It’s nearly impossible for one to have lived in the early ’90s and been ignorant of Disney’s renaissance.
Classics like “The Little Mermaid” (1989), “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), “Aladdin” (1992), and “Mulan” (1998) have all taken their place in American cinematic history.
But in 1994 Walt Disney punctuated its success with “The Lion King,” the sixth highest grossing animated film and the highest grossing “hand-drawn” film of all time.
The story of Simba, who “Can’t Wait to be King,” voiced by the then-youthful Matthew Broderick, is one that all of us ’90s babies have ingrained in our entire cultural consciousness.
The cast of comic stars and charismatic stage actors gives this Shakespearean Disney film the balance that it needs to be not only a light-hearted children’s fairy tale, but also a story that has an important message and powerful storyline. Simba, Mufasa, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa are all back on the big screen, but this time in Disney Digital 3-D.
“The Lion King 3-D” is the first traditionally animated film to have the 3-D conversion, and it is not simply a marketing ploy. “The Lion King” is the best-selling home entertainment release of all time, and the 3-D conversion has sent the beloved film to a whole new level.
It is the first time in nearly a decade that “The Lion King” has been re-released in theatres, but it continues to make itself relevant to all audiences, namely the new generation of children who get to behold the watered-down version of the wilds of the African safari for the first time. It is with this purpose that “The Lion King” has purportedly been re-released by Disney, and this time it is bigger and more in-your-face than ever before.
The beginning of the film opens with the song everyone knows, “The Circle of Life.” But this time, it was something entirely different then what our generation experienced in our 4-year-old shoes. One of the biggest differences between than and now is that the screen is about five times clearer. Factor in the Disney Digital 3-D technology and the film becomes a whole new experience, as if you are seeing it brand new.
When the animals all come together at Pride Rock, the movie seems very life-like, not just as a cartoon, which makes this theatrical experience all the richer.
“The Lion King” is a story, for those of you who don’t know, that draws its characters and story from African mythology, history and, of course, Shakespeare. With clever puns and witty repartee between characters, the humor is still funny even viewing it as an adult.
Who can forget the wisdom of “Hakuna Matata”? Or the beautifully sung “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” One of the greatest soundtracks ever compiled (helmed by Sir Elton John and Hans Zimmer) and a message about the delicacy of life and the earth we are connected to, “The Lion King 3-D” is a must-see that should be experienced as a theatrical event. No, not a theatrical event as in watching the film at home on the couch with some microwave popcorn, but on the big screen.
And that’s what “The Lion King” is, an event; hence the success of the Broadway musical spin-off.
While the 3-D is certainly effective and marvelous to see, the true brilliance is just beholding this story on the big screen once again. “The Lion King” reminds us why we continue to go to the movies. This classic animated feature will only be in theaters for two weeks, and no one should miss this experience.
