Directed by Barry Jenkins and featuring songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical drama tells the origin story of Mufasa.
By James Verniere/Boston Movie News
“Mufasa: The Lion King,” a “live-action” prequel to Disney’s beloved 1994 classic, tells the musical origin story of the noble king first introduced in “The Lion King,” originally voiced by James Earl Jones. This new film, which is once again photorealistically animated using CGI, was directed by Barry Jenkins of “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018) and Academy Award-winner “Moonlight” (2016). The screenplay by Jeff Nathanson of the 2019 CGI “The Lion King” remake tells the story of the childhood of Mufasa (Braelyn Rankins and Aaron Pierre), a flood that separates him from his parents in the Pride Lands and sweeps him away; the new royal family that takes him in and young Mufasa being taught to hunt by Eshe (Thandiwe Newton), the mate of resentful King Obasi (Lennie James). Most important is the fraternal bond formed between Mufasa and Prince Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.)
This new “Lion King” joins a growing roster, including direct-to-video films and a classic Broadway musical, still running after more than 10,000 performances. Audiences can’t get enough of “the circle of life,” and neither can Disney. As some have observed, with their murderous plots, colorful hangers-on, and other royal intrigues, “The Lion King” films borrow elements from Shakespeare’s plays. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” even if the head is a lion’s. Taka is a prince but also a coward, and Mufasa easily outshines him, earning his malice. Among the other villains of this “Lion King” are large white lions called the Outsiders, whose formidable King Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen) seeks revenge against Mufasa. “The Lion King” films are a maze of fathers and sons. The tale of Mufasa unfolds in flashbacks while wise mandrill Rafiki (John Kani) tells the story to Kiara (Blue Ivory Carter, making her screen debut), Mufasa’s granddaughter in “present time,” while warthog Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and meerkat Timon (Billy Eichner) add antic commentary, although “Hakuna Mufasa” falls flat. Also back is Zazu (Preston Nyman this time), the egocentric, yellow-billed hornbill.
In conventional animation or on a Broadway stage with live actors in masks, “The Lion King” is a bird of a different feather (if I may) than these CGI prequels/remakes with their “realistic” lions. However, they are not realistic and exist in various uncanny valleys and green screen environments, some of which show the effects of climate change. The film does a great job animating water in particular, once the animators’ bette noir. Speaking of which, Gints Zilbalodis’ CG-animated effort “Flow,” which also features a cast of animals, is a more impressive and original creation than this corporate entity. Disney doesn’t hold back on its Disney-verse extravaganzas, allowing the quality and talent to shine through.
Since these “Lion King” films are made for kids, the fighting between lions and other creatures is relatively bloodless (these apex predators never so much as eat). The original “The Lion King” featured songs by Academy Award-winners Elton John and Tim Rice. Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” wrote the songs for this new film. They sound very “Lion King” -ish, which I assume was the mandate, but aside from the evil tune “Bye Bye” sung by Mikkelsen’s Kiros, the songs don’t stand out as much as add another choral level to the film. African voices on the soundtrack are very evocative. I wasn’t quite transported to Milele, this film’s version of paradise. I admired the work put into “Mufasa” without being very entertained or absorbed by the things that happen.
We experience the earthquake that caused the great slab of rock to land on a smaller rock, forming Pride Rock, a stone balcony from which a king might address his subjects. You could say that the vocal instruments of this stellar voice cast, Beyonce Knowles-Carter included, are another part of the film’s score. In “Mufasa: The Lion King,” what you hear is as important as what you see.
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’
Rating: PG for action/violence, peril, and some thematic elements.
Cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone
Director: Barry Jenkins
Writer: Jeff Nathanson
Running Time: 2 hours
Where to Watch: In theaters Dec. 20
Grade: B
Boston Movie News 