By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Disney continues to tap into its treasure chest of animated movies and turn classics like ?Dumbo,? ?The Jungle Book? and ?Aladdin? into live action re-makes. The latest is
?The Lion King.? It?s a stunning, re-imagining of the 1994 movie.
This latest version of ?The Lion King? is directed and produced by
Jon Favreau (?Spider-Man: Far from Home?) who also helmed 2016?s outstanding movie, ?The Jungle Book.?
There?s a large camp whose sentimentality and nostalgia runs deep, and they believe none of the Disney classics need a make-over. Then there are others who aren?t as diehard and are open to changing things up a bit.
There?s also many who will experience the magic and wonder of ?The Lion King? for the first time.
They won?t be disappointed as this one is a real delight.
Aside from the live setting, Favreau didn?t change much from the original. Even the dialogue is pretty much word for word.
What makes ?The Lion King? really roar is how spectacular it looks and how realistic the animals are. It?s as if while watching the film you?re transported to an African Savanna.
While much has been made about the talking animals, I didn?t find them distracting at all.
Favreau and his talented filmmaking crew utilized state of the art motion capture technology and it?s a seamless transition that makes it appear as if the lions: Mufasa (voiced by the legendary James Earl Jones, ?Rogue One: A Star Wars Story?), young Simba, played by JD McCrary (?Little? and TV?s ?American Soul?) and Donald Glover (TV?s ?Atlanta,?), Nala (a terrific Beyonc?), Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor, ?12 Years a Slave? )
really can talk.
?The Lion King? is just a fabulous story. You?d have to go to great lengths to mess this up which is why I appreciate the few subtle liberties the filmmakers did take with it.
I like its dark moments that play out especially among the hyenas which are led by Kamari (a terrific Keegan-Michael Key, ?Toy Story 4?). Ejiofer is also outstanding as Scar, the low-down dirty brother of Mufasa and the uncle of Simba. Scar manipulates his way to become king of the Pride Lands.
Seth Rogan as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon the meerkat are hilarious and have scene stealing moments. Although I would have enjoyed seeing and hearing more from Sarabi (Alfre Woodard, TV?s ?Luke Cage?).
Simba also reconnects with his childhood friend Nala first voiced by (Shahadi Wright Joseph, ?Us?) and later as Beyonc? who shines. They all convince Simba of his rightful place and that he must retain control of the Kingdom which is everything the light touches.
The music of ?The Lion King? is unforgettable this time around too. When Nala/Beyonc? and Simba/Glover belt out ?Can You Feel the Love Tonight,? it?s palpable.
Equally moving is McCrary and Wright Joseph?s snappy, ?I Just Can?t Wait to Be King? and McCrary holds nothing back on ?Hakuna Matata.?
Elton John?s new track ?Never too Late? is a winner too.
I loved the original ?Lion King? and I love this one too. It stands on its own. It?s a classic for a new generation.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.
Check Out This Trailer For
"THE LION KING"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.
Check Out This Trailer For
"THE LION KING"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
