The Lion King

The Lion King has always been my favorite childhood movie. I can sing all the songs, I can quote all the characters. My first stuffed animal was Simba as a cub. And I cry every time Mufasa dies. There are very few movies that can tap into my emotional well every time I watch it--but with James Earl Jones as the voice of Simba's father, it's hard not to feel kinship to the deep, thundering voice that is so convincingly the King of the Savannah lands. Jonathan Taylor Thomas, a child actor of little fame since Home Improvement was the voice of young Simba, but the hugely famous Matthew Broderick took over as the adult Simba. The Lion King was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.

The film opens with the birth of a cub to Mufasa and Sarabi. Simba is seen as precocious and eager to take his place along side his father. He wants to be brave, big, and bold. He also envisions the world bending at his feet--hardly the perfect King material. Constantly getting into trouble, Simba has no idea that his uncle Scar, Mufasa's brother, is going to play on Simba's youthful naivete to plan the 'coup of the century.' Convincing Simba that he has killed his father, Scar tells the young cub to "run, run away and never return," before turning to the hyenas--"Kill him." Simba does manage to escape, and is found on death's door in the desert by Timone and Pumba, a singing duo willing to raise the carnivore as their own. Eventually, fate brings Simba back to Pride Rock to challenge Scar's right as King. He finds out that Scar killed his father, and in turn, allows the hyenas to kill his uncle. The movie ends with Simba and Nala introducing a son of their own to the world.

It's difficult to judge actors in an animated film. Either a voice fits, or it doesn't. Thomas as the young Simba was a good fit--his voice was just as petulant as the cub liked to act. Broderick took Simba into the world of adulthood, a more mature and responsible lion, but reminiscent of the "Hakuna Matata" mantra taught to him by Timone and Pumba. And who doesn't love James Earl Jones as Mufasa? A strong and godly voice, he fit the image of a truly powerful yet loving King. Shenzi comments on how just saying Mufasa's name is spine tingling--Jones is fit to be a badass lion. The animation is fantastic. Mufasa is big and beefy, it is clear why he became King over the small and lanky Scar. Scar slinks around in a devious fashion--just as clear a statement on his character as the actor's words. Simba's movements are fluid but determined, especially at the end as he ascends Pride Rock--he is the future King. The expressions on the lion's faces are just as clear as those on a human, making it easy to relate to these animals.

Speaking of film techniques--there were a few moments when, to emphasize a moment, the 'camera work' adjusted to fit a feeling. Simba running back to Pride Rock was in slow motion, the music just as powerful and determined as his stride. Nala tries to wake Timone to ask where Simba went, and the 'camera' switches to a POV angle as he blinks awake, emphasizing the shock of seeing a lion stooped over you. Slow motion is used again as Simba battles his uncle, and when he climbs Pride Rock as the victor. The music, I believe, is based on traditional African music, scored by Hans Zimmerman. Not only does this reflect an authentic atmosphere to the movie, but it gives a primal surge to the feelings that accompany Mufasa's death, Scar's rise to power, Simba's return, his victory.

This movie, like I said before, has always been my childhood favorite. Watching it last night with my husband, I sang along with the songs, lamented the addition of two new scenes (really Disney, really? Not only were the lyrics terrible, but the added animation was so clearly defined it made the rest of the scenes look ridiculous), and cried on his shoulder as my favorite character was found dead under a broken tree. We debated if Simba and his pack ate all the hyenas to survive while they waited for Pride Rock to grow lush again. While some people take issue with certain scenes (apparently there is one where Simba flops to the ground and the resulting debris spells some kind of inappropriate word), I can't find a flaw in it. Obviously, Simba could be a smarter child--I mean, Scar does basically tell him he was there watching him be attacked by the hyenas: "Oh, and just between you and me, try to work on that little roar of yours." But, he is just a kid. And kids miss crucial evidence sometimes. All in all, The Lion King is fantastic. One day I may even see it on Broadway.