Mufasa: The Lion King - Review

[@Hugh_Jannis]

Hollywood was so preoccupied with whether or not they could make another Lion King movie, they didn't stop to think if they SHOULD.

[@motherplayer]

Well in this instance, when something makes a billion dollars worldwide, it's less a question of "Could" or "Would" it's the inevitability of "When" because you're gonna need to put more faith in the investors when the year before was so bad and extend the beast of franchising one way or another.

[@chickenlegsTV]

Just the lion king? I think we've been having this conversation for about the last decade when came to unnecessary sequels.

[@Kevo6492]

They were never preoccupied with whether they should. It was always about whether they could.

[@mania4270]

Who cares? I'm glad we got an original story as opposed to another remake. I'm starting to think it's the movie nerds who are creatively bankrupt in their opinions.

[@motherplayer]

@@mania4270 If the movie nerds are creatively bankrupt in their opinions, your standards are too forgiving for the bare minimum. Yes, I would expect a movie of this kind of budget and marketing to put SOME decent dollars into a more striking script.

[@garrettcarter5622]

“The great Kings of the past-“ YOU’RE THE FIRST KING OF PRIDE ROCK. What kings of the past?! There are none.

[@BrooklynBeTheBoro]

I'm pretty sure there were kings of other prides. There isn't just 1 singular pride in the entirety of the continent of Africa.

[@nathanjohnson3668]

@@BrooklynBeTheBoroyou missing the point. The whole point of that line was to install a sense of grand lineage to simba and what he is to be a part of and reinforce mufasas lesson of living up to their honor and to not have your actions bring shame to their name. It was part of this lesson that ends up driving him to go back and take back the pride lands at the end. But making it just a singular generation deadens that line and makes it pointless now. You’re not part of this grand family lineage of kings and need to act accordingly but you should do the right thing for all these other kings that have no relation to you and are from different prides but their kings. Not sure if they are good or bad kings. Like it sounds so stupid lol. Why would you listen to that advice as a kid? If my actions were bringing shame to my family name, I’d be be more apt to listen. Writers nowadays just suck at thinking through lines and making dumb connections.

[@BrooklynBeTheBoro]

@@nathanjohnson3668 but that's the thing; Black people don't exclude other tribes when discussing our ancestors. Our ancestral lineage is seen as a collective, a community, or group belonging. It's all part of the diaspora. To say kings of old is to give acknowledgement to all, not just the immediate family branch. We use words like kinfolk for that very reason. I have "cousins" who don't share a single familial bond with me. I have "aunties" who met my mother in college, and are born to parents from completely different lineages. It is all simply an acknowledgement of those who came before us when we say things like that.

[@TheWokeWarlock]

I just dislike that there is an entire pride of white lions. White lions are very rare and thats not how the genes work. There would never be an entire pride of white lions. I hate choices like this just for the sake of visuals.

[@Vixiebabe]

Ur stupid

[@JudgementNutter]

I'm very excited. I got my tickets ready for Sonic 3.

[@HoneyPiss]

Yes! Sonic 3 LFG!

[@LarryHayward-v7p]

SONIC 3 ALL DAY ALL DAY 💯💯🔥🔥💯💯🔥🔥

[@NightwingTV]

Lol

[@TheFroneyZone]

yep same here, Disney sure picked the WRONG wknd to debut this one

[@SeanWheeler100]

I'm excited for Sonic 3, even though my Mom's not.

[@MKLettis]

This would've been a decent direct-to-video film like 15 years ago.

[@davedujour1]

@@MKLettis Just like The Lion King 1 1/2 and 2 were!

[@lorenzo_smit]

@@davedujour1Lion King 2 is actually pretty underrated. I really like that movie

[@ottot3221]

Lion King 2 Boogeloo: "He's not bad he is just animated that way".

[@ready2ryde7]

So they actually grabbed Kimba, the white lion and turned him into a villain, uh?

[@remliqa]

Talk about disrespecting the source material. .

[@brandonandcharlene9527]

That would be an unfortunate best case scenario. It's either disrespecting the original source, or a message that much more sinister

[@yurifairy2969]

The lion king did not rip off Leo the lion. Leo the lion isn't even actually called Kimba, that is his name from the shitty english dub.

