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Title: Mufasa: The Lion King
Director: Barry Jenkins
Screenplay: Jeff Nathanson
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Runtime: 118 minutes
Budget: $200 million
Box Office: $723 million worldwide
Review
✅ Strengths
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Visual Brilliance: The film’s photorealistic CGI is jaw-dropping, offering lush African landscapes and realistic animal animation that match or surpass previous entries.
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Powerful Performances: Aaron Pierre delivers a heartfelt portrayal of young Mufasa. Kelvin Harrison Jr. adds layers to the early life of Taka, and Mads Mikkelsen’s voice as Kiros brings a new, chilling villain to the franchise.
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Music: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original songs and Dave Metzger’s score are emotionally rich and well-integrated, blending African musical influences with theatrical flair.
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Lore Expansion: Fans of the original Lion King will appreciate the deeper look into Mufasa and Scar’s history, enhancing the emotional impact of the 1994 classic.
⚠️ Weaknesses
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Predictable Storyline: While emotional and immersive, the plot sticks to familiar beats and doesn’t take many narrative risks.
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Uncanny Valley: Some viewers may find the hyper-realistic animation emotionally distant, especially during dramatic scenes where character expressions are key.
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Mixed Reception: Critics and audiences are split. While many praise the visuals and performances, others feel it lacks the heart and originality of the original.
