Disney has once again released a live action film, but this time it’s a completely brand new storyline. “Mufasa” is the prequel to “The Lion King,” the story of Simba’s father.
It’s no surprise that with a $200 million budget the visuals of the film are extremely realistic and detailed. Conveying the characters’ emotions is notoriously difficult to do when using CGI, which was one of the biggest critiques of the live action “Lion King” that preceded “Mufasa.” However, the production team managed to improve this aspect in the sequel.
The most praised aspect of the film is the soundtrack. Composed by award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, original songs such as “I Always Wanted a Brother” and “Tell Me It’s You” are instantly catchy. “Tell Me It’s You” was also nominated for the upcoming Academy Awards. Most of the songs in the movie were duets which blended the vocals of singers such as Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
The cast also featured some well known celebrities such as Beyonce (playing Nala) and Blue Ivy Carter (playing Kiara).
According to reviews on rottontomatoes.com, the main critique of the movie is the bland and predictable storyline at some points. The surprise ending is obvious for anyone who has seen either the animated or live action “Lion King” movies beforehand.
However, while not a cinematic masterpiece, the film is a completely brand new story and solid entertainment, especially for the target audience of younger children. The story is still interesting and fun despite any minor flaws with photorealistic animation or lackluster emotional appeal. Of course, while “Mufasa” doesn’t compete with the original animated ‘Lion King,” the movie is worthwhile watch when appreciated for what it is without comparing it to the sequel.
Aaron Pierre, the voice actor for protagonist Mufasa, takes on his first voice acting role with this film. Working closely with co-star Kelvin Harrison Jr., who portrayed Mufasa’s brother Taka, they formed a close bond. “We became brothers in real life,” Pierre said. (Photo/Wikimedia Commons)