[@NorySapp]

​@@yurifairy2969Agreed 100%

[@NorySapp]

​@@yurifairy2969Agreed 100%

[@Erasureeraser]

I still can't believe that Barry Jenkins directed this movie. Indie directors making blockbusters with well known IP is nothing new but Jenkins directing a movie like this was never on my bingo list

[@rjtavares1480]

The Lion King (1994 obviously, hate that I have to add the year now) is my favorite movie of all time. I love everything about it and it’s always a great watch for me no matter my mood. That being said, I had and still have no interest in watching this in theaters. The trailers did not hook me at all and I just have a nagging dread towards the movie similar to what the Fantastic Beast movies did to Harry Potter. Curious what the response is from fellow Lion King fans since I think the movie is going to struggle to hit a $60M opening as the estimates project and am almost certain it’s coming in second behind Sonic 3

[@HalE14]

As a lifelong fan of The Lion King, I have zero interest in seeing this movie and basically your review is confirming what I thought this movie would be. I never thought I would say I’m super disappointed in Disney and kind of sick of them but holy cow! They have seriously been letting me down in creativity!! The original lion King is still one of my favorite movies of all time and it’s ironically why I hate the live action one so much 😂 this just looks more like the same corporate bull crap and I honestly really hate the idea of Mufasa being an adopted brother. Shakespeare never did that crap. Family members just hated each other in his shows (particularly Hamlet of which this is based) and we accepted it 🤣 I wish Hollywood wasn’t so freaking obsessed with origin stories. I seriously don’t care where Mufasa or Willy Wonka or whoever come from. Just give me a good movie!

[@HalE14]

And for the record, I have an adopted sister. I really hope no one thinks that I hate adopted people when I say this, I just think in this particular story, they are trying to use the adoption excuse as an excuse to make Scar more sinister and Mufasa more “heroic”. I just think it’s cheap and stupid.

[@NorySapp]

You should try seeing it at least you will know if you will like it or not. Don't trust the reviews first just go see it for yourself to see I mean everyone has to form their own opinion after they see it.

[@motherplayer]

@@NorySapp Problem is, can't do that without paying a ticket price, and you don't get that money back if you're unsatisfied. Hard to take it that route when doing so support the project one way or another.

[@HalE14]

@@motherplayer Bingo 👍 if I see it, it will be on Disney+

[@CineScarborough]

To be fair though, Wonka was a great movie.

[@NicoleHeaston]

I have zero intention to see this movie, but I wanted to hear what Dan had to say.

[@didralamond8145]

Same!

[@sway6718]

A Dark Knight reference in the Mufasa review. Nicely done 👌

[@luckyday8522]

Get that bag Mr. Jenkins, you’ve more than earned it

[@AlmaAlleman]

Sonic 3 here we go!

[@at9648]

My kids (4&8) were scared of the animation, so we’ve pre-booked for Sonic

[@ChaseBlackmoon]

I'm 34 and I'm scared of the animation too.

[@LarryHayward-v7p]

@@at9648 that’s a great choice for your kids 💯💯🔥🔥

[@wallowlight]

good

[@zacharymccoy7091]

Mufasa: We were brothers once. Taka: Once...

[@dbagette]

Oh no, is this Transformers One again? 😂 Also gonna Live and Learn for the Sonic 3 review

[@Jack-sy8mr]

Got an ad for Mufasa during this😂

[@louisesargent5006]

Me too

[@HoneyPiss]

Sonic 3 >>>> Mufasa

[@everyoneash]

Since it was Disney I was really hoping scar would gain his name by running into some random guy behind a computer who would hear his story and just go, "Well, guess you're a *Solo Cat Attempting Regicide* .... you're a Scar," and then that guy would type that up and that would be that. Missed opportunity....

[@DrAnxiety17]

"I need a cool villain name." "Yeah, otherwise everyone will be talking about your ugly scar." "Say it again?" "An ugly scar?"

[@SamtheCanuck]

Look forward to seeing it with my 3 sons and brother this weekend. My expectations aren’t high but it’ll be fun doing together. Nothing will ever top the original.

[@joecamps1119]

Poor Barry Jenkins clearly not immune to getting swallowed up by the Disney machine.

[@peterm.4355]

Yeah, poor him, because he signed the contract with a gun next to his head, right?

[@johndebono1870]

Hopefully if the film does well, he gets to make whatever he wants afterwards. Though you do wonder from Disney's perspective why hire a guy like Jenkins when you're looking for an average studio hack?

