A live-action movie...minus the life

Rating: 3/10 (21 July 2019)

I felt nothing through this entire movie, and I was disappointed in myself if I grinned at one of the new jokes because they were just not good. Their shoehorned jokes and new dialogue was out of place, and the music was so poorly timed it seemed like it was a problem in theaters, like the audio got shifted and wasn't in sync with the movie, but it's just a poorly timed score.
I disagree so much with the choice of voice actors, my top complaints being Simba and Timon. Donald Glover played Simba in this "too cool for school" fashion, and not the guy who just wants to forget his past. It felt like Simba just didn't care, instead of his real reaction, which should have been not wanting to go back to his past guilt.
As much as I like Craig from parks and rec, he was just wrong for Timon. He played more whiny than happy-go-lucky. Luckily I liked pumbaa's character enough to excuse Timon a little. But this is what I can't excuse: getting rid of Timon and Pumbaa's luau distraction and replacing it with "Be Our Guest" made me so angry I had to stop myself from standing up and booing! Not only did they get rid of my favorite part of the original, but replaced it with a plug to watch their other live action movie which I disliked just as much! That part is 100% my opinion though.
Overall. I left theaters feeling like I wasted my time, also saying "what was the point?". It was nothing special compared to original. The new pieces added nothing, and I would say even took away from the movie's heart. I think 3/10 stars is generous, I only give it this rating because of how far special effects have come. I don't hate this movie because it's a remake, I hate it because it is a disappointment.
My advice: don't watch the original to "catch up" before watching this one. You will just be more disappointed.