The Lion King is a 2023 photorealistic CGI animated action-adventure coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a combined film adaptation of the 2019 film and the 1997 Broadway musical The Lion King, which is itself based on the 1994 traditionally animated Disney film of the same name. Directed by Jason Abraham Grande, the film tells the story of a lion prince named Simba, who is framed by his uncle Scar for murdering his father Mufasa. Simba runs away in self-imposed exile and is taken in by two best friends, Timon and Pumbaa. He grows up in the jungle with them, but when his childhood best friend Nala and mentor Tamino appear to convince him to return home, he is forced to take responsibility for his land and succeed his father as king.
The running time is 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 20 minutes.
After seeing the mixed reception received by the 2019 photorealistic CGI remake of the original film, Grande and his partners decided to come up with an adaptation of the Broadway show that would feature more songs, brighter colours and facial expressions (which was a main point of criticism for the 2019 remake). The film also features Hans Zimmer's score, as well as the work of composers Lebo M and Mark Mancina, and the songs by Elton John and Tim Rice were reworked for the new film. Popular numbers from the Broadway show such as "Shadowland" and "He Lives in You" also feature in the film.
The main characters of the film.
The Lion King opened to generally positive reviews in the United States on May 6, 2023, on the 28th anniversary of the combined Broadway musical and the 2019 film. Critics praised the visual effects, score, performances and emotional appeal of the film. A sequel based on the direct-to-video sequel to the original film, as well as the stage musical based on the same, Simba's Pride, is also planned for release in August 23, 2023.
Characters[]
- Tamino: A female teenage red-crowned crane. Like Rafiki (from 1994 and 1997), she has a peacock's tail for showing off. She has a red cap and peacock crest feathers on top of her head, giving it a Japanese look when bowing or being sad. In real life, peacocks show off to females. She transforms into every kind of worldwide animal. Tamino's design not only presents anatomical accuracy but also creates comedy as her peacock feathers sway slightly when she struts and walks.
- Jungle Animals: The jungle animals include a flock of guineafowl, a galago, Bunga (a honey badger), some okapis, an elephant shrew, a bongo that has an awkward conversation with Simba, a bat-eared fox, an aardvark, a greater kudu, some dik-diks, and some Thomson's gazelles.
Plot[]
In the Pride Lands of North America, a vast territory of land ruled by a pride of lions and wolves, animals from all around the continents gather at Pride Rock to witness the presentation of King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi's newborn cub, Simba. Tamino, the shinto of the land, shows the cub to the gathered animals, who welcome the young prince joyfully. However, Mufasa's younger brother Scar, who desires the throne, laments at his lost opportunity of being next in line to rule. Mufasa and Zazu, the king's advisor and major-domo, arrive to reprimand him for his absence at the ceremony. That night, Tamino adds Simba's image to the paintings of the lion kings and queens in her baobab tree.
Years pass, and Simba grows into a playful, young cub. His father Mufasa shows him his future kingdom from Pride Rock, and explains to him the duties of a king. Mufasa tells Simba about the "circle of life"- a delicate natural balance which must be maintained to ensure the prosperity of the kingdom. Zazu delivers the morning report to the king, and after he informs Mufasa of hyenas intruding the Pride Lands, he takes Simba back to Pride Rock and Mufasa goes away to confront the hyenas.
Later that day, Simba meets with his uncle Scar, who tells him about the Elephant Graveyard- a forbidden territory beyond the boundaries of the Pride Lands, infested with hyenas. Simba decides to go there in order to prove his bravery, and he goes away to fetch his best friend Nala. He meets her returning from watching a hunt by the lions, and when Sarabi asks where they are headed, Simba lies to her and says that they are going to the waterhole. Sarabi allows Simba and Nala to go, only if Zazu accompanies them.
