After the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.
Nala (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Simba (JD McCrary) are at it again. This on-and-off-again relationship is symbolic of the epitome of feminism and chauvinism at its worst and best, and filmgoers are definitely here for it. Very rare now are the days when a male and female spend their childhoods together, go through a life-changing period of separation and then serendipitously get back together and form a united front to take on the world and conquer the problems of their forefathers. In this 2019 Disney version of “The Lion King,” director Jon Favreau uses a recognizable foundation of family drama to gain entry into the fascinating world of the animal kingdom with dynamic features of human frailty. To make it a complete gamechanger, he enlists an all-star cast which includes the incomparable James Earl Jones, Seth Rogen, Beyoncé, Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Eichner, John Kani and Alfre Woodard, whose voice characterizations and vocal abilities transform this remake from the 1994 original, and utilizing the CGI format, makes it seem totally realistic and almost new again.
Reaching back to 1994 when Disney made its “The Lion King” debut, we are already familiar with the highly dysfunctional family story of how King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and his Queen Sarabi (Alfre Woodard), coddled their baby boy while his infamous uncle Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor) grew insanely jealous and plotted with the lower end of the junglesphere to ensure that his brother would be taken out and his nephew would never live to attend the crowning ceremony that would make him King of the Jungle. In the opening scenes, the sun rises and sets over Africa while Elton John’s “Circle of Life” sets the mood for the ultimate story of betrayal and redemption. To his credit, Favreau’s life-like imagery makes the jungle and its creatures come completely alive to add narrative to the compelling story of how Simba’s guilt over the death of his father forced him into exile and thrust him into a whole new lifestyle where he had to learn to live alongside and depend on those who in the natural order of the jungle, feared him most. The irony that he would learn the greatest of life’s lessons from an overzealous warthog named Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and his meerkat companion Timon (Billy Eichner), speaks to the eternal truth of being humbled. While the storyline remains acutely familiar and safe, the added attractions to this multi-media version make it appealing and resourceful to those who won’t make too much of dissecting its parts into incomparable failures to meet the original hoopla of the cub who would be king.
To be specific, “The Lion King” is a classic treasure and the technical boost it has received in this version is a welcome departure that gives new life to something we have become all too familiar with over a period of twenty-five years. While Simba and Nala’s relationship is vital to Simba’s understanding of his responsibility to the jungle, Rafiki (John Kani), as well as the Hyenas’ (Florenzi Kasumba and Keegan-Michael Key) roles are pivotal within the circle, and Pumbaa’s and Timon’s tenacity is the bridge that brings Simba back to the realization that he must cross back over in order to save the Pride Lands for all. Children of all ages will love it, and adults, inevitably, should adjust accordingly.
Now available on Digital HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD Oct. 22nd
