Another heartless, soulless and lifeless Disney remake, just what we need. When will it all end?
I love Disney, you love Disney, we all love Disney. The studio has brought us so many great movies, over such a long period of time. Not only that but they have shown multiple times in recent years that they are still capable of making great films. That is why these current remakes are so disheartening. They feel like the studio simply going through the motions without putting any of the same heart or passion that went into the movies we love so much. It is hard to believe that such talent could be wasted on a movie like this. After all not only is it from a great studio, but if you take the time to read the credits, you will see how many who worked on this movie, also played a part in some truly great films.
This movie is sadly a shot for shot remake. I admit out of the gate, I don't understand these films. Shot for shot remakes are never as good as the original, but at the same time make it impossible not to compare to the original. In my mind a remake should be a new take on a story that has been told in cinema before. However nearly every line and every action comes directly from the 1994 movie. The only additions seem to be new "jokes." These "jokes" are horribly and painfully unfunny. The bickering of two hyenas has to be some of the worst comedy relief ever put into a Disney movie. Not helping are more Pumba fart jokes. Now I am not some pretentious guy who turns up his nose at all fart jokes and says "how dare they?" I admit myself to laughing at the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles every time I see that movie. That said these fart jokes are terrible and completely forced. Some of Zazu's new blatherings are equally bad and unfunny.
While it is very impressive that the animation can look so much like real animals, it is also completely pointless and hurts the movie more than it helps. Personally I can't understand how anybody could watch the 1994 Lion King and think that animals looking photorealistic could in any way improve the movie. Truth is while those cartoony characters could express their emotions beautifully through their faces, these photorealistic characters can't. Because of this many scenes that left an emotional impact in the 1994 film are completely devoid of any emotion. The idea of these extremely realistic animals talking and singing sometimes is pulled off okay, but there are other times when it just looks silly and takes you completely out of the movie.
Just don't waste your time with this. Watch the 1994 film at home instead. Hopefully one day Disney will stop making these remakes and regain their full potential. However that day will sadly not be coming soon.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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