Review of The Lion King (1994) by Berc — 04 Jun 2016

The artistic medium of film is very subjective. Every audience member has a different set of criteria they use to measure their viewing experience. Not everyone shares the same set of criteria. If we did, what a bland and uninspired world this would be.

What I Personally Liked About "The Lion King":

Every good film starts with a good skeletal structure: the story itself. From that story, all of the other pieces will fall into place. In this case, the story is a beautifully told one centered on familial commitment, the responsibilities you have to yourself and the obligations you have to those who count on your support. The maturation of a destined character has always been a great structural starting point and this time it delivers in abundance. There is also some very good hard-edged humor, particularly surrounding Scar, which doesn't play down to younger audiences. Instead, it treats all of its viewers as equals; something modern Disney filmmakers have a tendency to toss aside. The animation itself is peerless, filled with wonderfully bright colors, crisp lines, deep shadows, lush greenery, and sharply drawn leads. The animation is backed with some of the best voice work Disney had yet utilized in one of their movies. James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg and Nathan Lane fill the spotlight with their charm and add a wonderful dimension to the characters they portray. There are a couple of unforgettable specifics to this animated classic to go over as well. Mufasa's death scene, for one. It is a somber, restrained affair with a perfectly accented score and a real sense of loss defining the event. Too, the epic, slow motion fight sequence between Simba and Scar backlit by the burning embers beneath Pride Rock is a visually stunning treat one rarely sees in a Disney film.

What I Personally Disliked About "The Lion King":

There is a song in this film entitled "Be Prepared." Not only is it the weakest song of the picture, but it is also the worst blot on Jeremy Irons' otherwise impeccable career. Irons gives a menacing performance throughout the rest of the film. His dark, creepy delivery of the lines sends chills up and down my spine each and every time I hear them. That merely makes this horrible song seem more out of place. It shamefully slows down the pace of the film where a macabre monologue would have better served the purpose of the story. Fortunately, there's really not much else to dislike about this presentation.

My Overall Impression of "The Lion King":

Not only would I classify this as the single best film Disney released in its decade, I would also offer the opinion that this is the best film Disney has released since 1994 (excluding Pixar's involvement). It has a wealth of memorable music, a powerful story arc, excellent animation, and fitting vocal performances. Animation simply does not get much better than this.