Likeable, but clearly overrated...

Rating: Null/10 (15 October 2003)

Let me start by saying I did not watch it back when it was in theaters. I'd seen pieces here and there, but I don't think I have ever seen the whole thing before. With that said, let me also state that I am not a fan of Disney's work in the past 10-15 years, with a few noted exceptions.

So, I said hey, it's there. I'll give it a shot (roommate had bought it, no skin off my back). I watched the film. I got certain impressions. Many areas felt like other animated works that I enjoyed much more, namely the original Land Before Time (not the crappy sequels) and Aladdin. While these impressions might make a film more favourable in some cases, or maybe in the long run, here I just couldn't shake them long enough to sit down and watch the film with my full attention.
Impressions aside, going back after the special features and watching it with the audio commentary (which isn't even listed on the box like most films that have one do -a nice surprise, actually), it gave me the feeling that the score and music had much to blame for taking me out of the film.

The first small stretch is nicely woven together, setting up the characters and themes. I love the African choir at the beginning and almost wish they'd have just gone with that rather than mixing it with the 'Circle of Life' song. Still, I can deal with that. No problem... but then, since I ended up watching the Special Edition version of the film on first viewing (which, if I ever watch the film again I will avoid), that mediocre blah 'Morning Report' song came on. I was immediately thrown out of the film's world. The same thing happened sitting through that 'Can't wait to be king' (which went out of its way to 'show' the view of Simba throughout, further distancing me from the film), and Scar's baddie villian song that, while nicely animated, was simply a forgettable experience. I didn't even remember the animation during Scar's song until I watched the commentary track with the song itself thankfully turned down far enough to avoid distraction.

I know, I'm being harsh. The film does have a few memorable musical elements such as Hakuna Matata, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, the Afican voice choir, and even, to a smaller extent, the Circle of Life song. Plus the brief reference songs were nice. It's not that the other songs are 'bad', by no means, but they just sound like the same recycled mediocrocy found in too many other disney films of the past 20 years. I've just gotten tired of it; so for me, it majorly detracts from the film.
There are quite a few other animated works that have distinct songs that are great all around. Even seeing the preview for the special edition of Marry Poppins instantly brought me back to that film. All the songs in it were great and memorable. Sure, Lion King, 3 out of 5-6 aint bad, right? Not when you have to sit through the other 2-3 songs to watch the movie, and I'm not one that likes fastforwarding.
Finally, on the music side, in the special features it played other pieces of music by the composer of the African choir moments of the film which sounded much more appropriate and had a more unique feel to them than the mediocre songs of the film. Why not integrate more of that kind of music? It did so well to pull you into the world in the opening sequence, and yet, songs like 'Can't wait to be king' and Scar's villiany song made it in when the other inspired music couldn't have found a place?
Another minor gripe; while I can go with and even love many of the voice talents, I just can't get past Whoopie Goldberg's voice. I enjoy her performances in the live action arena. It's not only such a distinctive voice, but for some reason I can't get past that voice being connected with any other face. Everyone else is fine, from James Earl Jones, which has been Darth Vader's voice ever since I can remember, to Cheech, who just seems to have, as a person, many faces (like in From Dusk Till Dawn and other Rodrigous pictures). Every line Whoopie spoke just took me out of it.

Artistry wise - There's so many nice pieces of work done in the film... certain scenes that I just was kind of too distracted before to take a full appreciation of until I went through the special features. The special features detailing some of these processes was both interesting and did well in pulling me further into what made the film come together.

Going through the special features has given me a deep respect for the material and the talents behind it. Infact, I enjoy the the elements that went into making the film probably more than the film itself. I wish I could just edit the film myself or they could have done a Special Limited Edition that would take out those detracting songs and have another voice talent to replace Whoopie.
Musicals, especially animated ones, have to always be careful in their song direction, and I think The Lion King would have worked better as not being a musical. You could still have the 3 songs that would have been nominated, since the only characters that sung in those were Timon and Pumba (who wrapped up Simba in their sing-a-long), two off the wall characters that could get away with singing even in a nonmusical.
Aladdin SE DVD is coming out next year and I honestly can't wait. With such a great treatment for Lion King Platinum DVD set, it looks like finally the time to pick up Aladdin and any other favourable disney films coming up.