Review Rating:
A realistic version of a Disney classic that the kids are sure to love, The Lion King will offer up a couple of hours respite this Summer season.
Disney's third and final live-action remake this year, Jon Favreau's 'The Lion King' finally makes it's highly-anticipated release in cinemas this summer. And was it worth the wait? Perhaps not as much as us adults would have hoped, but the kids will love it.
The original 'The Lion King' animation movie from 1994 has a special little place in everyone's heart, let's admit it. And most of us will have fond memories of watching the spectacle on screen for the first time. Even this reviewer, who didn't see the original until 17 years after its release (GASP) and never fully understood the movie references until seeing it, always appreciated the songs and various pop culture references while growing up.
25 years after the original, this live-action remake recruits one of the biggest all-star cast Disney could possibly muster. Even though it includes a brand new Beyonce track, the film is essentially exactly the same as the original. In every way. There is nothing new here for adults who have seen the original countless times - but maybe that's not such a bad thing. However, the young ones who see this on the big screen will fall in love with the CGI creation in front of them, and you yourself will be left impressed with how life-like all of the animals are. Even when compared to 2016's live-action 'The Jungle Book', the digital upgrade is very noticeable.
In terms of comedy value in 'The Lion King', Timon and Pumbaa are sure keep everyone amused, and will win over even the most sceptical of Disney fans. Beyonce's new musical number 'Spirit' is a fitting inclusion into the mix too, and certainly injects some life into a song line-up that doesn't stray too far from its source.
It's important to remark as well, that because this is a "live-action" remake of one of the most famous movies ever created, it makes everything feel a bit more realistic with the audience. There's no hiding the realness behind hand-drawn animation this time - the animals and characters look so realistic, you'd be forgiven for feeling a bit more on-edge whenever Chiwetel Ejiofor's Scar appears on screen to do his bad guy thing.
this is a "live-action" remake of one of the most famous movies ever created, it makes everything feel a bit more realistic with the audience. There's no hiding the realness behind hand-drawn animation this time - the animals and characters look so realistic, you'd be forgiven for feeling a bit more on-edge whenever Chiwetel Ejiofor's Scar appears on screen to do his bad guy thing.