[@Ruddline]

Nobody is a "professor of movie studies" he finally got to do a blockbuster after a long career and I don't see why people had a problem with it, its African just like his other films.

[@Ebon_Sean]

@@Ruddline None of his other films are African, what even....?

[@funkrobot9762]

Honestly who tf thought this would be a good movie?

[@39mack23]

Millions

[@AlexL0614]

Disney fans and naive people

[@madizzle90]

I could see how a movie involving Mufasa might be interesting.

[@Erasureeraser]

I don't have high expectation but it seemed interesting enough that Barry Jenkins directed this

[@tonyilias2561]

@@39mack23 more like a couple thousand people 😂

[@samfilmkid]

It's like telling a hilarious "Guy-Walks-Into-A-Bar" joke, and after the laughter dies down, asking everyone if they want to learn about how the owner of the bar got his liquor license and zoning permits

[@SimonBuchanNz]

... was the hilarious joke the first remake? Well now that I say it that way...

[@samfilmkid]

@@SimonBuchanNz I was many referring to the original 2-d Lion King, but yeah I see your point

[@ravewithyou]

"We have to keep the kids' attention". If that's your main focus, you're in trouble.

[@wizardfromthewest]

I love your honesty Dan.

[@SuperFlik]

All I need to know about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is if Live & Learn has a presence in the movie, but I think I'd rather find out Friday in theaters

[@joesdiner7320]

Yeah I’m avoiding spoilers like the plague 🫡

[@williamking2782]

The word "adapted" for 2019's screenplay is lifting quite a bit of weight.

[@ZachBobBob]

Yeah that made me chuckle. Whoever "wrote" the 2019 Lion King used a photocopier.

[@mediaikonz]

I'm so excited for this colorless digital sludge.

[@motherplayer]

What a shock. A company taking a prestige or stylistic director and homogenizing their style into something that wouldn't be too hard on the wallet or off-putting for their product that's suppose to appeal to everyone? Never heard that before, and even more damning when Barry himself straight up said he did not enjoy working with the style, and I just feel bad for him because he was likely only there so Disney can get more points by having a Black Director work on the tale set in Africa, and he deserves better than that. I hope he at least runs off with they payday and/or this allows him to get a passion project done.

[@pattheplanter]

They might have had to get a black writer if they didn't have a black director. No way they could risk that.

[@rielwhittle846]

It’s 2am in Tokyo rn and yet I’m here, reading to watch the first (of many) Mufasa reviews. Always like to hear Dan’s thoughts on any movie but this one… have such low expectations for it. Wasn’t asking for it. Also wasn’t a fan of the other live action Lion King movie. But was interested to see if disney would do anything interesting with the prequel concept.

[@KlarenceXhoestea]

I went to a mystery moving screening at my local theatre and was slightly terrified that this film might possible be the film I would be watching. Thankfully we got the other Barry Jenkins film coming out around Christmas, the Fire Inside, where Jenkins serves as producer and writer. People should go see that one. Great movie.

[@Minnie_Stronni]

Simba's Pride has got to be in the works right? First, they introduce Kiara and then now they retcon that Mufasa and Scar aren't biological brothers! They want to make extra clear, Kiara and Kovu aren’t even remotely related. 😂

[@Minnie_Stronni]

Also, I know they aren't related in the original Simba's Pride either, but it's a lot less clear and a lot of lay people see the cover and think INCEST!

[@motherplayer]

No doubt that's what they are going for. Only Live-Action remake that has enough built in fan loyalty to actually not bomb the second time around.

[@jameszetterman4487]

It seems to me like Transformers ONE does nearly everything this movie wants to do, but better.

[@RawbeardX]

Lion King 2, Live Action Boogaloo

[@kelly36oldskool]

Turbo is playing scarr this time

[@josephnjuguna1986]

Hyped for Mufasa

[@louiseguglielmetti7477]

Thanks for your review Dan! I’m looking forward to seeing your review on Sonic tomorrow! I’m hoping it’s decent. 💜

[@vegasboy7]

I love the part where Scar bit Kraven and Kraven became Lion-Man.

[@MoramothHauntz]

Time to see how Dan likes Sonic

[@charlafrederick1245]

Interesting, my little 4 screen movie theater has not sold any recliner tickets to Lion King yet, but about 20 Sonic as of Tuesday at 4:30 for Thursday and Friday screenings. It is half recliners, and those are $2 more. I think it will be like Moana 2/Wicked, Mufasa will win handly international, it will be very close domestic with Sonic 3.

