MUFASA: THE LION KING (2024) Review
Directed by Barry Jenkins
I wouldn’t call it messing with a beloved property but a film like The Lion King, while it’s different watching it today, is something that feels like home. It’s not something we would be immediately excited if there’s a sequel or a new installment on the way. But with Mufasa, director Barry Jenkins made it feel like a companion film to the original with breathtaking visuals and a heartwarming story, it may feel as if you’re revisiting the original film but there are bits in the film that’s fresh and would make you consider that Mufasa may have its own story to tell.
Let’s talk about its story. There are resemblances here from The Lion King whether the 1994 animated film or the 2019 live-action film. But that puts the audience in a more uncomplicated situation as they familiarize not just with the story and characters but also how the world was built in The Lion King franchise – predators and preys, the circle of life, etc.
The songs are good. I Always Wanted a Brother is a bop, probably the top song to have a recall among all the original songs by Lin Manuel Miranda. They’re also kind of few. But like the 2019 live-action film, some of the musical numbers feel a bit flat. I Always Wanted A Brother really tried to be visually snappy but unlike in the animated version or maybe even other animated musicals, the film can’t go out of its way to make things look not real. I get that it wants to stay true to being a live action film but that also lessens the creative possibilities the musical numbers could have had.
But the visuals, how Barry Jenkins tells the story through the lens of cinematographer James Laxton, it’s divine. And seeing it in IMAX with Laser made everything look like it’s from a painting.
I’m still arguing with myself whether this installment is needed, there are pros and cons. But one thing is for sure, I enjoyed watching the film and getting to know the story of Mufasa more. Before he became a father to Simba, his struggles as a lost cub to being the most respected lion in Milele which eventually becomes Pride Lands. It’s like fondly revisiting a special memory
3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ is now showing in cinemas nationwide from Walt Disney Studios. Rated G by the MTRCB.