The Lion King is another great Disney film, though one that is not based already on an existing story, like “Aladdin” or “Alice in Wonderland”. It opens with animals from all over coming to meet the new lion cub Simba, who will one day rule the pride. The opening sequence of The Lion King is beautiful, as is the song “Circle of Life” that never fails to give me goosebumps.
Young lion cub Simba can’t wait for the day he will grow up and become like his father, Mufasa. Simba spends his days playing with pal Nala, practicing his pouncing and roaring. But not everyone in Simba’s world is happy that he will be the lion king someday. His uncle, Scar (voiced with evil glee by Jeremy Irons) feels that he should be king should anything happen to King Mufasa (voiced by the awesome James Earl Jones).
Scar is so set on being king that he devises a plan to kill Mufasa and Simba so that he can rule the pride and other animals. He arranges for a stampede to come through the valley where Mufasa and Simba are walking afternoon. Mufasa sacrifices himself to save young Simba, and Scar just happens to witness it. He makes Simba feel that it is his fault his father was killed, and in shame and fear, Simba flees.
Simba wanders until he collapses, where he is found by Timon and Poomba, a meerkat and warthog who take a liking to Simba. Simba won’t tell them what happened, but eventually the three become friends and Simba grows up. One afternoon, Simba encounters a lioness, who turns out to be his childhood friend Nala. It seems the entire pride was told that Simba had been killed along with his father, and that things are horrible under Scar’s rule. Simba, with encouragement from his father’s spirit, decides to return to the pride and defeat Scar.
The Lion King is a great movie filled with gorgeous animation and wonderful songs that have stuck with me for years—who doesn’t know the phrase “Hakuna Matata”? Its success spawned an incredible broadway musical and two sequels (which are not as good as the original, but nothing ever is). It is, however, the first Disney animated movie that depicts the death of a character on screen, so it may not be suitable for the youngest of viewers who might get upset (though this may open up a good discussion).
“The Lion King” is rated G and features the voices of James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane.
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