Post by kolchak92 on Aug 27, 2023 18:46:26 GMT
My rating - 5/10
Here are some of my thoughts.
The iconic opening does not work here. It doesn't have the flow of the original and the song isn't sung anywhere near as powerful as when Elton John sang it. It can't capture the beauty of the animation in the 1994 movie and I think the expressions of the animals are very important in this scene.
None of the song scenes in this version are effective because they don't fit with the more realistic lions. It especially doesn't work when Scar is singing because it doesn't fit with how the character of portrayed. His evil is more subtle in this version.
There is a lack of heart throughout much of the movie.
The voicework by Donald Glover is bland and he has no chemistry with anyone.
The hyenas are just a big nothing in this version. They have almost no personality. The actors who voice the hyenas are given almost nothing to work with, which makes it especially strange that they cast Keegan-Michael Key to do one of their voices.
Here is what does work.
Seth Rogan is naturally good as Pumba and the realistic look of Pumba is quite amusing. Timone is just okay, but still one of the better voices in the movie.
Everything about Zazu works here. John Oliver is perfection and cleverly cast. He really has the only truly funny moments in the movie.
I do like the look of Scar here and think the movie was smart to not go with the theatrical way Scar is portrayed in the original. Chiwetel Ejiofor is menacing in the movie and while not as memorable as Jeremy Irons he makes the part sinister in his own way. By not doing exactly what the original does it gives the movie the feeling of at least something new.
The visual effects are mostly very impressive.
The final 20 minutes are by far the most effective parts of the movie and this is where the more majestic look or realistic lions works very well. It is in this last 20 minutes that almost captures the soul of the 1994 movie. Almost.
Hans Zimmer's score is still very good, though he changes it in subtle ways here and there that make it slightly less powerful.
