Okay I took a break from my last reviews, but now I'm back and ready to go. I want to start off by reviewing one of the most beloved animated classics of all time, "The Lion King." I went to the theaters about 2 weeks ago and watch the new 3D release of the movie. This review will be split into two sections, one for the movie itself and one for the 3D.
"The Lion King" is the story of a young lion cub named Simba, who gets framed for the murder of his father. He is sent into exile, where he develops a carefree lifestyle. When his home becomes overruled by hyenas and his tyrant uncle, he has to make a decision to take responsibility or keep living his carefree lifestyle. It is probably one of the greatest coming of age stories out there. The movie narrates his life from a a child to teen to finally becoming an adult.
When Simba is young he is naive to the world. Like any any child he easily believes almost anything someone tells him and he is eager to discover new things. When his father tells him that one day he will to be king, Simba immediately gets that sparkle of astonishment in his eyes. However being the naive child he is, he thinks being king is all about having power and just doing what he wants. This can symbolize the way kids think when they are little, they think growing up means you can boss around anyone you want and you have no responsibility. As he goes into exile he develops a more carefree attitude and thinks he has found what it means to be an adult. Like many of us when we were teens, we didn't care for a lot of things and we would kind of push away our family members and have this rebellious phase. But it isn't until we become older that we have to realize it is time to grow up. That is when we really learn what we have to do and step up. Which Simba does when he gets a message from his father. What makes Simba such a powerful character is that no matter who we are we can relate to him because some of the situations and behaviors he has most of us did too.
The movie is filled with great spiritual and deeper messages. One powerful scene I can think of is when Simba's paw falls into Mufasa's paw print. It tells Simba that he has to fill in the footsteps of this great lion. We can see the fear in Simba's eyes he wonder, "will I be able to do this?" Another theme the movie deals with is death. The movie is very blunt on death. On screen we see Mufasa die and a baby cub trying wake up the carcass. "The Lion King" tells us that death is inevitable and we have to deal with it. We can't just stop living our lives. But it also says that the person we lost always lives within us through their wisdom our how they helped develop you into the person you are.
The characters in "The Lion King" are great. We can relate to them and we also have someone like them in our own lives. Mufasa, father of Simba, is probably one of the most memorable characters in this movie even though he is only on screen for a short amount of time. He is powerful and intimidating, while at the same time lovable and protective. His wisdom guides Simba through the film and develops him into the man he has to be. Scar, Simba's uncle, is a great villain character. He is funny, frightening, and very intelligent. He behaves as the person in our lives that want nothing more than to see us get harmed. He doesn't show his true intentions and at times feels as if he wants to help, but in reality he just wants to see failure. Timon and Pumba are the comic relief, but we all have people like this in our lives. They teach Simba how to move on and don't let the past hold you back. Even though they bestow a carefree lifestyle on Simba, they wish nothing, but the best for him. When he needs help these two are always ready back him up, like any friend. All the characters are great and very relate able.
The music is beautiful in this movie and I can promise that you will be humming along during and after the movie is over. It capture the spiritual and epic vibe of the movie to a point of pure magic.
"The Lion King" is a fantastic movie that entices you into the story, never once leaving the epic feel. From probably one of the greatest movie intros to the climactic battle to the triumphant pose at the end, the movie comes full circle. In my opinion I believe it to be the best animated film and one of the best movies ever made. It is epic, deep, funny, and very emotional. Epic in scope and Shakespearean in tone. Kids will have fun, adult will reflect back on their own lives, and it's just a perfect film. I give "The Lion King" 5/5, beautifully animated, catchy songs, a story anyone can relate too, and just a great epic.
Now the movie is still fantastic, but what did I think if the 3D? Well i thought it was pretty good, not the best. The 3D isn't up to par with say Avatar, but it is the best use of 3D in an animated film that I've seen. Haven't seen "How To Train Your Dragon" or "Tangled" in 3D. But it does excite me to see more hand drawn movies in 3D. There is a great part where Zazu is flying and it really feels as if he is right there in front of you. I'm not a big fan of 3D, but when used right I won't complain. I give the 3D , 4/5, not completely mind blowing, but effective.
