Two perspectives: a nine year old and a (significantly older) year old

Rating: 7/10 (16 October 2019)

{Once again I cede my review to my AAC*, nine year old, Sophie.} Sophie told me: This and MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO are my favourite movies this year! I had heard that THE LION KING might be scary for anyone under 10, but I wasn't that scared (although I was a little scared, especially when things jumped out on the screen). I liked the way they made the animals talk (it would have been boring if they hadn't). I thought the last part (the fight on the cliff in the fire) was very exciting. There is a lot of singing. Most parts are happy and some parts are a little sad and scary. If you love animals, this will be a good movie for you. I give this movie a rating of 10 (the best) out of 10.
(*Age Appropriate Critic)
Thank you, Sophie. I'll add my two cents, now. I went into the movie with a little caution. This had been my mother's favourite Disney animated movie so it was going to be tricky emotionally, missing Mom and hoping they didn't mess it up. In some ways this was a different movie. They had to switch up some of the story telling to facilitate the difference between animation and live action. They added a couple of songs and of course the voice talent was all new. The highlights of the movie, for me, was the beautiful photography and the ambient soundtrack, which were so artfully intertwined. They also had the added problem that the real violence of nature had to be retrofitted for a young audience. I'm not sure the "circle of life" speech Mufasa gave Simba would have registered with the young audience and the violence that is inherent to life (and death) of wild creatures is hard to assimilate with cute cubs, personified chums and beloved characters, so it was confined to our heroes killing and eating non-character bugs and grubs. The exciting ending, of which Sophie spoke, I found to be a little long and drawn out. But, all in all, I thought it was a good movie. I will always prefer the original but give this film a 7 (good) out of 10. {Young Adventure}