Polished On the Outside, Empty On the Inside

Rating: 5/10 (20 July 2019)

To keep it brief: the movie is a graphical powerhouse with none of the charm from the original animated classic. The movie is stunning and picturesque, but the CG approach also makes the characters stiff and expressionless which takes away from the drama of some otherwise eloquent scenes. Additionally, while many have regarded Timon and Pumba's banter to be a highlight of the movie, I personally thought it was comparatively forced and unfunny - not to mention how Timon's character was utterly ruined. On a more positive note, the instrumental sections of the soundtrack deserve special mention for their excellent remastery by Hans Zimmer.
At the end of the day, this take on The Lion King carries the core message of destiny, duty, and responsibility, but it's a message better conveyed by its 2-dimensional predecessor. Save your money and give the old, classic version a rewatch.