Are you a fan or a mega-fan of THE LION KING? How many times did you watch the 1994 animated movie and listen to the soundtrack? Or do you prefer the phenomenal, record-breaking, award-winning culturally immersive Broadway spectacle?
THE LION KING © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
I will never forget when I first saw Disney’s animated feature film THE LION KING premiere on the big screen in 1994. At that time, I was living in New York City on Winter Break from college, and my mother surprised me with an exclusive screening at the legendary Radio City Music Hall. That showing included a bonus pre-show: live performers filled the stage in fantastical animal costumes and launched pieces of the magical soundtrack. I was blown away from the early renditions of the forth-coming epic stage explosion. Then, the movie began and I was awestruck at the drum beats, chant and sunrise opening sequence with glorious animals gathering amid beautiful African hues of burnt reds and oranges, to welcome and revere future lion king, Simba, on display.
I will never forget the emotional journey I experienced with THE LION KING back then. Now, Jon Favreau has taken his extraordinary skills from THE JUNGLE BOOK (2016), and re-imaged THE LION KING with all the feels as Live-Action. What do you think of this trailer?
Like you, I was skeptical when I first heard that Disney was making another updated version of their beloved classic animated movie. Most newer versions of any movie can feel desperate and annoying, especially when the original movie has good quality and is still valid. The animated LION KING had taken me on a seriously emotional ride to the depths of sobbing despair to the heights of hysterical laughter.
Let me reassure you! If you were impressed with Jon Favreau’s THE JUNGLE BOOK, then you will love THE LION KING as much as I did! He successfully captured ALL the feels!
Did I cry? I started sobbing in anticipation… but was surprised how ‘painless’ that specific scenes were depicted. No tears after my anxious initial moment.
Was it scary? There are several intense scenes, just like in the animated movie. THE JUNGLE BOOK is the perfect ‘standard’ to compare with.
The Cast is Outstanding
THE LION KING – (L-R) Donald Glover and Simba. Photo by Kwaku Alston. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Donald Glover has quite the range of characters under his belt over the last several years!
THE LION KING – (L-R) Chiwetel Ejiofor and Scar. Photo by Kwaku Alston. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
I never believed that anyone could step into the Scar/role that Jeremy Irons captivated with his drippingly sinister snarl. Now, Chiwetel Ejiofor brought in his own level of complex villain, as in SERENITY (2005).
THE LION KING – (Top to Bottom) Timon and Billy Eichner, Pumbaa and Seth Rogen and Zazu and John Oliver. Photo by Kwaku Alston. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What else can I say about these mega-character actors and the rest of the cast? THANK YOU!
THE LION KING – (L-R) Nala and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Photo by Kwaku Alston. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Beyoncé!
THE LION KING – (Top to Bottom) Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari, Florence Kasumba as Shenzi and Eric André as Azizi. Photo by Kwaku Alston. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Perfect casting again, with the the hyena crew as: Keegan-Michael Key, Florence Kasumba and Eric André!!!
THE LION KING – (Top to Bottom) Simba and JD McCrary and Nala and Shahadi Wright Joseph. Photo by Kwaku Alston. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aren’t these two adorable???!!
You forget you are watching CGI
My daughter and I are avid animal video and documentary fans, and particularly consider ourselves amateur feline behaviorists who ‘understand cat’ese’. Therefore, we are disturbed by any animated or puppet rendition of Talking Animals with Clunky Mouth Movements and Human-like Gestures. How did we like THE LION KING?
Due to the mind-blowing CGI and effects, watching this Live-Action LION KING felt more like a combination of one of the DisneyNature documentaries meets a Shakespearean political family drama. The animal movements and ‘speaking’ were natural enough to be convincing English-language Speaking Animals! We did not feel like we were watching animals contort their mouths in animated-human-speak muscular vernacular. THANK YOU Jon Favreau to the micro-details involved in depicting the animal kingdom!
I cannot wait for you to see this one! Please comment, and tell me what you think?!
Click HERE to download the free printable “The Lion King” Activity Pack files
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THE LION KING © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.