Mufasa: The Lion King

"Better than expected. "

" Feels a bit like Mufasa has the same backstory as Simba. By the end of the movie. Still, the movie was much better than I expected. "

"Great storytelling! I loved the music too! 😍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"

"Please do not watch this movie if you get dizzy easily. First of all, I’d like to say the voice acting is beautiful— casting was well done, the voices for the lions as they got older was surprisingly fitting to their younger selves. 
The nature portrayed in this movie is incredible, and the rendering for the animals is spectacular. 
But, I would’ve liked it if the cinematography focused on a more wide frame than the in-focus, I don’t know what I’m talking about, but the way this movie is ‘filmed’ makes me sort of dizzy. I don’t know if smear frames exist in rendering animations, but that would’ve worked wonderfully in this movie. 
For when the lions move around, I feel like they should’ve blurred the background whilst they were running so the viewer can easily focus more on the subject than what’s behind them. I am still dizzy after watching the movie and I am typing this review in the car. 
I would’ve liked it if the musical score in the background wasn’t so loud while a character was talking— some people rely on lip reading to focus on what someone is saying, but since this is a movie with mammals, it makes it more difficult to complete the said task. 
You can tell that this movie was composed by Lin Manuel Miranda, the beat and rhythm are very Miranda-esque and I’m surprised there’s no rap in this movie. I wonder how different this movie would’ve been if he accepted to compose for Moana 2 instead… There are many scenes where it doesn’t need to be added in the movie, and there are some scenes that skim on way too fast, that, in real life, could not possibly happen. 
The villains are written really well, and Mads voice acted greatly, I’m not sure if he’s voice acted before, but some actors take a new shot in their career by doing voice acting and fail miserably, so he did great. Though I feel like some parts he had been mumbling? Or that could just be me and my hard hearing skills. 
Scenery is gorgeous, and I’m sure James Cameron would be proud. "

"Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), directed by Barry Jenkins, serves as both a prequel and sequel to the beloved 1994 classic, delving into the origins of Simba's father, Mufasa. The film employs advanced photorealistic animation to depict the African savannah and its inhabitants with remarkable detail. The narrative follows a young Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) as he navigates his early life, forming a bond with Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), who later becomes known as Scar. Their relationship is central to the story, exploring themes of brotherhood, jealousy, and destiny. The film also introduces characters like Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), adding depth to the backstories of the original ensemble. Visually, the film is stunning, with the animation team achieving a level of realism that surpasses previous installments. The landscapes are breathtaking, and the animals' expressions convey a range of emotions, enhancing the storytelling. However, the film's screenplay has been met with mixed reactions. Some critics feel that it attempts to over-explain elements of the original story, providing backstories that may not have been necessary. The pacing has also been a point of contention, with some moments feeling rushed while others linger without adding significant value. In conclusion, Mufasa: The Lion King offers a visually impressive journey into the backstory of one of Disney's most iconic characters. While it may not fully capture the magic of the original, it provides a deeper understanding of the relationships and events that shaped the Pride Lands. Fans of the franchise will appreciate the attention to detail and the expansion of the beloved narrative. "

"Loved this movie, cried a lot tho but the music was really good and the storyline."

"This was much better than I expected it to be. My expectations were dirt level low for this movie. But by the time it was over, i was left surprised and engaged and entertained throughout . This is coming from someone who STRONGLY DISLIKES Disney's current strategy of retreading old ground for "new" ideas when in actuality they're just making reimaginings as they call them to squeeze every last bit of cash out of the pure Nostalgia felt for most of these movies. However, something I really appreciate about this movie was they went to prequel route and somewhat expanded on the origins of beloved characters. Without really taking away from what made these characters beloved in the first place . To me, the inclusion of Timon and Pumba was pointless and just dragged the movie on a bit. The songs were catchy. Not very memorable or absolute earworms as I've come to expect from Lin-Manuel. The voice case was excellent. With the standout for me being Aaron Pierre to step into the shoes of James Earl Jones has to be a Monumental task, and in my opinion, he did a wonderful job! On to the visuals. The movie was shot beautifully, especially for the scenes taking place in Melie. Oh! The snow rendering isn't half bad either. This would have been such a wonderful movie to see in the 2D Disney Renaissance style. Too bad we'll likely NEVER see a return to the style. I give this movie 4 extremely potent Pumba butt burps out of 5 😃😃😃"

"This is the best of the Lion King movies to date, animated or not. "

"This was a fantastic take on Mufasa's life, would have liked to not have Timon and Pumba squabbling about useless/time-wasting stuff. Would love to see a movie coming of Rafiki and his journey! If you want to see Sarabi's love story this is the movie for you! "

"Idk if this is an unpopular opinion but this made me like Taka (aka scar) the most. He’s honestly my favorite Disney villain and one of my favorite Disney characters in general now. He’s just so… how should I put it? Just very entertaining and interesting. Great for all ages 🫶"