2019 saw Avengers : Endgame propel Disney on top of the world with its 2.8 billion dollars at the box office; the studio also had a very good year with Toy Story 4 (1 billion) and above all, its “live” remake of Lion King. Directed by Jon Favreau, the photorealistic film grossed $1.6 billion, the tenth highest grossing film of all time. And what do we do in this case? We are starting work Toy Story 5 and, above all, a new film Lion King around Mufasa.
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But there is no question of repeating the scenario of Lion King 2. In the hands of the Oscar-winning director for Moonlight Barry Jenkins, Mufasa Le Roi Lion takes its roots in the past, in order to tell us the ascension of Simba's father to the throne of the Pride Lands. By the same token, we intend to reveal to us the story of the one who remains one of the best antagonists of Disney studios, Scar. We give you our impressions after seeing 30 minutes of the film, without spoilers obviously.
Mufasa is not Simba…
If the first Lion King (second version) amazed the world in 2019, it was not so much by its scenario which repeated its model almost scene by scene, but by its technological prowess. The photorealism used was quite spectacular in terms of textures to the point where it could be confusing to see such real animals moving their lips and singing. On its technical aspect, we had the feeling of watching a mock-documentary.
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Our main reason for waiting Mufasa Le Roi Lion was to see how much this technology had improved in five years. This is not the case. Aesthetically, this prequel sequel looks exactly like its predecessor. Disappointment? Yes and no since if the digital aspect has not undergone any evolution, the artistic direction marks its difference. A desire not to reproduce the same confusion between reality and imagination or simply to use the codes of the cartoon, this feature film plays more of the cartoonish card in its way of depicting our animals.
Without going into pure animated fantasy either – the film nevertheless seeks to keep its feet on the ground – this Mufasa has a less realistic approach to its subject, its settings and this is felt in the use of its light, in these colors marked during a change of location, in the facial expressions of the animals… This time, we know where we are and we are closer to the cartoon than the documentary.
And is that so much the better?
Our major fear around Mufasa Le Roi Lion remains his scenario. The first images let us predict an agreed story around the Mufasa / Taka (future Scar) relationship. Especially since we don't have the greatest confidence in Jeff Nathanson, screenwriter of the first film, but also of Speed 2, Rush Hour 3, Indiana Jones 4 or Pirates of the Caribbean 5…
© © The Walt Disney Company
It is surely this part which ultimately reassured us the most about the viability of the project. If these first 30 minutes (out of 158) chain events together a bit too quickly, we must admit that the heart of the film seems to go in a direction that we didn't necessarily see coming. In fact, when the lights in the room come back on, we are sincerely frustrated at not knowing (yet) the rest of the story, proof that it has succeeded in carrying us away with its preliminary intrigue. Especially since the footage knows how to hook us from its introduction by returning to the source of our affection for The Lion King. Well done.
Doubts to be resolved
Obviously, we will not allow ourselves to judge Mufasa Le Roi Lion at the end of this inaugural approach, for good or for bad, because there is still a lot to see to convince. The scenario seems to be going in a direction which can hold surprises despite an ending known in advance, the natural curse of a prequel. The relationship between Simba and Taka, sketched so far, promises to be the emotional driving force of the story, especially since the second has enormous dramaturgical potential, like his future self.
© © The Walt Disney Company
As it stands, Mufasa Le Roi Lion made us curious enough to want to see where it will take us, except for one big black cloud: the music. If the songs of Lion King are still sung decades later, those of this new film were entrusted to Lin-Manuel Miranda, Broadway star who convinced us at Disney with Charm or Vaiana. Unfortunately, the two titles that we had the opportunity to hear did not charm us in any way, quite the contrary. We sincerely hope that the sequel will make us change our minds and in the meantime, Hakuna Mufasa.
Mufasa Le Roi Lion hits our screens on December 18, 2024.
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