\u201d attraction brings an African safari to the Sunshine State. Lions and warthogs are among the many animals guests may encounter on this experience.<\/p>\n

The \u201cRafiki\u2019s Planet Watch\u201d area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is named after the baboon from The Lion King<\/em> and incorporates a petting zoo, interactive activities, and conservation exhibits.<\/p>\n

The upper level of Epcot\u2019s Land Pavilion houses \u201cCircle of Life: An Environmental Fable.\u201d This educational film involves Simba explaining the importance of preserving the environment to Timon and Pumbaa.<\/p>\n

Much to Scar\u2019s chagrin, Zazu sings \u201cIt\u2019s a Small World,\u201d the theme song for the attraction of the same name that is located in all five Magic Kingdom-style parks around the world.<\/p>\n

Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alternately heartwarming, sentimental, hilarious, and musical, The Lion King<\/em> is a Disney treasure.<\/p>\n

Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) Smith, D. (2012). Animated Features. In Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered<\/em> (p. 19). New York: Disney Editions.<\/p>\n

2) Stewart, J. (2005). The Wonderful World of Disney. In Disney War<\/em> (p. 108). New York: Simon & Schuster.<\/p>\n

3) Ibid.<\/p>\n

4) Ibid., p. 152.<\/p>\n

5) Ibid.<\/p>\n

What do you think of The Lion King? Let me know in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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