An animation masterpiece and a more enduring modern story from the Disney staple

Rating: Null/10 (19 October 2011)

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
Simba is a young lion cub, born to his father Mustafa, the ruler of Pride Rock. This means he will grow up to ascend the throne after Mustafa, to the envy of his evil uncle Scar, who forms an alliance with the hyenas of the barrens, personally killing Mustafa and arranging to have them kill Simba, who disappears into the wilderness. Years later, he re-emerges to claim his rightful place and take down the evil Scar.
It's a scary thing when you start to notice you're getting older, when films you remember seeing when they first came out are re-released for a new generation, especially when you remember seeing them when you were so young. What with the recent re-release of Jurassic Park and now this 3D re release of one of Disney's more original works, not adapted from any old fairy tales or children's stories. But, with the onslaught of admittedly amazing Pixar wonders that tend to do the rounds more nowadays, The Lion King is a timely reminder of just how well Disney can do when left to it's own devices.
While you often get infinitely more cynical as an adult, the timeless wonders of Disney animations are an opportunity to re-connect with your inner child and appreciate something that works on a more superficial appeal than what is required to appreciate more gritty, hard hitting adult stuff. That said, as well as having fluffy kids appeal (most notably with the I Just Can't Wait to be King and Hakuna Matada musical interludes) TLK also plays out with themes of a more traditional Greek tragedy, of jealousy, murder and revenge that gives it an under lyingly more darker tone...I do remember parents being advised to watch with younger children on the back of the video I used to own and maybe it's not that hard to see why.
It's hard to recall a really bad Disney animation, and The Lion King is not only no exception, it's a prime example of why they hold such timeless appeal for child and adult alike, an animation masterpiece that will always hold an appeal to anyone who sees it (and even more so if you first saw it when you were young.) *****