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The Lion King (1994)

Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Time Out rating

Average user rating

8 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

This dimensionally enhanced re-release of Disney’s family favourite has been sitting pretty at the top of the US box office for two weeks, which is either a searing indictment of modern mainstream cinema or a testament to how beloved ‘The Lion King’ has become in the heartlands – or both. It’s the same movie – young Simba’s Shakespearean journey from pampered boy prince to fatherless outcast to lord of the pride – only bulgier around the middle. Few of the 3D additions make much difference, give or take the odd water-splash or flapping flamingo wing, so anyone who loved or loathed the movie on its 1994 run is unlikely to revise their opinion. As before, the weak point is Elton John and Tim Rice’s drippily awful pseudo-world-music soundtrack – Rowan Atkinson’s rendition of ‘I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts’ remains the musical highpoint – but the script is still sharp, the story satisfyingly simplistic and the vocal work peerless.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2146: 6 – 12 October, 2011

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User reviews of this film

zak lad said...

Posted on Nov 07 2011 11:04 the first time i watched it i was 5 and it made me cry now if i watch it i will still be sad it was the best movies for kids i love it +it is a bit hard for kids to understand if they are 5 or under i am just a clever kid but if you are going cinema please watch it ! :-]

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As Charlie Sheen says, th said...

Posted on Nov 07 2011 03:41 As Charlie Sheen says, this atricle is WINNING!

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Oct 27 2011 17:46 Underwhelmed, but good in 1994, transformed into a real visual 3D (No, I don't triumph 3D whatever!) treat. What once commanded a respectable 7/10 now demands an 8/10. Oh and do shut up about the music, it suits it to a tee!

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khadijah javaid said...

Posted on Oct 21 2011 22:56 i actully enjoyed this film and it is cool

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cassie said...

Posted on Oct 14 2011 18:15 @jack same (: i don't know how people can dislike this movie...it's really good. everyone i know who when to see it said it was epic LOL :p

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Ian said...

Posted on Oct 08 2011 18:35 The question is why? Why bother? The 3D is more of an annoyance than an aid and it becomes clear just how far animation has moved on since this film first came out.
Surely a better idea would have been to clean up the print and make the animation and sound better rather than just try to make some cheap money by adding a few 3D scenes.
From the "Bambi's mother" scene with the father's sacrifice the film establishes its level and the audience it seeks.
Under tens watching it for the first time today must be wondering what all the fuss their parents made over what is by modern standards a run of the mill movie.

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Ghidera said...

Posted on Oct 08 2011 17:34 So reassuring to read that Tom Huddleston had the guts to slag off the awful EJ soundtrack for this otherwise splendid film. It was one of the great disappointments of the Disney efforts of the 90's was the recruiting of mediocrities like Elton John and Sting. I do think the success of Pixar and Dreamworks has put most of late 20th Disney in the shade.

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Jack said...

Posted on Mar 28 2009 17:33 was my favourite film (:

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