The Lion King Review: Disney's Majestic Circle of Life
9/10 — The Lion King (1994)
Pros
- Unforgettable songs and score
- Rich hand-drawn animation
- Iconic villain and emotional story
Cons
- Middle act slows slightly
Young lion cub Simba flees his kingdom after his scheming uncle Scar kills his father, Mufasa, and must find the courage to return. Loosely inspired by Hamlet, it was Disney’s biggest animated hit of its day.
What works
The songs by Elton John and Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer’s score are fantastic, and the hand-drawn animation is richly detailed, with the wildebeest stampede still thrilling. Jeremy Irons’s Scar is a delicious villain, and the story hits with real emotional force.
Where it falters
The middle section with Timon and Pumbaa is lighter and gets slightly repetitive, and the story is simpler than its reputation.
Verdict
A timeless piece of animated storytelling with a superb score.
