The Lion King

Don Hahn

Directors:

Roger Allers,

Rob Minkoff

Writers: Irene Mecchi,Jonathan Roberts,Linda Woolverton

Voice Talents:

Jonathan Taylor Thomas,Matthew Broderick,James Earl Jones,Jeremy Irons,Moira Kelly,Nathan Lane,Ernie Sabella,Rowan Atkinson,Robert Guillaume,Madge Sinclair,Whoopi Goldberg,Cheech Marin,Jim Cummings

When released in 1994,the film bagged several Grammys and Oscars for its music. Seventeen years on,Hakuna Matata and I just can’t wait to be king will have the same impact.

This Disney classic follows the adventures of Simba,the feisty lion cub. But his envious Uncle Scar has plans for his own ascent to the throne,and he forces Simba’s exile from the kingdom. Alone and adrift,Simba soon joins the escapades of a hilarious meerkat named Timon and his warm-hearted warthog pal,Pumbaa. Adopting the carefree lifestyle of Hakuna Matata,Simba ignores his real responsibilities until he realises his destiny and returns to the Pride Lands to claim his place at Pride Rock.

The story,which was influenced by the Bible stories of Joseph and Moses,the epic of Sundiata and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet ,takes place in a kingdom of anthropomorphic lions in Africa. The Lion King is the sixth highest-grossing animated film and continues to be the highest-grossing hand- drawn animation movie in history from an era known as the Disney Renaissance.

It is befittingly re-released in 3D,with the film’s pre-credits opening sequence showing Zazu flying straight onto the screens. All told,The Lion King with its lush original hand-drawn animation lends itself totally to a 3D format.

The all-star vocal talents headed by Nathan Lane,Whoopi Goldberg,James Earl Jones,Jeremy Irons,Robert Guillaume,Cheech Marin and Moira Kelly offer the additional zest for the rip-roaring comedy and inspiring messages of courage,loyalty and hope.

RATING:

One star each for animation,voice-talent,music,storyboard and direction.