Disney’s latest effort at mining its past for something relevant for today’s audiences is quite the spectacle but it does have some issues. Recreating the beloved animated story of The Lion King by converting it into a computer-generated extravaganza would always be fraught with challenges, no more so than its look.
In that respect, it’s a success as the visuals are spectacular and the action sequences are very effective at getting across the physicality of that world. It’s some of the creative choices in the storytelling aspect that leave the work open for the audience to be taken out of the zone. One element that goes against its hyperrealism is having the warthog voiced by Seth Rogen break the fourth wall.
His jokes make reference to a modern world and this is jarring in the context of the timelessness of the story. In cartoon form, this approach to humour seemed less intrusive. Jump cuts between current events and backstory could have also been handled more smoothly. The story does pull at the heartstrings and you do get drawn in, it just is a bumpy road getting there.
These critiques however are set more in the adult world and the young ones will be oblivious to these distractions. Instead, they will revel in the wonders of the animal kingdom as created by the modern state of computer-generated visuals and their believability. The classic story of finding one’s way in the world and obtaining inner strength will always resonate with audience members.
Rob Hudson
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