Is this a bad thing? Will this Lion King remake bring nothing new to the table and feel pointless? Or will it be exactly the right move to bring arguably the best Disney movie ever to a new audience? The debate rages on, but I can certainly speak for myself when I say; I love it. I love almost everything this trailer showed me. I’m ready to throw yet more of my money at the Mouse.
We all know the story. A lion cub prince sees his father die, his murderous uncle convinces him it’s his fault and that he should run, he grows up, he takes the kingdom back from said uncle. It’s Hamlet with lions featuring uncomfortable African stereotypes. This trailer gleefully wallows in all the familiar scenes we remember from the animated classic. We see Simba, Mufasa, Scar, Timon and Pumbaa, and all the favorites run their paces through scenes we all recognize. The stampede, the elephant graveyard, Simba and Nala before they bang, all the classic scenes.
It all looks fantastic. Much like the original animated movie, everything looks and feels so high-quality. I unabashedly love the nostalgia of it, and the respect they’ve clearly shown to reproducing one of their most beloved movies.
Is it too much nostalgia? Will this all raise familiar questions regarding the point of recreating The Lion King? Why bother if you don’t want to try something new with the story? I get it. I don’t necessarily disagree. The thing is, I can’t bring myself to care that much. And I will still give Disney the benefit of the doubt that they will try and work with the original story to make something better. Do I dream of a story acknowledging the flaws inherent in the Pridelands feudalistic system and the abuse of the hyenas? Of course.
Whatever the case, I can’t wait to see The Lion King when it hits theaters on July 19.
