Loved it!....Realistic and warm

Rating: 10/10 (23 July 2019)

Having read some of the reviews of the critics we thought we'd be disappointed, but this movie and the new animation really tugs at the heartstrings in a different way than the "old" animation could. We had read in critics' reviews that the animation left the animals expressionless. I'd say quite the opposite because it didn't have the exaggerated visuals the old "cartoons" showed and the approach resulted in great empathy with the characters and their kingdom, and the animals looked like real animals. My suspicion is that those who felt the technique left the animals expressionless 1) have never had pets to understand the nuances of their feelings and/or 2) believe animals have no "soul". or have no imagination. This movie was wonderful. My husband, who's not a fan of what he deems "kids movies" even enjoyed it....I didn't get old side-eye while we were watching it. (And by the way, we do not have kids and therefore, did not have kids with us.) Also, on the user reviews, I'm not sure what all the comments about voiceovers being bad and Beyonce voiceover being sub-par are about. Maybe I was just riveted by the animation, but there seem to be more than an abundance of those kinds of comments? Makes me wonder if some out of work voiceover specialist sabotage or other anti-Disney sabotage going on since they have produced so many block busters lately. This movie is well worth seeing--and seeing in the theatre.