Slimy, yet satisfying, with none of the Disney magic!!

Rating: 7/10 (19 July 2019)

Visually this movie is phenomenal and realistic, it felt like you were watching and experiencing a true live action remake which felt like you were watching an episode of LIFE. Unfortunately what it made up for in visuals, lacked it almost every other way. There are key moments from the original that I felt spoke to me the most were omitted from this remake. It felt as though the actors were just saying their lines and didn't show the emotion or soul that viewers were owed. For the most part there weren't anyone that stuck out. James Earl Jones has always been the standout with his voice still being as powerful. I think casting was a bit of an issue. I think Donald Glover would have been more suited for young Simba and probably would have killed it. Timone ane Pumba started to grow on me the more the movie went on, but there's no replacing Nathan Lane. John Oliver came across as annoying sometimes as Zazu. I didn't feel the soul in Rafiki for most of his part. The beginning was a tad disappointing, I couldn't wait for young Simba to grow up, middle was very good and the ending was just okay. And the songs just didn't really do it for me. Spirit wasn't really put in the right part of the movie. The songs that weren't sung by the actors still held true to the original and Hans Zimmer did his thing.
In my honest opinion if this was a shot for shot remake of the original it would have been a slam dunk but it get more like a cash grab. I think it was better than Aladdin, but maybe if they took Mulan's approach it could have been a different movie entirely.
Visuals: 10/10
Special effects:10/10
Music:7/10
Story: 6/10
Acting: 4/10
Magic: 2/10