[@genevieveweston671]

My family has tickets to Sonic. We are excited that Shadow is brought into the Sonic world. We didn't see the Lion King Remake. We are not very excited by Mufasa

[@sonictheblueknigth]

I’m so ready for Sonic 3

[@LioBourbon]

My whole family of 6 is driving two hours away to the nearest theater offering the 4DX screening of Sonic 3 and we pre-booked the tickets right when they dropped. We are def going to skip Mufasa...it just looks like an ugly cash grab to us and we have the original 1994 classic at home on Blu-ray. Go see Sonic 3!

[@callummoore2743]

I really liked this review! It was very balanced and fair, and as both the #1 Lion King 2019 hater but also the #1 "Mufasa is gonna be so good you guys" guy, I really appreciate that it was based on the actual content and execution of the movie and not just "Who asked for this??" "I'm seeing Sonic!" "They were never real brothers??" which I don't think is constructive or helpful criticism at all

[@thehalcyonflight]

In the OG lion king scar says “when it comes to his family, he got the shallow end of the gene pool”…. I wonder why he’d say that if they’re adopted brothers

[@oreomega2545]

But in the 2019 remake they purposefully omit the gene pool line from exchange, which makes me think they purposefully left it open ended in case they wanted to create this movie.

[@mania4270]

Too bad scar never said that at all. He said "WHEN IT COMES TO BRAINS, I HAVE THE LION SHARE, BUT BRUTE STRENTGH, IM ON THE SHALLOW END OF THE GENE POOL". That's what I'm saying, y'all fake lion king fans ain't even see the og movie. Y'all just here to hate

[@lacolem1]

@@mania4270of all the unnecessary gatekeepibg in the world, I never knew OG Lion King gatekeeping would be a thing. The point or question OP was making/asking is still valid

[@mania4270]

@lacolem1 that's not gatekeeping, he literally tried to bash the new movie storyline by incorrectly mentioning something from the og film that he misquoted. It's gatekeeping by being close minded and dissing movie you both clearly haven't seen

[@keyblademasterct2]

"It's fine" is not box office worthy, yet there's a good chance it'll win anyway =(

[@zed-up]

I was avoiding this thing as a plague. Not watching any trailers, news, updates, etc. Only thing I knew was that stupid poster. And WHEN I sat down in theatres to watch The Wild Robot, they played the trailer for this.

[@ZJacobBall]

Hearing you say Hal Rudnick gave me a real sense of happy nostalgia Dan. I remember that anytime you showed up on the Screen Junkies Show or faced off in Movie Fights it always made for my favorite episodes because of your guys’ chemistry. I hope he’s doing well!

[@Zaltrax]

I’m right there with you! I’d love for Dan to get Hal to guest on a video sometime.

[@Zapporah85]

I was actually fascinated by the idea behind this story, sort of a tale of two brothers which could be really interesting. But I got the feeling just from the trailer that story would be let down. But I usually think slightly higher of films than Dan, so I'll give it a shot!

[@Malt454]

Really good commentary from Dan - I wish more people in Hollywood would listen to him.

[@AlexL0614]

Sonic movie 3 is definitely gonna destroy mufasa in the box office.

[@Alejandroigarabide]

I'm gonna guess the true purpose of the framing device is to introduce Kiara for the next film; and the true purpose for the Mufasa story was to set up a pride of outsiders also for the next film. Both Kiara and the Outsiders played a big part in the original DTV Lion King 2. I haven't seen the movie yet, so I don't know if Kiros' pride of outsiders make it out all alive or not.

[@Renoistic]

I don't really have anything against this since it's not a rehash of the original, but I can't think of anything less original than a Mufasa prequel. Zero interest here.

[@ronthesinger]

5:48 Another example: Kogonada in The Acolyte. His love for storytelling and visual filmmaking was conspicuously absent in his directing on that show.

[@Rell-z9k]

Im excited to watch it and for the music.

[@lirpa5]

Well, im still planning to watch cause i love these characters.

[@samfilmkid]

I DESPISED the 2019 remake and everything it represented, but when I found out this was being directed by Barry Jenkins, I was willing to give it a shot. Sadly, it seems another great director has been snatched up by the Disney machine to lend an air of respectability to another one of their soulless cash-grabs. Disney is a snake, eating itself by its own tail, and we have to stop rewarding them for it!

