Wow.

Rating: 9/10 (13 August 2019)

So I read all the reviews about how little emotion there was in this version and I have to say- my kids ? We're entranced. They loved it. No one was thinking about how little emotion anyone had. In fact, no one was really thinking at all because my kids love the story so much.
Of course there was a lot of comparison. To the first version. Personally I am glad they copied it exactly . It was a great and pretty much perfect story for kids already. The songs are favorites to this day. The kids wanted the songs and they wanted to see the first movie alive.
This story is intense. It's a child's version of Hamlet. But if you think about it... this story is slightly traumatic to any healthy kid with normal parents. I mean my kids were shocked by the turn of events in this story and it really tethers right on the border of being too much for children emotionally. The slightest change, the near miss and this is a movie that kids can't tolerate. So for us I think we were glad they stuck with the story we all know. My kids especially. It would have been a huge surprise for them and totally disappointing if the story and songs changed.
It was pretty scary as a matter of fact for my kids. My four year old spent half the time with his eyes covered. Because for them, without the cartoon, it became so realistic and much more poignant I think. Darker.
I thought it was beautifully done.
If I had a complaint it would be -no Nathan Lane. I mean Pumba and Timba from the first movie were the best. Why would they ever attempt to replace them? So Pumba and Timba fell short for me. But other than that, I thought it was an amazing child's story that kids all over the world will love. Hopefully it will also teach them to love the animals in this movie and not grow up to hunt or kill them, and actually protect them.
Which would be a happy cconsequence.