1/13/2020 - Lion King (2019) - 3-/10

It is a famous and beloved story, but if a film can get any kind of positivity simply from technical acumen and achievement, no matter how crass, unnecessary, or unenjoyable it is, this is that film. Does the CGI creatures and world look good? I guess. But also a reasonably adequate technical achievement doesn’t make it not a lifeless money grubbing travesty. One must question what the point in making meaningless strives towards hyper realism while lacking heart, panache, or portent is, let alone whether that is a “good” use of CGI.

I don’t have much good to say about this film, if you couldn’t tell. I can’t approach it from someone who hasn’t seen the original (sad existence that would be) or don’t know the source material (ahem*Hamlet*Kimba*ahem), I can only see it the context of what it is, what it wants to be, and how it was made...and I don’t like any of it. I did think it looked pretty decent. But, who really cares?

Otherwise:

What is wrong with having actors that can sing? Just because they are famous doesn’t mean they are the right choice. I can’t speak to the the show-tune-iness of their songs, but I don’t even feel like the “singers” really did that good of a job.
I HATE when most animals can talk but some can’t or they seem to speak another human language, but aren’t from a different area. Where is the realism in that? Speaking of that, since it is “realistic”, I would love to see the choices between which of the antelope are eaten and which ones happily prostrate. The alter of realism is an empty god, ending at the CGI level.
Finally, if the surroundings are CGI, and the characters are CGI, and it is about anthropomorphized animals, with not a single pertinent live action element, is it live action? What makes it not an animated film? Must it be done in a “cartooney” style to be considered animated?

Boring zombified version of a childhood dream; empty, clawing, and ravenous to spread a plague to end all things. There is no hope in a dead eyed flashy disgrace like this, existing only to propagate itself. It brings no heart, no passion, no vision, and certainly no hope for the future.