Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

The Lion King (2019) 

This film is a roaring good time! I was really nervous for this film because it is my all time favourite Disney film and it’s perfect in every shape so making a remake of an already perfect film isn’t easy and theirs a lot to live up to by doing that. Theirs both pros and cons with this film I wanted to love this film but it does fall victim to some very obvious flaws that are hard to ignore but their are some also very enjoyable things in this film as well. 

First off to start with the positives this film is breathtaking to look at. The visual aspect of this film is groundbreaking for how animated films will be moving forward into the future as it’s not live action and it’s not a cartoon it’s a photo realistic film that looks like a nature documentary. The amount of work and amazing visual spectacle put into this film is beyond brilliant it looks to the point of being real and it’s truly outstanding that is the biggest praise everyone myself included is giving this film is that it is a visual achievement in filmmaking that deserves all the praise. The shots of the animals and their movements are truly outstanding and a massive highlight for the film even if you didn’t love the film you have to agree that this film nails the visual part of it and is a gorgeous film to look at. 

The other things that really worked here was the voice cast I was really excited to hear the amount of talent they got for this film and I was impressed all the way through with every actors contribution to the film especially Billy Eichner and Seth Rogan who both steal the show with their amazing comedic dynamic they show amazingly well onscreen as they play Timon and Pumba. Another great stand out was James Earl Jones as Mufasa I was so glad he came back to reprise his role as he brings such great soul to the character and had me grinning the whole time.The film really shines when it is trying something new as this film is A literal beat by beat retelling of this classic story. Which is fantastic it stays faithful to the original source but at the same time we already have the perfect story in animated format so for me I wanted the remake to stay faithful to the original but also try something new with it without it veering to off course and the best scenes in this film is the new additional moments that we haven’t seen before as it does attempt to flesh out more characters and show more backstory to some of them.

This is what leads me to the negatives which is that the film plays it to safe meaning that it doesn’t attempt to try anything new with the source material instead in a lot of ways it is just a beat by beat retelling without anything new brought to it which can feel unsatisfying to many as yes we want to see it be told right but we also want to see new things which this retelling lacked massively it does expand the runtime a bit but it only fills it in with lengthier character moments that either work or don’t as the film plays it too safe and doesn’t go out of its way to bring something new and fresh to the story. Instead it just gives us what we already have seen before and I mean that in the most literal terms for example what makes great remakes good is when your able to take the same story tell it in the way everyone remembers but bring it also into new territory we haven’t seen before as that is what True Grit did back in 2010. The film also falters by not showing more of the supporting cast that did play a major part in the original for example Zazu and Rafiki those characters had such soul and fun depth to them that was really shown so well in the original and here it is almost nonexistent as it shows the characters yes but their hardly in it for one way less then they were in the original and also it lacked energy and heart with those characters I am saying this because these are loved characters by a lot of people myself included and I will notice when you don’t live up to the full potential of the characters and for those two in particular it was terrible how they almost made them fade into the background and instead of having a strong presence in the film like their supposed too they fell into the background and became minor characters with very little onscreen moments at all. 

Finally, The Lion King (2019) crafts stunning groundbreaking achievements in animation and how we watch CGI animated films with incredible visual flare that truly is beautiful. But the film falls more times then it soars but by the end of the film even with its many problems it is still fun to watch and enjoy but it could of been so much better with some minor fixes I do recommend  people check this film out 

The retelling of the 1994 Classic The Lion King about a young lion who has to learn about the lessons of becoming king and the love, tragedy and leadership that comes with it. 

Rated PG : for sequences of violence and peril, and some thematic elements

James Earl Jones : James gives another amazing performance of his iconic character Mufasa. He brought such life and heart to the role back in 1994 and here he brings the same passion and love to the role but since he has aged the voice he brings to it sounds worn and very deeper and I love the approach he brought to the film. Yes he is essentially saying the same lines again but it is the great specific energy he brings to the role that makes him so enjoyable to watch. Jones brings such a wise and emotionally reserved performance as he is able to be very vulnerable without having to go over the top with emotion but be able to be subtle and strong enough to convey the emotions across the screen in such a fabulous way. As their are many scenes with him and Simba and I loved those moments as they were lessons he was the teacher the son the student and he would give him great advice for his life and James’s raspy and deep rooted tone really brought the dialogue to life and really made it have a great impact because of his commitment to his performance. As people do know his performance isn’t one that is carried on throughout the film but when he is onscreen and James is delivering his dialogue it is very difficult not to get swept up in his performance as he is bringing everything he’s got to this role and it shows in the work as he grips you with his fantastic delivery and great range of emotions that get pulled back through the whole film we get to see so many sides to him emotionally in such a short span of his onscreen performance and it is incredible. James can be courageous and then very vulnerable and he is able to switch back and forth so well and make the character feel so lived in I am so glad they didn’t recast his part because only James can bring the role of Mufasa to life and this performance reminds you why he gives a fantastic emotionally charged performance of Mufasa once again. 

Jon Favreau : Jon I am so confused! Jon is one of the best indie filmmakers that hit the mainstream film field and really made an impact as he’s given us great films with Iron Man and another Disney remake with the Jungle Book which I really enjoyed. Jon didn’t do a terrible job at bringing this classic back to the big screen it is just he gave a mixed bag of direction meaning their were great things he did and some not great choices for the film. As he makes the film visually shine gorgeously onscreen and yes he stays true to the story but as I mentioned before he plays it safe and never takes a chance to try something new with these characters and give us something fresh instead he just gives the most beat by beat retelling of the story and it is a bit of a disappointment as I know he is a great filmmaker and he also worked on another Disney remake so I am shocked that his direction here was ok at best because the cast was great so was the music it is just the story at hand at times felt boring as we had seen all of it before and we all love it but he doesn’t try anything new and that is what I was disappointed with was his lack of ability to try something different sure some people may not like it but you know what I would rather it be a bit different and new then the same exact thing over again and also he fleshed out the characters that didn’t need to and didn’t flesh out the ones that should of been it was reversed on his part for that as some of the most loveable characters were left in the background and I get he does not want to let down the hardcore fans and I get that I really do and I respect that but it is just Jon you could of Brought this film into new emotional places that he did not and instead we just got a good film that had the potential to be great.