To Roar, Or Not To Roar! (The Lion King (DVD))

Member Name: pjs21

Product:	The Lion King (DVD)
Date:	30/10/01 (151 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Story, Great Animation, Great Songs

Disadvantages: Might need to think about this one!

For years and years the magic of Disney has entertained families of children – big and small – working a dream of fantasy stories and making them reality.

For my money (pjs looks in wallet), which really isn't very much right now, this is one of the strongest stories from the Disney studios.

To children it is a wonderful tale of a young lion sent away from his home after being wrongly accused of killing his father. It is about his adventure through the jungle, finding new friends, meeting up with old friends, and coming back to save the day – with a few songs on the way.

To the adult it is a story of revenge. Of king murdered by his brother, who then takes his place beside the kings lioness. It is only when the young hamlet sees the ghost… Hang on a minute! That's a different story altogether. Isn't it?

Well no, there are so many likenesses it's almost unbelievable. But believe it baby, it's true!

Even down to the ghost scene. In Hamlet, when he sees his fathers spirit, it departs with the words "Remember me. Remember me. Remember me." In The Lion King, when your hero Simba sees his father's ghost, it departs with the words "Remember. Remember. Remember."

You see – good old Wills is still living strong and his revenge tragedy now becomes a good old Disney cartoon. And who said that there were no original stories any more? Damn them, they were right.

Anyway, the likeness aside, and onto the contents of this film.

If like me, you are not the greatest Elton John fan (I don’t mind him but he's a bit much for me.) you may be forgiven for cringing at the thought of songs written by him and Tim Rice (long time co-writer with Andrew Lloyd Webber). However, what we have here is a myriad of songs, some superbly comical and others liltingly beautiful. The orchestration of these numbers is evocative of Africa
n sounds and they fit in perfectly to the stunning set numbers for which Disney has become so well known and also to the background of the feature itself.

Some of the best songs include: I Just Can't Wait to be King (Young Simba); Be Prepared (Scar);Hakuna Matata(Timon, Pumba & Simba), plus ofcourse Circle of Life and Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Though thankfully not sung buy Mr John!)

I won't go into the story line as there is so much there, and most of you have probably seen the movie by now anyway.

There are some truly heart-wrenching moments – which I admit have brought a tear to my eye when I'm not ready for them. In a moment not unlike that Bambi's mother, or even when Dumbo's mother is taken away, the death of Mufasa (the original Lion King) is one of great sadness.

The characters themselves are also spot on throughout. They are constant, believable and not one of the actors can be criticised for their voice work.

As the young Simba, Jonathon Taylor Thomas (Huck and Finn & The Adventures of Pinocchio), is a great choice. He is cheeky and loveable and as the audience you are instantly with him, even when he gets himself into trouble. The move into his older life brings in one of America's most underrated talents – usually underrated because he makes some truly appalling movies, Matthew Broderick. He has the right tones to sound like the younger version with a deeper voice, but also to put across the emotions and softness required for the part.

Jeremy Irons as the uncle, Scar, is a top choice for a good old fashioned English baddy. His pomposity and smooth velvety evilness brings out one of Disney's most sinister, conniving and malicious baddies.

Rowan Atkinson puts in a good comic turn as the king's Major Domo, Zazu, and Whoopi Goldberg also shines as, Shenzi, head of the Hyenas.

James Earl Jones adds his notoriously and almost ridicu
lously bass voice to the regal Mufasa.

However, the two stars of the piece are none other than a pig and a meerkat. Timon (the meerkat) and Pumba make their entrance into this film about a third of the way through.

Whilst out bowling for buzzards they come across our young lion Simba in the middle of the dessert, and the take him in so that they can a lion on their side for once.

Nathan Lane (The Birdcage) is in great comic form as Timon, and he certainly gets some of the funniest lines. But he wouldn't be nothing without his fat, farting, side-kick, voiced by Ernie Sabella ( I have no idea who he is!). They get the best songs, the best comedy moments - two of which are real gems. A version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and The Hula. They're in the film to give it some light relief and to keep the kids with it – thing is, they work on adults too. You'll soon be laughing along.

As you would expect the animation is first class. Obviously computer graphics play there part in this movie as they have in previous films. Animation is such an exciting format as there are no limits whatsoever to what can be done, but the movements of the creatures, their expressions, the over all feel of the film is first class. The Wildebeest stampede is truly a great piece of animation.

If you haven't seen The Lion King – where on earth have you been? Even if you think you hate Disney, this is one of their best pieces ever – knocks spots off of most of there others. I watched Hamlet two nights ago, and then I watched this – completely different in style, completely different in humour – but both so similar, and both so engaging to watch. There's nothing like a good tragedy - although atleast with this one there are still people alive at the end!

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