This movie really is rubbish

Rating: 2/10 (20 March 2005)

I apologise to all those captivated by the African landscapes and orchestral harmonies, but this movie is disjointed and shallow. The mass of names credited with the "Story" says it all - this movie is a bunch of disconnected scenes thrown together with absolutely no character cohesion at all. Some examples:
Simba and Narla bicker and argue. They then sing "Can you feel the love tonight?" They then IMMEDIATELY continue to bicker and argue, and part ways.
Simba goes from little kid to mature adult - Timon and Pumba do not age a day.
After Mufasa safely brings himself and Simba up the cliff, he is then thrown to his death, and Simba never sees this as unusual or even wonder why.
There are absolutely no male lions anywhere in the entire movie other than Mufasa, Scar and Simba - an entire tribe of Lions at pride rock, with no males at all.
Timon and Pumba play absolutely no role in the plot, meaning or interest of the movie. They are shallow comic diversions that have no place being there. Their theme song (Hakuna Matata) contradicts the entire message of the movie, which is to live up to your responsibilities instead of ignoring them.
Not one lion in Pride Rock EVER wonders what happened to Simba, and nor does the annoying bird Zazu, who was right there when it all happened - this is utterly ridiculous.
Scar would never have simply admitted to killing Mufasa.
After years of constant threats and derision, Mufasa is surprised when Scar turns against him, as if he never suspected a thing...
I could go on for a long time. This movie makes no sense, it is too scary and murderous for young children, and it completely lacks any emotional involvement with any character. The young Simba is utterly arrogant, the old Simba completely distant, and his change of character totally unbelievable and contrived.
Yes, this movie "deals" with many grand themes - it deals with them in the same way a food processor would "deal" with a 3 course meal - mash it all up into random unpalatable rubbish. Yes, the themes are there, but the movie has nothing to say about any of them, and they are presented in a completely disjointed manner. Comparisons to Hamlet is one of the greatest insults possible to Shakespeare.
If you want a good kids movie, The Lion King IS NOT IT.