I am not a big fan of Disney's "live action" remakes of their animated classics and I didn't love the Lion King remake from director Jon Favreau. But this is an "original" story and is from one of my favourite working directors Barry Jenkins so I went in with some hope. But it wasn't too far in to Mufasa: The Lion King that it became clear that this film wasn't going to be more than its connected films. But having said that there was one aspect of the film I truly appreciated and give it credit for.
I'll start with what I didn't love. The film's plot has all the hallmarks of a story that is reverse engineered to reach a goal than a story told for it's own sake. Yes I get that it's a prequel and that this is an inherent problem with that sort of a story, but may good prequels overcome this (see Rogue One or even Godfather Part II). Mufasa cuts a lot of corners... a lot... in how it moves its characters along its narrative. So often a character will take a position strongly and then be convinced to reverses their conviction within seconds from one line of dialogue. This is especially true with the Taka/Scar character who's character is so one-dimensional that he makes all the other thinly drawn characters seem robust.
I just couldn't buy the story or the characters. It all felt dishonest. Especially at the end when Mufasa and his band of refugees arrives at their long sought after Milele (what will become the Pridelands) and suddenly take over (basically they colonize the place) all of the animals who already live there all because they promise to protect them from worse colonizers. That and how annoying Eichner and Rogen's Timon and Pumbaa are as the story gets narrated to us truly took me out of the film, a film that has, at it's core, a message that truly did resonate for me and one that I appreciated seeing in such a mainstream Hollywood blockbuster type film.
So this is what I did like about Mufasa: The Lion King. At its heart it is a strong critique of a concept I can only describe as "bloodism", the idea that is so prevalent in our society that makes bonds, "legitimacy", and family is biological connection. Mufasa tears at the heart of that idea, making the case for chosen family in a very compelling way despite all its narrative problems. Mufasa shows that true family, true honour, and true connection is made through our choice, through the bonds we build with each other, over who we happen to share blood with. This remains a shockingly controversial position in our culture (trust me put this out there online and you will be attacked) so to see the movie take this argument on was heartwarming.
I just with the movie itself had been better. I haven't commented on Miranda's songs but they are certainly a disappointment from someone we just know can do better. I kinda liked Tell Me It's You but the rest were rather forgettable (except perhaps the truly grating Bye Bye). For a movie that makes so much out of poking fun at Hakuna Matata, a song that is heads and shoulders better than anything here not matter how overplayed it has become, they have some cahones when their music is just so blah...
Mufasa: The Lion King
Starring: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr.. Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Tiffany Boone, Jon Kani, Donald Glover, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Tiffany Boone, Preston Nyman, Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Director: Barry Jenkins
Writer: Jeff Nathanson
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