The Lion King (2019)

The Lion King is a visual masterwork, with a great story and catchy tunes. Unfortunately, it was already made into a movie 25 years ago. The 2019 version, directed by Jon Favreau, is practically a shot-by-shot and word-for-word remake, and has absolutely no reason to exist.

Well, the reason it exists is money. The technology involved with making the movie is cutting edge, and I was interested in watching how they did it on the DVD extras. But I was also very cynical as I watched, because they used this amazing technology to remake a film that everyone has already seen. Why not use this technology to make an original story? There must be hundreds of ideas for a movie about animals. Why? Money. They didn't want to take the risk, and instead just refitted a classic. And they weren't wrong--this movie made a mint.

I resisted seeing it in the theater, but since it got nominated for Best Visual Effects for the Oscars, I checked it out, and it should win that category, because what was done was groundbreaking. But Jesus Pete, they hardly changed the story at all. It's still about a lion cub whose father, the King, is murdered by his villainous brother, goes off and goofs around with a meerkat and a warthog, and comes back to claim his destiny. Some lines were changed, but with James Earl Jones still playing Mufasa, and hyenas still portrayed as the worst mammals in Africa, this film is like deja vu.

Watching this version of The Lion King is like watching Bob Iger counting money. One new line made me laugh--when Timon starts signing "Be My Guest") and the songs are the same (there was a new one in the closing credits that was pretty unremarkable). The voice cast was strong, with Donald Glover as Simba, but if they were going to bring back Jones, why not bring back Jeremy Irons as Scar? Chiwetel Ojiofor is solid, but nobody could touch Irons in this role.

Visually, of course, this film is a great improvement over the standard animation of the 1994 film, but damn it that film came first. This procession of Disney animated films being remade--Beauty And The Beast, Aladdin, coming up Mulan and The Little Mermaid--is getting wearisome. Try hiring a writer who can tell a new story, and take a fucking chance.