The Lion King (Live-Action)

[Vlad]

I actually did

[Vlad]

Have you guys seen this poster promoting the IMAX re-release of the original?

[Sotiris]

And the way he delivers the line....omg, so bad. In the original, it was actually way more sinister the way he almost whispered it.

Yes, the delivery in the original was more sly and menacing. The way the line is delivered in the remake makes it less dramatic.

I have a feeling all the re-makes from this point forward will be tanked by the critics just 'cause. They have an ax to grind.

From the upcoming ones, I think Cruella and The Little Mermaid will get poor reviews while Mulan will get good ones.

I never take their opinions into consideration, because at the end of the day, I really don't give a damn what others think of a movie. If I like it, it's enough

Me too. We all have movies we loved that the critics hated and vice versa. I used to put more stock in a film's critical reception but now I pretty much ignore what everyone else thinks. Especially after the rise of review-aggregator sites like Rotten Tomatoes where critical consensus is boiled down to a percentage and nuance goes out the window.

Have you guys seen this poster promoting the IMAX re-release of the original?

No, I haven't seen it before. Thanks for posting!

[Mooky]

I just came back from seeing the movie and it's alright. Just alright. If the original didn't exist, this movie would probably be hailed as revolutionary and not just from the technical aspect. Alas (or rather fortunately), we live in the world where the 1994 version came first because everything this movie does pales in comparison to the original. And yet, the only reason it doesn't suck is precisely because of all the stuff it takes from the original.

I caught myself getting teary-eyed a few times but then I realized my body was just reacting to the music cues and superior set-up of the original, because performance-wise I didn't feel a thing. The worst offender is Beyoncé who you just can't separate vocally from her off-screen persona and, as a result, Nala's characterization suffers. It's no wonder that the best Nala scenes in the movie contain no dialogue, one of them completely new to the film and really good too. Even James Earl Jones sounded bored. The MVPs of the vocal performance are Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, and Timon and Pumbaa may as well be the best part of the movie because you can actually see the movie come alive when they first appear. Another two great performances were given by Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, very warm and regal at the same time, and Florence Kasumba, who made Shenzi a truly threatening presence and a worthy opponent. I really liked how they elevated her character from the comic relief of the original.

Another thing, it was kind of dull at times, the first 40-ish minutes in particular. Even the score which is largely the same lost some of the oomph. Take "...To Die For"/stampede sequence, the score in the original is majestic, intense, scary as is the scene to which it is set. In the remake, the same score was at parts played like they were going for... uplifting? as opposed to urgent. Just a strange choice altogether. Song sequences don't have the same energy, because surprise, photo-realistic animals can't really dance.

The whole realism debate... Animals look realistic when stationary, but the second they start opening their mouths or running (their moves are slowed down to accommodate the camera work compared to how a real animal would run), any illusion is lost. Or when realistic herbivores come to pay respect to a newborn carnivore. The whole "circle of life" idea was already somewhat iffy in the original, but you let it slide because it's colorful animation and there are talking lions with eyebrows, and you're more willing to suspend your disbelief. Here it's quite a bit different, as photo-realism doesn't really lend itself to the idea, and suddenly you realize that the antelope may not actually enjoy joining in song with killing machines that may eventually eat them. The concept is somewhat explored later in the movie, when Simba meets other animals in the oasis and finds out that no, herbivores are not really happy to serve as food. Those things aside, don't be disappointed because you can still enjoy the visuals and they are truly marvelous, but nothing you haven't seen before in any documentary on Africa.

Scar... I don't know, I didn't dislike this new take on the character. The campy, sardonic version of the original just wouldn't work here. I only wish he was colder and more calculating, and not prone to yelling outbursts. It would have made him more menacing. I'm somewhat confused about his involvement with the hyenas, it appears they have no prior connection until after Mufasa saves the cubs, and it's made to look as if Shenzi is the one calling the shots, but later in the movie, the hyenas seem to have no problem being his subordinates. I liked the implication that Mufasa was the one who gave him his scar and coupled with the whole Sarabi thing, there's a lot of frustration and unresolved tension there which makes his actions more understandable though not excusable, so that was an interesting change for the character. One thing though, it never crossed my mind before, but why do Mufasa and Scar speak in different accents?

