As a longtime Disney enthusiast who has witnessed the transformation of their animated classics into CGI remakes, I must admit that “Mufasa: The Lion King” stands out as a breath of fresh air amidst a sea of mediocrity. Having grown up with the original “Lion King,” I was left underwhelmed by the 2019 version, but this prequel has managed to capture my heart in ways that its predecessor couldn’t.
A musical spin-off that unveils the unexplored tale of how two well-known adversaries were once companions, and how they came to part ways. If “The Lion King” was compared to “Hamlet” set in Africa, then “Mufasa: The Lion King” might have been conceptualized as the “Wicked” equivalent in the animal realm, where we learn through melodies about two brothers who were raised together but eventually drifted apart. Given the box office success of the “Wizard of Oz” prequel, now seems an ideal moment for Disney to delve deeper into the histories of two of their iconic figures in a similar fashion – a serendipitous coincidence that it emerges after years of development.
Barry Jenkins has crafted an exceptional prequel to a now-forgotten CGI remake of “The Lion King”, outperforming its predecessor by avoiding the monotonous, formulaic storytelling often associated with it. It’s remarkable that even though the 2019 “Lion King” closely followed the original from Disney’s ’90s revival, it still felt devoid of passion. The technological advancements used to create photorealistic CGI characters, making the film resemble a David Attenborough documentary more than a typical Disney fairytale, failed to breathe life into the story. Despite earning over a billion dollars due to its brand recognition, it left many viewers unsatisfied. Comparing musical numbers from the original and remade versions side by side only underscores this disappointment, as characters who once danced and leaped across landscapes were restricted to walking and singing in a straight line.
A pointless prequel executed excellently
Barry Jenkins, the talented director behind “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” skillfully navigates the constraints of this technology in “The Lion King (2019),” resulting in each musical sequence feeling more vibrant and engaging. While his personal artistic touch isn’t as evident in this film, it’s clear that he embraced the challenge of creating a popular blockbuster with enthusiasm. Although he has admitted some regret for dedicating several years to a project outside of his usual style, he hasn’t distanced himself from the film entirely, contrary to some misunderstandings about his comments. However, it’s evident that the film was still born out of genuine passion, a quality lacking in its predecessor, which could coast on financial success due to its guaranteed box office appeal.
Regrettably, the new adaptation of “The Lion King” struggles to escape the long shadow cast by the original animation and recent rendition of “Wicked.” The story structure and songs in this version, penned solely by Lin-Manuel Miranda after his impressive work on “Moana,” seem uninspired compared to their predecessors. There’s no catchy tune that stands out, with only the creative staging of certain scenes and their attempts to mimic classic numbers like “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” leaving a lasting impression due to the lack of infectious melodies. When Timon and Pumbaa (portrayed by Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner) perform a Weird Al Yankovic-esque song titled “Hakuna Mufasa,” it becomes apparent that the film acknowledges that no new song will likely be as popular as the original tunes.
In an unexpected twist for a Disney film, I felt the movie could have been more impactful without any musical numbers. This is because the original songs from “The Lion King” were superior in my opinion; the narrative itself is engaging and action-packed, offering an exciting addition to the series that keeps young viewers hooked. Through a storytelling device, we see how Simba’s daughter Kiara (Blue-Ivy Carter) learns about her grandparents Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) who met as cubs. Initially an orphan, washed away from his family during a flood, Mufasa was found and raised by another pride; whereas Taka was a Prince, next in line to the throne. After a group of white lions led by Mads Mikkelsen’s Kiros posed a threat to their existence, Mufasa helped save the family. As they fled for safety, Taka grew suspicious that his friend would eventually take over as the heir to the kingdom.
Stands out from other Disney cash-grabs
As with any prequel, the movie teases out plot developments both big (how Taka will come to be known as Scar) and small (how Rafiki gets his trusty Bakora staff) which only distract from the story at hand. However, thanks to the framing device — and the fourth wall breaking co-narration by Timon and Pumbaa, the sole highlights of the 2019 effort — this proves less grating than usual. Children may be experiencing cliches of prequel storytelling for the first time, but the film gently allows older viewers to know it’s in on the joke without winking too hard and shattering the illusion. There’s a genuine sincerity here that no lightly meta joke can distract from.
As a gamer, I can say that the movie “Mufasa: The Lion King” stands out for not sugarcoating its dark themes and delving deeper into the ruthless nature of the animal kingdom’s food chain, compared to its predecessor. Mads Mikkelsen has become so adept at portraying Hollywood villains that it feels like he could do it in his sleep – and his performance as Kiros is one of his most memorable blockbuster antagonists. Kids will find him truly terrifying, while parents might be taken aback by his sudden bursts into song, reminiscent of Pierce Brosnan’s performance in “Mamma Mia!” There’s something uniquely chilling about a villain who is not only deadly but also out of tune.
Barry Jenkins’ prequel surpasses the bare minimum expectations by being crafted with significantly more heartfelt emotion compared to the CGI remake of “The Lion King.” In fact, one might argue that Disney should have simply made this film initially instead of reimagining the original. Although it falls short of the animated classic’s brilliance and could never have matched its greatness, after numerous lifeless adaptations from Disney, this film demonstrates that some essence of the originals can be revived by employing a director who is passionate about further developing those early narratives, rather than merely rehashing them. I would have preferred an entirely original work from Jenkins, but even when creating something that seems insignificant compared to his earlier films, it still possesses more character than most of Disney’s recent live-action productions.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” premieres on December 20.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-17 20:30