Zazu goes with the cubs to the waterhole, and en route Simba tells Nala about where they are really going. In order to prevent Zazu from getting them into trouble, Simba and Nala start a ruckus among the animals gathered at the waterhole, where he brags about his royal status. After having successfully evaded Zazu, the cubs finally arrive at the Elephant Graveyard. However, to their shock, Zazu manages to catch up with them and just as they are about to leave, we see five hyenas- Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, Kamari, and Azizi - confront the cubs and Zazu and try to kill them. Mufasa arrives just in time to rescue the cubs and after frightening the hyenas away, he takes the cubs and Zazu back to Pride Rock.
After having sent Zazu and Nala ahead, Mufasa scolds Simba for his recklessness, to which Simba responds by explaining that he only wanted to prove how brave he was to his father. Mufasa forgives his son, and they frolic. Mufasa then tells Simba of the great kings of the past, who watch over them from the stars. Mufasa also assures Simba that he will always be there to guide him, just like the kings in the stars.
Back at the Elephant Graveyard, the hyenas complain about Mufasa. It is revealed that the whole incident was set up by Scar in order to kill Simba, and he offers the hyenas the entire Pride Lands in exchange for helping him get rid of Mufasa and Simba once and for all. Shenzi and her entire clan ally with Scar. The same night, Mufasa and Zazu have a conversation about Simba's behaviour and Mufasa's parenting, where Zazu reminds Mufasa of his own days as a cub.
The next day, Scar takes Simba to the bottom of a deep gorge. Scar tells Simba to practice his roar, in order to impress his father. Scar tells Simba to stay where he is while goes to fetch his father. Simba agrees and stays at the bottom of the gorge. Meanwhile, Scar gives the hyenas the signal to startle a large herd of wildebeest. The hyenas chase the wildebeest down the gorge, which puts Simba in mortal danger. He manages to climb up a dead tree branch for safety, and Scar brings Mufasa to the scene. Mufasa plunges into the stampede and manages to save Simba, but has trouble saving himself and barely makes it to the rim of the gorge. Mufasa sees Scar standing above him, and begs for help. Scar, however, throws Mufasa back into the stampede, killing him. Simba witnesses his father's death and when the stampede is over, he goes to find his father. Simba tries to make his father get up, but to no avail. When he realises what has happened, he weeps bitterly. Scar appears and convinces Simba that Mufasa's death was his fault. When Simba asks what to do, Scar tells him to run away and never return. Simba runs away, but Scar then tells the five hyenas to finish him as well. The five hyenas give chase, but Simba escapes far into the desert, which makes the hyenas decide to not tell Scar about their failure.
Scar goes back to Pride Rock and informs the lions of Mufasa's death. Tamino and the lions mourn Mufasa and Simba, and Scar takes over the throne, with the hyenas by his side. Zazu watches the hyenas in Tamino's tree and Tamino smears the drawing of Simba, while Sarabi and Nala quietly grieve. Meanwhile, Simba collapses in the desert, exhausted. Some vultures arrive to feed on him, but they are chased away by Timon and Pumbaa - a meerkat and warthog respectively. The duo manage to rouse Simba and when they find out what has happened to him, they teach him their philosophy of "Hakuna Matata". Timon and Pumbaa welcome Simba to their home in the jungle, where he grows up on a diet of bugs and carefree living, putting his past behind him.
The chorus of worldwide birds begin the second act One by One. As the song ends, however, the beautiful birds fly to the jungle and are replaced by vultures and dinosaur skeletons.
Back in the Pride Lands, Scar rules the land with abandon, which causes many problems- the ecosystem is out of balance, and the lions stop hunting, which causes the hyenas to complain of lack of food. Scar does not care for their pleas, and instead confides in Zazu about why he isn't as loved as his late brother. When Zazu mentions Mufasa's good qualities, Scar fixates on having a queen and tries to make Nala (now grown up) his queen, but she refuses. Nala then goes to her family and decides to leave the Pride Lands and search elsewhere for help. The lions and Tamino bless her and wish her well on her journey.
