Anyone who knows me is aware that I love a bit of Disney. I was taken to see this film by my Nan when I was about 6, I think I enjoyed it but in the subsequent years I convinced myself that I didn’t like it. A friend of mine and fellow Disney enthusiast asked if I wanted to go with her to see the newly re-released ‘The Lion King’ in 3D. Here’s what I thought seeing it on the big screen second time round.
In case you’ve been living on a desert island since 1994 ‘The Lion King’ is the story of Simba, son of Mufasa, King of Pride Rock. Simba is born much to the displeasure of his Uncle Scar who wants to rule Pride Rock himself. Over the coming years Mufasa teaches Simba about being a King until one day Scar tells Simba to wait for his father in the gorge where, with the help of the Hyenas, he creates a stampede of Wildebeest that head straight for Simba. Feigning concern, Scar goes to get Mufasa and tells him of Simba’s peril, Mufasa successfully rescues Simba from the gorge but when he’s trying to get out Scar throws Mufasa back down where he gets trampled to death by the stampeding Wildebeest. Simba, after being told by Scar that he is responsible for the death of his father, flees Pride Rock.
I have no idea why I told myself I didn’t like this film. It’s awesome! Within the first few chords of ‘The Circle of Life’ I had that lovely fuzzy warm feeling in my belly that only Disney can provide.
Under an hour and a half it zips along quite nicely, not drawn out enough to out stay its welcome but enough for it to stick with you after the closing credits. The score is superb, Hans Zimmer, Elton John and Tim Rice all did a fantastic job and most importantly the songs stand up after 17 years (god that makes me feel old). The Animation is to die for. The ‘Disney Renaissance’ (1989-1999) really did turn out some cracking films and I think this is one of the best. The voice cast is great. My personal favourite is Rowan Atkinson as Zazu but there’s Whoopie Goldberg, Jeremy Irons, Matthew Broderick and of course James Earl Jones as Mufasa (I may have spoilt ‘The Lion King’ for one of my friends for life when I told her Mufasa was voiced by the same bloke that does Darth Vader, she says all she hears now is Vader).
The 3D is fine, not awful but definitely not good enough to outweigh the loss of light and colour saturation. I’m taking a positive view though; if Disney starts releasing their back catalogue in 3D they’ll be back in cinemas which will hopefully introduce them to a whole new audience of children. If the screening of ‘Tangled’ I went to in February is anything to go by there’s still a huge audience for Disney.
‘The Lion King’ is the highest grossing traditionally animated film of all time and having seen this as both a child and an adult it’s easy to see why. The story is timeless; it harks back to stories like Moses and Hamlet but obviously in an anthropomorphic, Disney friendly kind of way. That said you forget how scary that gorge sequence is and I have always liked the way Disney films deal with mortality, most lead characters in Disney films are orphans, have to deal with death in some way or are taken away from their parents at a young age and it’s admirable that Disney continue to tackle that kind of subject matter in their more recent outings.
In the years since it was released ‘The Lion King’ has become something much more than just a Disney film (although in my opinion nothing is ‘just a Disney film’), it’s an award winning soundtrack and a massive stage show but everything stems from this; a wonderful animated film that will be loved for years to come.
It’s Friday so lets have some…
Reasons to be Cheerful
1. This week is Halloween week on Strictly! I’m loving the series so far! In spite of initial reservations Chelsey Healey is one of my favourites; her quickstep last week was GORGEOUS! Jason Donovan is also proving to be quite the contender. Unsurprisingly my previous predictions were crap… Oh well! Strictly is on Saturday, BBC1 at half 6.
2. OMGHOWGOODWASTHELASTEPOF’THEFADES’!!!!!! I have LOVED ‘The Fades’! Some have dismissed it a bit of a slow burner but I thought it was great! A great cast, modern take on the traditional ghost story and lashings of lovely Sci-Fi! What’s not to like?!?! I mourn the loss of ‘Doctor Who Confidential’ but if they can put the money they save from that into more new, fantastic stuff like this I might be consoled. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy of Series 1 :-)
3. Character Posters for ‘The Hunger Games’! I do enjoy a ‘Dystopian Future’ movie and this looks good, alas the same cannot be said for Woody Harrelson’s wig…. I want to read the book but obviously when the film comes out I’ll judge it on its own merit. Thankfully, even if it’s total crap at least I’ll have the lovely Liam Hemsworth to look at!
4. Brad Bird wants there to be a sequel to ‘The Incredibles’ and so do I! I really enjoy ‘The Incredibles’, it’s marginally more grown up than other Pixar fare (it was their first PG rated film) but still has the top class story telling of which our favourite digimation gurus are capable.
5. The Muppets have done their final parody trailer. And it’s awesome! 105 days to go!!!!
That’s it for today.
Goodbye till next time :-)
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