Surprisingly decent. A wonderful vehicle for Billy Eichner.

Rating: 9/10 (2 September 2019)

As a massive fan of "The Lion King" trilogy - including its sequel and midquel "Simba's Pride" and "The Lion King 1 1/2" - I wasn't sure what to think when the live action version was announced, knowing Disney remakes can be hits or misses. But I decided to treat this 2019 version as just another addition to "The Lion King" universe like the Broadway production.
To my surprise, I found it to be very watchable. While it's a shot-by-shot CGI remake, it has some updated dialogues and extended scenes that many of us hope the original would've shown. Plus the new cast line-up is quite decent, almost as epic as the original film cast.
Billy Eichner really stood out in my book. He has been getting lots of praises on social media, and I completely agree. Timon made one of my favorite actors Nathan Lane a star back in 1994 and opened up many doors for him in film (he's now a Broadway legend with three Tony wins), and Nathan's performance will always be iconic. But Billy gave Timon his own soulful twist. His comedic timing with Seth Rogen as Pumbaa is spot on. Just like Nathan and Ernie Sabella (the original Pumbaa), Billy and Seth are real-life friends, making Timon and Pumbaa a solid duo once again. As an added bonus, Billy has a stunning singing voice. This is like a wonderful vehicle for him and will hopefully get him starring roles in movies.
Personally, I'm down for a "The Lion King 1 1/2" and "Simba's Pride" remake. The photorealism concept of this 2019 version gives off an environmental message like the new cast have been saying, which is very positive.
I can say that out of all the Disney remakes, "The Lion King" is my top fave. It will never top the original obviously, but it's a decent addition to "The Lion King" universe.