I had my doubts about Mufasa: The Lion King, but there’s something special about heading to the movies with family. Plus, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see what I thought would be a complete disaster on the big screen.
Despite the brilliance of Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, it’s hard not to feel disappointed by his decision to take on Disney’s live-action remake, which seems lacking in creative ambition.
Barry Jenkins Brings His Best to Mufasa: The Lion King
Although I was doubtful at first, Mufasa: The Lion King proves to be surprisingly good. Jenkins’ distinctive camera work stands out, and a particularly intense chase between Mufasa and his adoptive brother, Taka, delivers a level of excitement that surpasses most live-action Disney remakes.
Jenkins utilizes the tall grass to immerse the audience in the lions’ race, even attaching the camera to Mufasa’s face like a GoPro at one point. It’s a more creative use of camera angles than what’s typically seen in these live-action remakes.
In addition to the above, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music adds a significant layer to the film, lifting it in ways that the recent Moana sequel, which lacked his touch, couldn’t quite achieve.
Taka’s line, “What did you say about my brother? That’s not a stray, that’s my brother!” has gained a lot of traction on TikTok and Twitter, but within the movie, it lands well. On top of that, the ensemble number “We Go Together” stands out as an incredibly catchy pop track that brings a burst of energy to the film.
Why Mufasa: The Lion King Could Have Been Amazing with Hand-Drawn Animation?
The film’s main issue lies in its visual style. While Jenkins does a decent job with a 7/10 result, if traditional animation had been used, it could have elevated the movie to something truly remarkable.
The challenge in Jon Favreau’s realistic version of The Lion King lies in its reliance on recreating a well-known story.
When you’re reimagining a timeless animated film, it’s difficult to evoke the same level of excitement for something that, while visually stunning, lacks the heart and artistry of the original.
Real lions can’t convey the same emotional depth as animated ones, and they tend to look quite alike. Likewise, real-life warthogs, meerkats, and monkeys don’t capture the same charm or uniqueness as their animated counterparts, where their colors and characteristics are accentuated for a more visually appealing effect.
Mufasa: The Lion King distinguishes itself by being a fresh take, not merely a remake. As both a prequel and sequel to the live-action version, it introduces a new narrative rather than revisiting something that was already done with greater depth. A particularly memorable moment is the intense chase scene.
Since there isn’t an animated version to compare it to, I was able to focus more on the story, characters, and music, all of which worked pretty well for me, without being distracted by the film’s visual style.
Ultimately, the film would have been more successful with a conventional animated style. Whether through CGI animation like Moana or Frozen, or even hand-drawn animation, both options would have been better. The ‘live-action’ CGI approach feels like a compromise that doesn’t fully capture the magic of either method.
The visual style ends up in a strange middle ground, neither as lively as animation nor as immersive as live action. It evokes the feel of a video game cutscene, which, frankly, I find more appealing.
While Jenkins makes the best of the design choices, it’s disappointing that Disney decided to commit to this direction from the start.
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