All in all, it's not an actively bad movie or the worst Disney remake, it's just wholly unnecessary. I mean, they all are, but this one even more so. There really aren't any low points for me other than Beyoncé and that clunky beginning, and the few new things it does are rather good, but the majority of its goodwill comes from the connection to the original. But it's rather nice to look at I guess.

I gave it 6/10.

[disneyprincess11]

About to head out to see it! I hope it's better than it looks.

[DisneyFan97]

I saw the movie. Highlights were the visuals ,Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa and Florence Kasumba as Shenzi. I like the new version of Hakuna Matata. Brown Lindiwe Mkhize did a good job with cricle of life.

I wish Scar sounded more elegant, foppish and hade a british accent.

Keegan-Michael Key, was underused and it was hard telling Kamari and Azizi apart.

I love the voice Billy Eichner's uses for Timon ! But i can't really say why.

I tought it was far superior to Guy Ruchie.s Aladdin

I just can't wait to be king sounded just as great in this movie as it did in the orginal !

Rafiki barely had any lines in the movi, But that was the case in the original too. Though i still hoped he would have gotten a bigger role in this one.

[DisneyFan97]

I just watched the first trailer for the movie adaptation of the musical Cats and it made this Lion King remake look so bland,mainstream and cmmercial in comparison.

I am comparing them beacuse they are both sort of live action musicals about anthropomorphic felines.

Cats looked so much more artistic and interesting !

[disneyprincess11]

Lion King was….Lion King. It was just fine. Animation is gorgeous and the expressionless faces were okay for the most part. Voice acting was great. Animation did not help the musical numbers at all, especially Hakuna Matata and what was left of Be Prepared.

The only things that were worth the animation were baby Simba and Rafiki.‬

‪Just watch the original.‬ If you want a very unique adaption of the movie, if not different story wise, with solos that the live-action movie should had have, just try to get money to see the Broadway show in New York or when it comes to town. That should have been the live action movie, especially since it turns out that Julie Taylor produced the live-action movie.

I just watched the first trailer for the movie adaptation of the musical Cats and it made this Lion King remake look so bland,mainstream and cmmercial in comparison.

I am comparing them beacuse they are both sort of live action musicals about anthropomorphic felines.

Cats looked so much more artistic and interesting !

I can't stop laughing at that trailer. What is sad that actual effort is put in CATS to make the movie striking and interesting. The sets and editing look incredible.

Alas, I rather want beautiful expressionless animation over human faces copied and paste over CGI bodies. Even worse than live-action blue Genie.

[DisneyFan97]

Cats seem to be the product of creative mind full of ideas.
But i am in no way saying i dislike Lion King. I thought was good better than Aladdin but nowhere near as good as Mary Poppins Returns !

I put i on par with Burton's Dumbo.

But i thought Dumbo hade more new ideas and also Danny Devto and Micheal Keaton are alaways really good and add to any movies they are in.

[Vlad]

I booked my tickets for tomorrow, and I'll be seeing it in IMAX. I'm mentally preparing myself by watching the original, since I haven't seen it in such a long time.

[unprincess]

Id like to watch the original before I watch the LA version too. I'm still not sure if Ill watch it in the theater though.

To anyone who saw it already:

so Im glad Shenzi at least has a bigger role, do they still do the scene at the end where Scar throws the hyenas under the bus and later when he loses the fight with Simba they turn on him? I hope they didn't change/remove any of that.

also... does Shenzi die?

[disneyprincess11]

^Nope, Scar's death is all the same. Don't worry. She survives!

