Is Mufasa as good as 2019’s The Lion King? What do the spectators think? – Cinema News

Six years after the success of Jon Favreau’s photorealistic version of The Lion King – which grossed $1.65 billion at the international box office – Disney unveils Barry Jenkins’ film, Mufasa, which looks back on the youth of Simba’s father .

In this film, Rafiki tells the young lioness Kiara — the daughter of Simba and Nala — the legend of Mufasa. He is helped in this by Timon and Pumbaa. Told in the form of flashbacks, Mufasa’s story is that of an orphaned lion cub, alone and distraught, who meets the friendly Taka, heir to a royal lineage.

This chance encounter marks the starting point of a journey rich in adventures for the small group of “undesirables” who have bonded with them and who are now in search of their destiny. Their bonds of friendship will be put to the test when they must team up to escape an enemy as menacing as it is deadly…

After triumphing at the 2017 Oscars by winning three statuettes for Moonlight, including Best Picture, and allowing Regina King to receive the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her drama If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins was announced to the staging of this blockbuster.

If the public’s first reaction was astonishment, spectators accustomed to the filmmaker’s work found themes dear to him such as the quest for identity, the transition to adulthood, transmission, the importance of family relationships and loyalty.

With 164 ratings and 37 reviews, Mufasa : The Roi Lion has an average viewer rating of 3.7 stars out of 5.

A successful sequel

63% of viewers who left a review appreciate the visual effects, emotional intensity and discovery of Mufasa’s story.

Thus Thenewchamp writes: “Simply incredible. I loved everything from start to finish. The development of the characters: of Taka, Mafusa and the others. The action scenes are breathtaking. The shots are extraordinary. The storyline is also well put together. (… )

The villains full of hatred but on the other hand very endearing. Without forgetting the values ​​transmitted through dialogues or musical scenes. The film is perfect. Well done and thank you to Disney for making us dream like this.”

Internet user Donatelloow gives it a 5-star rating and comments: “A pure gem, vastly superior in every way to the first film! The special effects are incredible and the animals have much more emotion on their faces.

Added to this the magical touch of Barry Jenkins (very developed characters, a bittersweet emotion present continuously and an incredible work of shades and colors), Mufasa is for me the most successful and moving live action from the Disney stable .

Visually, the shots and settings are breathtaking and strikingly beautiful. The heroes’ journey allows you to change the atmosphere and everything is sumptuous to watch. African culture is always highlighted both in the vocabulary and in the Music. A treat!

Mufasa stands out for me as one of the best films of the year, and Disney’s best live-action.”

For Elbaz Raphael it is “a magnificent Disney film! For me, everything is there in this film, even if the music doesn’t necessarily stay in your head. Action, humor, emotions… everything is there! The special effects are breathtaking, with a CGI significantly improved since the last live-action Lion King.

This film offers a new story while remaining very faithful to the original work. We let ourselves be carried away from start to finish, without any moment of length. The story is powerful and pays great homage to the legacy of The Lion King.”

Selenie from Club AlloCiné writes: “We follow the childhood and youth of Mufasa and Taka/Scar with a few brief returns to the present which above all allow us to impose the cult characters of Timon and Pumbaa.

Unfortunately we quickly see that these two characters are present because their status remains important but they prove to be under-exploited and their presence remains very anecdotal. Too bad in a sense because the only humor in the film rests on them.

The visual effects are sublime and the illusion is magical. The pace is sustained, the tension constant, the relationships are always acute, accurate and shape a new vision of the cycle of life.

The biggest disappointment lies in two narrative errors, two blatant blunders in the writing and evolution of the story. A more ambiguous balance of power would have been necessary to establish Mufasa’s throne more assuredly.

Nevertheless, Barry Jenkins signs a great adventure film, with action and emotion and above all we appreciate this epic breath which explodes in the last part which makes it a fresco full of force.

Lack of originality

Others, however, find that the film lacks originality and challenge. For Luluu2212″Mufasa doesn’t offer anything new, Disney continues to do things that already please, which is a shame.

However, the film is good, the story is really interesting, but it presents nothing original… Despite everything, it remains pleasant to see and the actors who voice the characters are a real plus to the French version of the film!”

JulietteM is more reserved, particularly regarding visual effects: “I was quite confident going to see the film given that I love Barry Jenkins but I am very mixed. We find the themes of his filmography but where is the director’s touch in this film entirely made by computer? The animals are borderline ridiculous, we see the lions smiling…

We are far from the visual work of the first part and the songs will not go down in history. It’s good to discover Mufasa’s childhood and how he became this respected King, but it still lacks stakes since we know the outcome in advance.”

For Titi, Mufasa presents “dreamlike landscapes far from real Africa. Music and songs that don’t have any tunes stuck in your head when you come out. We only remember the roars. Humor at a minimum…..”

In conclusion

In conclusion, spectators appreciate the deepening of the history of the now cult characters, although certain heroes, like Timon and Pumbaa, struggle to find their place in this film.

Furthermore, 63% of spectators who wrote a review praised the visual effects, even if some considered the anthropomorphic aspect to be sometimes imperfect. The film’s music also divides Internet users: some like the songs close to the first part while others regret that they do not stay in their heads.

Please rate the film after watching it.