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What I want to say is, Mufasa: The Lion King Better than its 2019 predecessor. But the unfortunate truth is that the bar is very low. Like many people, I’m not a big fan of Jon Favreau lion king Despite being a box office success, the adaptation felt soulless and left a bitter taste in your mouth. Therefore, we likely won’t get a continuation of Simba’s story, leaving not many ways to tell another story in this universe. A prequel focusing on an original story sounds like a good direction to take after The Lion King.

Barry Jenkins is an unexpected but exciting choice for such a blockbuster. He does his best to breathe new life into the iconic Pride Lands by exploring its origins. mufasa and Taka (who eventually became Scar). Jenkins moonlight and If Beale Street could talkbrings surprising emotional depth to what could easily have been a soulless cash grab. The facial expressions are noticeably better this time around and we actually understand what the characters are going through. This also takes the load off the voice actors, who had to do all the heavy lifting in the previous installment.

Technically, the movie is as amazing as expected. Stunningly realistic visuals are back, with meticulous attention to detail for every leaf, water ripple and blade of grass. The Pride Lands shine in all their glory, creating a visual experience that demands to be seen on the big screen. Character animations are smooth and more expressive enough to evoke connection without sacrificing realism. Jenkins does attempt to present a deeper emotional tone, exploring themes of family, loss and legacy with more nuance than one might expect from a Disney blockbuster.

Essentially, the film focuses on shaping mufasa Enter the King we know and how the two brothers became enemies. His journey takes a very formulaic route and offers almost nothing new. The story of the brothers turning into enemies has also been done multiple times, and at no point is it surprising or impressive. The story has some beautiful moments, but it struggles to keep you invested or emotionally attached. The script is weak and definitely needs help from the visual effects to bring entertainment value. Thankfully, the breathtaking visuals partially make up for the lack of novelty in the writing. There are some very impressive scenes that keep you impressed and invested in just because of the cinematography.

but where mufasa The real disappointment is its music. Lin-Manuel Miranda is far from his best, and the songs are okay at best. When I left the screening room, not a single song remained in my head. The middle section of the film is particularly strong, providing engaging subplots and emotional beats that elevate the narrative. Miranda is a master at his job, but here he really struggles to get the beat right. The dubbing cast is solid across the board. captured by aaron pierre mufasaspirit, while Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner are as charming as ever. Kelvin Harrison Jr. struggled with his British accent.

(LR): Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) and Taka (voiced by Kevin Harrison Jr.) in Disney’s live-action version of The Lion King. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

Another area where the script goes wrong is in the structure and use of characters. It shouldn’t have taken the flashback storytelling route as it simply doesn’t work and will just take you out mufasastory. It also never justifies the inclusion of Pemba and Timon, who feel forced into the story. The final scene was emotionally satisfying, but it really disrupted Taka’s arc. His origin story is surprisingly bland and frankly lazy. The story of his competition with his rivals mufasa Will remind you a lot Transformers: 1 Released earlier this year, they did better. The writers also seem unwilling to take bold narrative risks, instead opting for a solution that feels too safe and familiar.

Mufasa: The Lion King is a visually stunning prequel that adds engaging world-building and heartfelt moments, but it’s hard to justify its existence. The rushed narrative fails to fully develop key characters, and while Barry Jenkins’ thoughtful direction adds gravitas, it can’t overcome the contrived script. The voice acting is solid, but Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music is surprisingly bland. It’s better than its 2019 predecessor, but the film still lacks the soul it needs to truly roar to life.

Mufasa: The Lion King Released on December 20th.