A King Among Entertainment: “The Lion King”
The 1994 Disney classic “The Lion King” is a fresh and engaging animated film popular amongst all age groups. Although the film is geared towards children, it does not lack in any depth featuring characters overcoming loss, personal growth, and corrupt governing bodies. With the intriguing plot paired together with the energetic and hilarious characters and its eye-catching animation, this is one of the most entertaining films ever created.
“The Lion King” is about a young lion prince named Simba and his journey to becoming King of the Pride Lands. His father, Mufasa, is made out to be a wise, kind, and just ruler. He teaches Simba many lessons and is adored by all those around him. Mufasa’s brother Scar, on the other hand, is very much the opposite. Born first but lacking in the strength to be ruler, Scar loses his right to become King. His jealousy and anger push him to join the hyenas who plan to kill Mufasa and take over the Pride Lands. He devises a plan to lead young Simba into a gorge and cause a stampede to go through it. He then calls upon Mufasa telling him his son needs help. This entire scene is filled with suspense as the King dives into the gorge and runs along with the stampede, fighting to save his beloved son. It ends with Mufasas’s dramatic climb up to the top of the rock wall as he stumbles and calls out for Scar to help him. You are on your toes, eyes glued to the screen, waiting to see what happens and shocked when Scar pushes him from the wall and into the stampede where he dies. This scene is so powerful and suspenseful; it fills you with anger and sadness as you root for both Mufasa and Simba to make it to safety and then watch as Scar betrays them both. The suspense in this scene is so intense you can’t seem to look away for even a second.
After Mufasa’s death, Scar convinces Simba that it was his fault and tells him to run away and never look back. In the next scene, we meet two of the movie’s essential characters, Timone and Pumbaa. Timone is a meerkat, and Pumbaa is a warthog. This dynamic duo finds Simba in the desert close to death and decides to take him in. They show him how to live and survive (without eating other animals like themselves) and teach him the motto Hakuna Matata, which means no worries.
Along with helping Simba survive, this pair also contributes to a large portion of the film’s comedy. They teach Simba to laugh again after the traumatic loss of his father and bring the audience to tears with their ridiculous humor. Timone is quick-witted and loud-mouthed, always cracking “dad jokes,” and Pumbaa is a kindhearted warthog who became an outcast because he has, to put it lightly, bowel problems. These two characters are by far the funniest in the movie and provide constant comic relief. The very first time we meet them is when Timone is riding Pumbaa into a flock of vultures crowding around Simba in the desert as they are hollering and yelling. When Pumbaa sees that he is still alive, he lets Timone know, who replies with a very disturbed “ewe,” soliciting a chuckle from almost anyone who watches. One of their best moments is when they are sent to distract the hyenas towards the end of the movie so that Simba can pass them and confront Scar. They decide that the best way to do this is for Timone to dress in a grass skirt, lei, and a flower behind his ear while he sings a song offering up poor Pumbaa on a leaf platter with an apple in his mouth.
The three main hyenas by the names of Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed are a trio who also add much comedic relief. Shenzi, who is the group leader, and Banzai, the grumpy second in command, always crack jokes with one another. Ed, who is not exactly all mentally there, it seems, often ruins the jokes while he shakes his head in amusement, tongue hanging out of his mouth, in a way that makes you snicker. Their mouths frequently get them into trouble as Scar’s underlings, and they are always pushing each other under the bus and making you laugh.
The visual aspects of “The Lion King” are nothing short of beautiful. From the beginning of the film to the end, vibrant colors and pictures appealing to the eyes fill the screen. The movie starts with a beautiful sunrise painting the sky, all different shades of reds, oranges, and yellows over the desert savanna, waking up the wildlife. It looks exactly like a painting you would have on your wall. Another scene that demonstrates the more fun side of the film’s beautiful visual aspects is when young Simba and his best friend Nala are singing to their caretaker and Mufasa’s adviser Zazu. They explain how they will live their lives when Simba is King and what kind of King he will be. The scene starts with the regular scenery seen throughout the film, but as soon as Simba begins to sing, the background explodes into an array of different colors. The grass and leaves are now deep shades of red, the tree trunks are green and purple, and the sky is a bright, happy shade of yellow. These contrasting colors light up the screen and make it look like a vibrant piece of artwork.
“The Lion King” hit every mark when it comes to being entertaining. The suspense from Mufasa’s brutal death and the betrayal of Scar keeps the audience on their toes. The comedic aspect, given to us by Timone, Pumbaa, and the hyenas, keeps the audience laughing, releasing the suspense’s tension and putting smiles on people’s faces. The visual aspects are eye-catching and beautiful. This story can engage any person of any age and forever be a splendid and genuinely entertaining film.
