I’ve always wanted a brother, but I never thought I wanted a prequel/sequel to the 2019 version of The Lion King. (And I actually do have a brother.)
I’m one of the few people who actually liked the photo-realistic live-action film, even though I can see all its faults. The good news is, I like this one even more. I feel like the filmmakers listened to the criticism of the first one, and gave us something new. The visuals are stunning, especially with how the animals convey emotions through facial expressions.
Before I say anything else, I just want you to know that none of these remakes can truly capture the magic of the original Disney movies. The Lion King is my favourite animated movie of all-time. The reason why Mufasa: The Lion King resonates with me is because of seeds planted by the original film.
I was skeptical about the changes to Mufasa’s origin story, but I think the changes fit well into this universe. The movie serves as both a sequel and prequel to the 2019 film. It does take inspiration from The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride, but it’s more of an original film.
Let me get the criticism out of the way first. We didn’t need this movie, but we have it and might as well enjoy it. The story isn’t the best and I feel like I needed more reason for Scar’s character change. It doesn’t carry the emotional weighed from the first film.
The music is amazing, but I missed Elton John’s flare. On the one hand this movie feels like cash grab, and on the other hand it feels like Barry Jenkins’ passion project. His vision really shines through in the final product.
Let me rather focus on the positive. The animation is definitely so much better than the first one. You can feel and see the animals emotions. The scenery is beautiful and we see different sides of the world established in the film’s universe. The better special effects gave the actors a better chance to shine.
Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone and Kagiso Ledigo are brilliant. The chemistry between Aaron and Kelvin make you root for the brother’s. Aaron Pierre’s voice is gentle, yet powerful. While Kelvin beautifully switches his performance up at just the right moment.
The movie carries some emotional weight and focuses on themes that lie close to me. Mufasa is an outsider who keeps being true to his values regardless of where he came from. So while I don’t think the story is the best, the way it’s told will resonate with millions. And Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music once again brings power to the story.
The soundtrack is fantastic, there’s one song that I still have stuck in my head. The singing is fantastic. And while the movie doesn’t live up to the original, it still impressed me. I can see myself re-watching it and I know the kids are going to love it. So give Mufasa: The Lion King a shot.
