It is a big day for King Mufasa(Earl Jones) and his wife Sarabi(Woodard) their newborn son Simba has been presented to all his loyal subjects up on Pride Rock. The newborn is the sole heir to the kingdom which puts the kings brother Scar(Ejiorfor) as second in line to the throne. Unhappy with this and also jealous of his brother Scar does not attend the event choosing to conspire of a way to take the throne for himself. Also unhappy is Mufasa for his brothers insolence towards him and his son but still loves him even when Sarabi tells him that he should banish him. Simba the ever excited young cub is excited to go out and learn from his father, to patrol and see his kingdom. It is up high on a rock that Mufasa shows Simba his kingdom, he tells him that everything the light touches is his kingdom and that they are all apart of the circle of life. That everyone in the circle has their place to keep life moving along. He also tells him that in the Shadowlands he must never go! This catches Simba's curiosity, but promises his father that he will never go out there. It is only after his uncle Scar tells him that that only the bravest of lions can go to an elephant graveyard, that it peaks Simba's interest. So, Simba recruits his best friend Nala an lies to his mother where they are going but must lose Zazu(Oliver) who his mother has sent along as a chaperone. It is on this journey that Simba tells Zazu that he is going to be a mighty King, the greatest that there ever was and after a song Simba and Nala lose Zazu and find the Shadowlands. Simba happy to find it and Nala wanting to leave soon find out that this place is the home of the hyena's, the enemies of Pride Lands and King Mufasa who try and kill the young cubs but are saved by Mufasa. Furious with his son over ignoring his order to stay away from the Shadowlands, he explains why he was and all is good. But, Simba still worrying that his father is mad at him enlists the help of Scar to help him find a way for his father to be proud of him. Scar convinces him to work on his roar in the gorge where he and Mufasa practiced theirs or so he tells his nephew. For Scar has a plan to eliminate both Mufasa and Simba with the help of the hyena's. As Simba is practising his roar a stampede of wildebeests brought on by the hyena's comes through the gorge trapping Simba and endangering his life. Scar tells Mufasa this and the two brothers go to save the young cub. Mufasa removes his son from danger and while trying to climb out of the gorge slips and while asking Scar for help is betrayed by his brother who throws him to his death down to the gorge below. Scar tells Simba that he must run away, that others will blame him for his fathers death. Simba(Glover) runs away and is believed to be dead allowing for Scar to take control of the throne of the Pride Lands and making an alliance with the hyena's. In his own personal exile Simba meets two new friends Timon and Pumba who teach him their philosophy of hakuna mutata and lives his new life in the with his friends in his new home. Back at Pride Rock the Pride Lands have become desolate and barren from the over hunting by the hyena's and Scar. The once great kingdom has fallen and Nala(Beyonce') decides to go and find some help. What she finds is Simba alive and well, and the two fall in love. She wants him to return home and challenge Scar for the throne, but Simba says he can't, that he is not worthy to be as great as a king as his father was. Nala leaves back home and after some convincing by Rafiki and the spirit of his father Simba joins Nala along with his new freinds to go back home, reclaim his throne from his uncle Scar and become the king he was meant to be.
Now, I don't know about you, but I think this sounds like a shot for shot remake of the original cartoon, but only in a live action format. The answer to my question is yes! Yes it was! There were some new scenes, but it was just that! Don't get me wrong the movie was good and just as enjoyable in live action as it was in animation. It still delivered the great story that we remembered with all the great songs and characters. The performances were pretty good in this movie with the only weak one being from singing superstar Beyonce' whose performance was bad. The emotion in her lines seemed forced and unbelievable, a poor choice for the role if you ask me! There are plenty of talented African American actresses out there that would have done so much better. All in all still an enjoyable movie that still makes you feel like a kid when you saw the cartoon. The sad thing though is the remake as good as it was, was like I said!... A complete shot for shot remake in live action of the cartoon and that makes me fell a little disappointed!.. I was expecting a little bit of something more from this, Aladdin did! That does not mean that I hated it though and it is worth the price of admission to check out in live action and gets a 7.2 on the Justin Scale Of Movies, but could have been more only if it had been a bit more original. This still puts it on my Pick-It List of movies to see in the theatre because animation or live action it still was a good movie despite the negatives. Well, that is a wrap on my latest movie review my friends! Until next time, remember to keep the popcorn freshly popped and to save me a good seat because I will be seeing you again at the movies!
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