In the jungle, Simba, Timon and Pumbaa search for a place to sleep. Simba isn't satisfied with the place Timon and Pumbaa chose, and he goes away to look for somewhere better. Timon and Pumbaa follow him to a river, where Simba dares Timon to cross over by jumping across the bank. When Timon attempts to do this, he gets carried away by the river to a waterfall, the bottom of which is infested by crocodiles. Simba gets stuck for a moment when he sees Timon hanging above the waterfall for dear life, much like his father did that day at the gorge, but he manages to rescue Timon, who upbraids him for his carelessness. However, the trio soon get over it and spend the night stargazing. Simba is again reminded of his father by this, and he goes away to be by himself. He misses his father and longs for his presence, calling to the stars for guidance. However, he regains hope and Tamino hears his voice in the wind. She realizes that Simba is alive and puts a mane on her painting of Simba.
The next morning, Nala finds Simba, Timon and Pumbaa in the jungle. The two best friends reunite and, to the annoyance of Timon and Pumbaa, spend the evening together. They fall in love as night falls, and Nala tells Simba about the sad state of their home. Simba still thinks he is responsible for his father's death and refuses to return with her. He then goes away to be by himself again, when Tamino finds him wandering among the trees. The teenage red crowned crane seems to annoy him at first, but when she tells him that she knew his father, Simba is intrigued and follows her to a pond in the jungle. There, she tells Simba that his father lives in him and he experiences a vision of Mufasa in the clouds. Mufasa tells Simba to remember who he is and go back to the Pride Lands. Encouraged by his father's words, Simba returns home. Tamino informs Simba's worried friends of his departure, and they catch up with him at the border of the Pride Lands.
Simba, Nala, Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa (with their friends) manage to evade the hyenas and approach Pride Rock. Simba sees Scar interrogating his mother, and when he attempts to attack Sarabi, Simba jumps in to defend her and reveals himself to everyone. He confronts Scar and orders him to step down, but Scar puts Simba on trial and makes him confess that he "killed" Mufasa. The lions are shocked to learn this, and Scar backs Simba up Pride Rock, intending to kill him like he killed Mufasa. As lightning strikes the dry earth below Pride Rock, Scar gloats to Simba that it was actually he who killed Mufasa. Simba forces himself up back on the rock and wrathfully makes Scar confess before everyone present. The lions attack Scar and the hyenas as fire builds up around Pride Rock. Everyone takes part in the fight, and as it comes wilder and WILDER! First, Pumbaa and Timon (with jungle animals) are charging them. Next, Zazu is fighting them, and finally Tamino is hitting them with her staff and summons Josuha, the bald eagle scaring away the jackals. Simba chases Scar up Pride Rock, where Scar blames the hyenas for the whole conspiracy. Simba refuses to believe him, but shows Scar mercy by ordering him to run away and never return (like Scar told him when he was a cub). Scar slowly begins to back away, only to turn around and try to kill Simba again. Simba manages to overpower Scar and throws him down the rock, where he is met by Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, Kamari, Azizi and the other hyenas, jackals, and vultures. Having overheard Scar's betrayal, they eat him alive as Scar attempts to escape the fire.
Rain pours on the land and puts out the fire. As the skies clear, the lions, Tamino, Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa (with their jungle animals) congratulate Simba. He climbs up Pride Rock, and with a powerful roar, takes his place as king of the Pride Lands. Some years later, the Pride Lands return to their former glory, and the animals regather at Pride Rock to witness the presentation of SImba and Nala's newborn daughter Kiara, thus completing the circle of life.
Soundtrack Listing[]
- The Circle of Life
- Scar's Lament
- Everything Is Connected
- The Morning Report
- Scar and Simba
- The Lioness Hunt
- I Just Can't Wait To Be King
- Chow Down
- They Live In You
- Be Prepared
- Mufasa and Zazu
- The Stampede
- The Mourning
- Be Prepared (reprise)
- Hakuna Matata
- One by One (Act 2)
- The Madness of King Scar
- Shadowland
- Waterfall Scene
- Endless Night
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Sung by the jungle animals)
- Reunion
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight
- He Lives In You
- Simba Confronts Scar
- KIng of Pride Rock/Circle of Life (reprise)