Absolutely exceptional - and exceeded all expectations

Rating: 10/10 (22 July 2019)

Having read some of the negative reviews on here I was almost not looking forward to seeing this. And that is saying a lot given how much I was originally looking forward to doing so. I speak as a 50-something man who watched the original way more times than I can recall with my daughter and love that version very much.
I have to say I was completely captivated and enthralled from the time the initial 'naaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' of The Circle Of Life began until the very end. I was emotionally engaged to the point of tears running down my face on at least three occasions too.
The CGI is breathtaking, the humour of Timon and Pumbaa brilliantly done, and the standout moment of the bushbaby in The Lion Sleeps Tonight absolutely superb. I felt totally engrossed and engaged with all of the characters, loving Simba and Nala, and hating Scar, which is exactly how you should feel. The amazing thing also in overall terms for me was when realising that the movie is 2 hours long, and it felt like I'd been in there for about 30 minutes.
You don't need to know anything about The Lion King to love this movie, and maybe in fact it is better that way, as of course comparisons with the original are inevitable. How can you, how dare you, try to improve or better something that has probably been the most famous and most-loved animate production of modern times? The answer is you can't, and some people just need to get over that fact. This movie is wonderful, breathtaking, has you drawn in from the word go, has you singing, toe-tapping and laughing, and then sad and emotionally drawn at the same time. Disney has knocked it out of the park, and I cannot and wouldn't knock anything about it at all.
I look forward to watching it again, and buying the blu ray, and having it to keep for all time. It's simply magnificent.