Live Action Lion King

[KeithS]

So who's going to see The Lion King this weekend?  The reviews have been interesting, a very mixed bag.  From the sound of it, the movie is a full remake of the original which is a shame.  I'd have liked for them to change it up a little.

[DisneyKaren]

So who's going to see The Lion King this weekend?  The reviews have been interesting, a very mixed bag.  From the sound of it, the movie is a full remake of the original which is a shame.  I'd have liked for them to change it up a little.

At this stage I have no plans, I love the music and am keen to see it at some stage.  May not be until it's on TV (or DVD) as I'm not sure it'll lose a lot but the music would be way better at the cinema.  If anyone gets there, let us know your thoughts on it.

[calisota]

I'm really torn on this one. I love the original but if it is a shot-for-shot remake then I have to wonder what the point is. At least give me a bit of originality to make me want to go.

Who is going to be the brave guinea pig that goes and then gives us a review? 


Greg

[KeithS]

Della and I are thinking of seeing it on Friday...

[calisota]

Della and I are thinking of seeing it on Friday...

Eagerly awaiting your review.

Greg

[DisneyKaren]

Della and I are thinking of seeing it on Friday...

Have you seen the movie yet Keith?  I haven't had a chance, may end up missing it at the cinema.

[KeithS]

No - we didn't end up going and I don't think we will now.

I spoke to Jess on Saturday and she hated The Lion King!  She was a mega-fan of the original, so she didn't like the changes to the script which pretty much took out all her favourite lines.

I'll just wait for the Bluray now I think.

[calisota]

She was a mega-fan of the original, so she didn't like the changes to the script which pretty much took out all her favourite lines.

Really? I was under the impression that it was a scene for scene remake of the original.

Greg

[DisneyKaren]

My sister invited me to see The Lion King with her family last night and we all enjoyed it.  I haven't seen the original in some years so perhaps being distanced by time helps.  Like many other movies/musicals I'm about the music so I've listened to the soundtrack at times and enjoyed the musical, so was looking forward to the music along with the familiar story.

My nephew didn't like the that life-like animals showed less emotions than the animated animals did, however my sister & I were aware of that in advance so it didn't worry us during the movie.  I did expect at least a tear from Simba when Mufasa died, but my niece's tears made up for that!

The music was great, while I'm sure they updated the music to suit the singers and the modern times, I didn't specially notice and my sister and I did sing (due to the nice loud cinema sound I couldn't tell if others were).  We all agreed Be Prepared was definitely weaker and this was where I noticed changed/missing dialogue.  Overall this isn't a favourite song of my sister and I anyway so it didn't ruin the movie for us at all.

It's definitely not a scene-for-scene remake however I'd need to see both in a shorter space of time to truly notice all the differences and to be honest I'd rather just enjoy each one.  I did notice at least a couple of additions - I'm sure "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is not in the original and I really enjoyed this fun scene.  The small Beauty & The Beast add-in had the whole cinema laughing and was really well done.

My nephew's sum-up when I thought he didn't enjoy it due to the lower show of emotions from the characters - "Of course I enjoyed it, it's the Lion King".

Like any remake it's going to depend on the viewer's connection to the original movie, that's going to be Disney's risk with this huge wave of remakes. In my case as much as I enjoy the original of any movie, as long as they don't ruin the music in the remake then I'm likely to enjoy it.

[DisneyKaren]

Ok my sister just advised me that The Lion Sleeps Tonight is in the original.  Clearly it's been too long since I watched!!!!

[ajp]

We saw it recently, and whilst I was a little concerned what it was going to be like, I didn’t mind it. It took time to adjust to looking at life like animals but once the story starts moving you forget about the animated characters a little. Music was enjoyable, it definitely wasn’t a like for like remake which was the right thing to do but the core of the story was there. Much like they did with Aladdin.

[calisota]

Is it the "life-like" animals that are doing the singing or is it just music in the background. I don't know if I'd be comfortable with a lifelike lion suddenly belting out a ballad.


Greg

[DisneyKaren]

Is it the "life-like" animals that are doing the singing or is it just music in the background. I don't know if I'd be comfortable with a lifelike lion suddenly belting out a ballad.

Greg

That's a good question, I'm thinking the animals were singing.  I will say your question made me realise how interesting the differences are in people - the things we all think about or notice and how people like/dislike movies and the reasons why.

[KeithS]

I was interested in that question too Greg - about them singing.

I recently re-watched the animated movie when it was on TV and I was wondering how they'd have them singing in the life-like movie.

Karen - spot on about how different people see the same movie.  Both the Lion King and Toy Story 4 were very polarising at the last meeting we had - I don't think I'd seen that at the club before as most of us generally like the same stuff.

[ajp]

Is it the "life-like" animals that are doing the singing or is it just music in the background. I don't know if I'd be comfortable with a lifelike lion suddenly belting out a ballad.


Greg

It's actually mixed.  For example in Can you feel the love tonight, they are singing, but generally you don't see it.  However Pumba and Timon definitely sing.  It didn't look as weird as you may think.