The CGI Of Life.
118 Mins. Starring: Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, JD McCrary, Florence Kasumba, Eric Andre, Keegan-Michael Key, John Kani, John Oliver & James Earl Jones. Director: Jon Favreau.
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba. Sithi uhhmm ingonyama. Yep, that's a lion people. And what a proud one it is. As young Simba can't wait to be King like an 'Aladdin' prince in the same live action year of Disney rebooting the Kingdom of their most amazingly animated, signature features. This is the Savannah. Don't let it catch you slipping up, as we all hold our newborns up like this epic, iconic intro (P.S.A. Please don't try this at home on a balcony...you are not Michael Jackson). This rocky cliff face is a slippery throne for he whose heavy head wears the crown. It's a delicate balance. And who bearded better to play the mane event of a full grown Simba himself than, 'This Is America' and 'Feels Like Summer' rapper/singer Childish Gambino and 'Atlanta' star Donald Glover himself? With his now 'Redbone' searing, 'Awaken My Love' soul. And the 'Lemonade', Destiny's Child homecoming of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter playing his Queen like only this royal one who runs the world ("GIRLS!") could. And just wait until she rules and runs her formation. Don't tell Hova! But everything is still love. Can you feel it tonight like the return of 'Rocketman' Elton John's timeless tune and legendary, cinematic composer Hans Zimmer? I remember seeing the German maestro in concert in The Beatle town of Liverpool some two years ago. In-between Christopher Nolan works from 'The Dark Knight' and 'Inception', the Echo Arena was bathed in an orange glow not from these plains and that iconic Zulu chant from the very man himself (who can lay claim to that but Hans?) rained out over the auditorium. A woman with the strongest Scouse accent on her way for some snacks ran back to her seat like, "this is MY song!" That's just the effect the 'Circle Of Life' has on people, generation to generation. Damn the snacks. Save yourself for some antelope. And ever since 1994 when the majority of the legendary, original 'Lion King' was mastered mostly by amateur animators (yeah right), the pride has withstood the enduring and endearing test of time. And now in a stampede of computer cinematics and not one human being-not even a Mowgli like the 'Jungle Book' live action reboot-this is the bare necessities of beastly realism. This is such a different animal. So much so it looks and feels like you are Attenborough watching a nature documentary (albeit one that could use a little more humanity touch nurture) on planet earth before they open their jaws to snap like Disney's Samuel L. Jackson narrated (now how cool is that? Sorry Morgan Freeman) 'African Cats'. Rain or shine, fire or ice, that's just how richly detailed this texture of photo realism is, shadows to shade. After THE epic intro without a word feeling as such as soon as Scar leaves his manipulating mark with his, "life isn't fair" opening remarks, this feels real and raw as it gets when we suspend belief in this true life Disney magic just weeks after Pixar made us believe once again that there was a snake in our boots and told us another 'Toy Story' going fourth.
Stampeding through like claws in paws for your wilderbeast. Following the live action 'Dumbo' spreading his ears and Will Smith's, Robin Williams respecting Genie in a blue rinse bottle showing us that like 'Aladdin' we actually could have three more wishes, Mickey Mouse's castle gives us THE Savannah scorching, Summer smash that may just be their biggest hit yet in what might be their greatest year for a Disney plus. I haven't seen the cinemas this full since the 'Endgame' of Marvel's Avengers...and yes Disney's light touches them too...even Deadpool now as well, in all kinds of places. And taking us on this nostalgia trip that takes us back to our childhoods...growing up on the Savannah is the "I'll buy you all the cheeseburgers you want", fun sized Disney director Jon Favreau, that didn't just catalyst start all these love action beasts up with 'The Jungle Book', but also the whole M.C.U. universe and Avenger initiative with 'Iron Man'. And now between turning his culinary classic 'Chef' into a Netflix cooking show and Happily making sure Spider-Man isn't really 'Far From Home' in his scene stealing Summer, we love him as hard as he's working 3000. Giving us all we want, lion, tricks and C.G.I wardrobe. Evoking every emotion in these life like characters expressions like he really elicits in us. All the way down to the rain soaked or wind blown hairs on their chinny, chin chin. The favourite Favreau really blows the house down with this one. Whether it be catching cubs in their natural, playful state. Or in the conflict of the most primitive position playing. Giving a lions share to all your favourite characters, lions, warthogs and birds oh my. And just wait until you compare the meerkat, or witness a pack of cackling hyena's that are as darkly scary as they are funny. From the child raising, to the cloud cover however it's the most iconic scenes like the laughing, echoing roars or the father awakening circles that are montage transitioning truly the most inspiring here in this more realistic, but still testament take. It's these moments acting as history lessons for the new school that will leave you dreaming of mighty jungles and lions as you sleep tonight. A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh.
Voicing more opinion is the most classic cast of all-star voices Disney has brought together since Favreau favoured Idris Elba, Sir Ben Kingsley, Chris Walken and a 'Lost ain Translation' reunion of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson for his Rudyard Kipling adaptation. Here the Gambino gambit of Glover as Simba fits like a glove. Especially his entrance after the equally as good singer/actor JD McCrary growls through the cute as a button, growing pain, coming of age like a 'Terrified', but terrific ten year old backing singer. And who else but Beyoncé to play Nala? It's as classic from the moment of its conception like 'Luke Cage's' Alfre Woodard's mothering role. Or '12 Years A Slave' legend Chiwetel Ejiofor getting his villain on like he did as Mordo at the end of 'Doctor Strange'. Bringing classically trained acting to the Shakespeare playing Scar all the way down to the deep tissue. But from 'Daily Show', last week satirical anchor John Oliver delivering the news and a read all about it performance as watchful bird Zazu. To a pack of hyena's portrayed perfectly by Wakanda's own Florence Kasumba, and the show of Eric Andre and plush voiced Keegan-Michael Key getting all the Disney dollars to theme park ride this Summer. It's the Timon and Pumbaa of 'Park and Rec's' Billy Eichner (if you haven't seen his hilarious 'Billy On The Street' segments like I didn't until weeks after I wrote this article to come back and edit (hello), get on it now) and 'Long Shot' comedy great Seth Rogen in a born to play, absolute perfect cast that bring the love, laughs and meta moments with their problem free philosophy. Adding new legend to something that even brings back James Earl Jones' iconic Mufasa baritone down to earth like his Darth Vader in the 'Star Wars' reboots in space (also Disney...damn!). And instead of just recycling old material the icon of icons hasn't missed a note. And hands held high all the way to John Kani's Rafiki neither has a page of this book of the jungle, George. They've still got it. From the cutest cub to the red rub, the Hamlet of this Shakespearian story that transcends tragedy to triumph is one as old as time. With some knowing winks that shows us the beauty and the beast of this life and the pride and fall that we can all learn from, cub to mane. Roaring to the next generation we pass it on to like all that the light shines on. It's just that much part of today's legend. Amazing. Beautiful. Classic. An absolute, wonderful joy to behold. The reason we go to the cinema as families to feel that magic. Movies are meant to be this much wonder. Critics may have clawed pointless, frame-by-frame complaints at this side-by-side computer animated comparison (ironically their apathy may be at how amazingly real this all just looks now today). To those critics I say, "are you havin' a giraffe?" Because let me ask you, can you feel the rendered love tonight? Yaaas! Hakuna Matata! This lion is truly King. Long live! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Aladdin (2019)', 'The Jungle Book (2016)', 'African Cats'.
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