[D82]

"The Lion King: The Gift", the album with songs inspired by the movie, is now available to stream and download. The music video for one of the songs in the album, "Bigger", has also been released in a video that features both "Spirit" and the new song.

[Farerb]

Umm.. so that was a complete waste of time.

[Sotiris]

The music video for one of the songs in the album, "Bigger", has also been released in a video that features both "Spirit" and the new song.

Wow, "Bigger" is even worse than "Spirit".

[Vlad]

I just came back from seeing it. I must say, after all the negative reviews I heard online, I was expected something bad, but this one has got to be the best remake Disney has done so far. It's not perfect, and there were some (not many) aspects I didn't like, but overall, I experienced the same feelings I had when I first saw the original when I was a kid. I really loved the opening, "Circle of Life", it made tear up a bit. I have no idea why everyone says the musical numbers aren't as great as the animation, because I found them great, both visually and soundtrack-wise. The voice cast was amazing, and I'm super happy they brought back James Earl Jones as Mufasa, because really nobody else could bring that role to life as he does. Scar was awesome, but I did miss the Shakespeare-type speeches he did in the original, it was kinda like his thing, to be theatrical, sarcastic and a bit sassy. I actually liked how the animals emoted; true, they weren't as expressive as in the animation, but it was all in their eyes, in my opinion. Everything they felt, you could see in their eyes. Now, the death scene was again heartbreaking, it made me cry, all over again. It was kinda embarrassing, because I saw it with some friends, and I was basically the only one in my group sobbing. During the whole "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" scene, everyone says it was ruined because it didn't take place during the evening, like in the original, and it ruined the mood, but I thought it was beautifully done. Plus, you gotta love Beyonce's voice. Also, I loved the Beauty and the Beast reference, with Timon and Pumbaa. I really didn't like Spirit in the movie. I mean, the song is okay, but it felt out of place in the movie. In the original, you hear the beautiful score, backed up by a choir, and it makes the scene super epic and beautiful. Here, it ruined the mood, and it sucks, because it should be an important moment in the movie. But, all in all, this was an awesome remake, no where near as epic as the animation, but not nearly as bad as everyone says it is.

[Clindor]

Maybe some of you are already familiar with Doug Walker, he posted a reaction video of his viewing of The Lion King remake, and what he said he experienced in theaters are the exact same reasons why I dread that much the idea of going watch this other remake. I don’t wish to encourage Disney to make easy money on such noncreative projects anymore. I could develop in details this point of view but actually he really did it in this video.

Here’s the link if you wish to check out: https://youtu.be/w7qjnJ6gJjw
His reaction is a bit strong ^^, but personally, yeah, I really understand his point of view..

[Vlad]

Omg...that is just sad. It's sad, because he's so mad about something that is really insignificant. Seriously, look at him, he's almost out of breath. ....for a movie.

[Clindor]

.. and anyway it’s also part of the job of a film critic, even a YouTube critic, to sit through potentially horrendous movies you know you’re not going to enjoy, but you have to cover anyway because of their popularity. It is part of the game anyway. (but to this point, I guess he is pretty well immune ^^... And also he really love Disney, in his way, so yeah you get why in this case he probably wanted to show he feels concerned.)

[D82]

New clips (the last two are not in very good quality):
https://youtu.be/qqWSMAoQOVg?t=330
https://youtu.be/gITRX48rPVg?t=32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCy3W3feqsA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plmySU1mdqk

Here’s the link if you wish to check out: https://youtu.be/w7qjnJ6gJjw
His reaction is a bit strong ^^, but personally, yeah, I really understand his point of view..

I completely understand him too. I'm not as upset or worried about the live-action remakes as I was when they started making them, I guess I'm resigned to them now, but I'm glad to see there are more people who share my point of view on this.

Wow, "Bigger" is even worse than "Spirit".

I agree. Well, to say something positive, at least the music video for both songs is quite good. It has some beautiful shots and impressive landscapes.