A few enhancements, but at a cost of some defining moments

Rating: 6/10 (14 March 2020)

The Lion King was the film for me as a kid back in the 90s. It inspired me to be a musician and songwriter, to get through the bullying I received at school, and to move on from the death of a loved one on my father's side of the family. It had it all for me as a kid, and I'd watch it every week.
There were many new scenes that enhanced the flow of the story that I thought "this would've been great in the original" but some started to feel like 'deleted scenes' and for a reason.
The music felt hollow, some of the sound track did stand out, but there were parts of the score that felt missing, or forced. You can hear it straight away during the opening scene. You also have Beyoncé going WAY over the top in one song, and that ruined it for me. Glover's voice acting was cringe-worthy most of the time, and James Earl Jones sounded like he was in a rush to get out of the studio.
You had a few scenes removed, or completely messed with. I'm being biased here, but Simba's conversation with Rafiki is the most important part of the film. Everything from "Asante Sana Squash Banana..." to hitting Simba with the stick. And giving one of the greatest lines in cinema history "...the past can hurt". All of this is cut.
Let's not forget Beyoncé yelling "Lions, attack!" ...jeez Favreu, really? They also cut Ed the Hyena, and replaced him with this unimportant 2-dimensional flap of a secondary antagonist, why?
Overall I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't go back to watch it again. If I need a Lion King boost, it'll be the original for sure.