{"id":1241,"date":"2019-07-16T13:10:35","date_gmt":"2019-07-16T11:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-lejonkungen-2019\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T19:18:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T17:18:54","slug":"review-lejonkungen-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-lejonkungen-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Lejonkungen (2019)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Disney’s strategy of producing live-action adaptations of their animated classics is now well-established. Following the release of Aladdin<\/a><\/strong> earlier this year, and prior to the release of Mulan<\/strong> (2020)<\/a> and The Little Mermaid<\/a><\/strong>, comes Lejonkungen<\/strong> (The Lion King).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many on our editorial team, the 1990s represent a high point for Disney animated features. This may reflect our average age, but it is undeniable that Disney achieved significant animated success during that decade. Under Jeffrey Katzenberg’s leadership, the company received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture in 1992 for an animated film<\/em> (Beauty and the Beast<\/a><\/strong>, which also received a “live-action film” adaptation in 2017<\/a>). Simultaneously, they produced a string of musical hits, including a successful Broadway adaptation of The Lion King<\/em>, directed by Julie Taymor, who serves as an executive producer on this remake. The Lion King<\/em> held the position of Disney’s most beloved and financially successful animated film for a considerable time, before being surpassed by Frost<\/a><\/strong> (Frozen)<\/a> in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lion King<\/em> centers on Simba (Donald Glover), the lion cub and heir to the throne of Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and Sarabi (Alfree Woodard). Simba is manipulated by his uncle Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who seeks to usurp the throne with the aid of his hyena allies (including Keegan-Michael Key). During his journey, Simba encounters Timon & Pumbaa (Billy Eichner & Seth Rogen), a meerkat and warthog duo, embarking on a new path where he must embrace his identity and destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The narrative of The Lion King<\/em> possesses a timeless quality, drawing upon classic themes and dramatic elements: envy, revenge, love, friendship, the realization of interconnectedness, and the hero’s journey to save those in need. Hollywood has consistently excelled in this genre, employing strong storytelling techniques and messianic narratives to create beloved film classics. Examples include sci-fi landmarks like The Matrix<\/a><\/strong>, dramas like The Green Mile<\/a><\/strong>, and historical epics like Braveheart<\/a><\/strong>, as well as the Harry Potter<\/a><\/strong> film adaptations<\/a>, to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lion King <\/em>(2019) is marketed as a live-action adaptation, but with the exception of some aspects of the African environment, it is entirely computer-generated. The animals are rendered using stunning visual effects, prompting a sense of awe and admiration for the realistic depiction of the newborn Simba. Director Jon Favreau<\/strong> previously garnered acclaim for his live-action version of The Jungle Book<\/a><\/strong> (2016). However, as The Lion King<\/em> features no human characters, it presents a pure fable, populated by photorealistic, talking wild animals. It’s likely that next year’s Oscar for visual effects will be awarded to The Lion King<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This remake operates on a different level than Favreau’s prior Disney adaptation \u2013 which, ironically, initiated Disney’s current trend of live-action remakes. Rather than taking artistic liberties, as The Jungle Book<\/em> did in creating a darker narrative, this adaptation appears to be a near shot-for-shot recreation. It seems that Favreau and his team have meticulously copied the original, with perhaps 90% of the film representing a direct transfer from hand-drawn animation to computer animation (as exemplified in the sequence below). Not since Gus van Sant’s remake of Psycho<\/strong> has there been a film so faithful to its source material in terms of imagery and scene composition. Given the original’s status as a masterpiece, this approach is not inherently problematic. While there are some new elements and scenes, they are relatively minor. For those familiar with the original, much of the film evokes a sense of recognition and appreciation for the faithful recreation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n