The Lion King (1994)

Written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, & Linda Woolverton
Directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff

I was born in 1985. As such, I straddle this weird line of being an 80’s kid and a 90’s kid. I was too young for most stuff, and too old for everything else. It’s always been weird. But one thing I do remember, was that The Lion King DOMINATED 1994, and most of 1995, as well. The reason for it is, simply, that The Lion King is THAT good.

I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING

Featuring some of the boldest camerawork in Disney animation, the epic story confronts some really tough emotional canvas, especially for what would be called a children’s film. Even now, 24 years later, scene after scene still tugs the soul in every direction. The music plays a major role in a lot of these moments, to be sure, but even some scenes without music, such as the aftermath of the stampede, is devastating. I’m not always a fan of Hans Zimmer’s music (although I usually am), but here his score is one of the best.

“Circle of Life” is a brilliant opening number, both in sight and sound

The songs in the film are also very diverse, each having a unique flavor to them. From epic (“Circle of Life”), to evil (“Be Prepared”), the film utilizes the different musical styles to its advantage: a magician never does the same trick twice. It’s tough for me to pick a favorite, but “Circle of Life” is probably mine. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” is a great song, but of the score, it’s never been my top choice; it’s a little too bland in the grand buffet of the music.

Jeremy Irons as Scar is utter perfection

The character work in the film is excellent as well, and I can’t think of a single vocal performance that I don’t like (my personal favorite is Jeremy Irons’ Scar, who is so deliciously evil that his character draws your eye every time he’s on screen). Jonathan Taylor Thomas is still a great Simba, but I will admit that, of all the characters, he’s the actor whose face comes into my head while seeing the film, more than any others.

The underlying seriousness of the film is another hallmark of much of the Disney Renaissance, and it continues in the next two films, Pocahontas and Hunchback of Notre Dame. Neither of those films would be quite as successful as The Lion King, but they, like this film and Beauty and the Beast, are some of my personal favorites.

FINAL GRADE: A