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Mufasa The Lion King Review: Barry Jenkins’ animated film is high on visuals, grandeur and originality but a dash of emotions.
Mufasa: The Lion King releases this weekend.
Mufasa: The Lion KingU
3.5/5
Starring: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, and Blue Ivy CarterDirector: Barry JenkinsMusic: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Tom MacDougall
Mufasa Review: The Lion King has been a pivotal part of my childhood. Be it summer or winter break, the children of the family would come together to watch Scar betray his brother Mufasa and play witness to Simba’s rise. Watching Mufasa: The Lion King, I found myself feeling a gentle mix of nostalgia and awe. Director Barry Jenkins revisits the iconic story but from the newer lens. We meet Mufasa yet again, but this time, Barry takes us through the events that happen before Jon Favreau’s The Lion King. The film feels fresh but does it hold the essence of 1994’s The Lion King? Let’s find out.
Mufasa: The Lion King revolves around the backstory of Mufasa and Taka. Mufasa is separated from his pride after a massive flood hits his area. He is washed away in the river and lands up at the river banks situated close to Taka’s pride. While he befriends Taka and his mother, Eshe, he struggles to impress Obasi, Taka’s father. He grows up to hone skills that makes him a good leader.
The pride is then attacked by Kiros, the leader of a pride of white lions who are dubbed as the Outsiders. Obasi and Eshe try to save the pride while they chase Mufasa and Taka away to Milele, a mystical land far, far away. Unfortunately for the duo, the white lions catch up and they find a way through the canyons and the mountains. On the way, they come across Sarabi, Zazu and Rafiki. Their adventure takes a few twists and turns in the span of 1 hour 58 minutes film.
The biggest draw about Mufasa: The Lion King is its original storytelling. Instead of returning to the cliff again, director Barry Jenkins and writer Jeff Nathanson opt to show how the iconic cliff came into being. This is a great move by the duo and Disney, considering the original is a cult. This also justifies the need to revisit the story.
Another factor that works brilliantly for Mufasa: The Lion King is the animation. Dare I say, it is much better than The Lion King (2019). Visually, Mufasa never lets you take your eyes off the screen. Barry and his team of animators have paid utmost attention to the smallest of details, making it a flawless visual experience. Mufasa also gets good marks on the original soundtrack. I personally enjoyed the songs “I Always Wanted a Brother” and “Bye Bye”. The other songs in the album take a little longer to grow on you.
On the performance front, although Aaron Pierre’s Mufasa is the heart of the film, it is Kelvin Harrison Jr’s Taka that stands out time and again. Blame it on the writing but Taka’s arc and Kelvin’s voice to it emerge as a stronger performer. John Kani as Rafiki is also a show-stealor in a few scenes. However, it is Mads Mikkelsen who roars the loudest in this film. Voicing the magnificent Kiros, Mads holds your attention and how! I wish there was a few more scenes of him with Mufasa to truly establish the chaos he was causing.
Speaking of more, Mufasa: The Lion King also needed a little more emotion. The film, owing to its linear storytelling, leans towards narrating the story than investing in the emotions behind each character. The Lion King stood out because of the attention to the characters’ vulnerability. Unfortunately, Mufasa lacks that essence. It makes you invested in each character’s back story but that’s about it. There are moments when you feel bad for Taka but that’s about it. The film needed a dash of emotions to truly round it up well and an anchor that you can root for until the end.
Due to this, Mufasa: The Lion King ends up becoming a one-time-watch experience and just another film in Disney’s sea of live-animated/action films.
Bottom line: Mufasa The Lion King is a visual treat but could fall short for those who love the OG-1994 version. Nevertheless, I’d still suggest that you give it a watch and pick a good screen to truly embrace the experience.