[@lizk2378]

I've never seen a trailer before and immediately said, "nope, not for me". Star Wars taught me that I don't need to know *everything* about things I loved as a child. "Live action" was bad enough, no thanks. Oh and fun fact: leucistic (so white/pale fur but not albino) lions would 100% die in the wild because their coloring is essential for their camouflage when hunting.

[@Scuba4Steve]

The original Lion King was my favorite movie growing up. It was the first movie I saw in theaters. I’m not watching the remake, and in turn I’m not watching Mufasa. I wish Mufasa was animated like the original. I would have been excited for that.

[@VegimorphtheMovieBoy]

The 1994 Lion King is my favorite movie of all time and the 2019 version seriously ticked me off. I can see and respect what this prequel is going for, but I think I'll skip it

[@ojambamyjamba]

ok. the opening joke was clever haha 😆 👌🏼

[@stevenjrivas84]

So its Transformers One meets National Geographic? Got it

[@kevinoneil1701]

Hahahaha the hal rudnick stab made my heart full!!!! Thanks Dan that took me back to good times watching screen junkies and seeing you and your mortal enemy Hal duke it out 🎉

[@Juju-taylor]

I have zero interest in this movie but I will still watch your review and like it❤

[@seriliaykilel]

I'm glad they actually had a plot worth a damn - sucks that it was so freaking rushed. I couldn't stand the 2019 remake but I was also hopeful on this one

[@guspewe]

Damn, between this, & Kraven the Hunter… Dan, please rest.

[@ChrisMeadows92]

I'm not only offended by the intro joke, but also the confidence in which it was said.

[@angelarch5352]

Lion King: Follie a Deux

[@chuckvalentine]

Is Disney once again claiming this to be a live action movie?

[@jimee998]

Blows my mind when I'm constantly reminded that people get paid TONS of money to come up with decisions like this. Should someone make a good salary on the notion that they are able to say "hey this movie made a lot, let's try and keep that going with another one?"

[@TheatreJG25]

The OG Lion King is my favorite Animated Film of All Time, I went into the remake excited but cautious I came out feeling meh. I saw it again on Disney Plus and absolutely loathe it for not only not living up to the original but Disney has been a juggernaut of animation since the beginning of animated film history and just to put the exact same film but in photorealistic animation leaves me to believe that the company's new innovate imagination is truly gone.

[@paradisecity0406able]

Looks like it wasn't able to *ROAR* past expectations

[@Thesolshadow]

Cant wait for sonic to wear these lion pelts😂

[@aliali-ce3yf]

All these disney movies do is reinforce the contrast between modern disney and their last great era (late 80s-early 90s) - hand drawn 2D animation, great story telling, compelling characters, great pacing. now its all a soulless pure cash grab banking on nostalgia.

[@terrancemoore496]

I am there after Dec 20th R.I.P. James Earl Jones!

[@94Seattle]

Ace cold open!! Now time to listen to the review

[@LarryHayward-v7p]

I’m sorry Sonic 3 ALL DAY Sonic 3 got this 💯💯🔥🔥

[@jfess1911]

It will be interesting to see if the volume of plot that Dan says might overwhelm or confuse kids on first watch will discourage re-watching or whether kids will watch it again and again until they understand and enjoy the stimulation of the fast pace?

[@ravengreven902]

Couldn’t click this review fast enough

[@TheHmongol]

This is the story how Simba stole kimba's crown

[@Notryanarden12]

John Campea: “early reactions to the newest Disney movie are AMAZING!” Reality: “this movie sucks”

[@DanMurrellMovies]

Early reactions to every new Disney movie, and most movies, seem to be AMAZING! That's why I don't put much stock in early reactions.

[@HoneyPiss]

I'm personally not a Campea fan. Found him to be very obnoxious.

[@beatjunkybg]

I saw that... the guy hypes up every movie like his life depends on it

[@LoneBro6199]

A group of lions is called a pride not a pack

[@enochlamont877]

So... Scar is Loki? And Mufasa is Thor? And the White Lions are the Ice Giants?

[@litepaw7]

Justice for Kimba! I’ll watch Sonic 3 instead

[@Amoraszune]

Thanks Dan🎉

[@partyjams]

so this movie had potential but limited by corporate interests. It's success will I guess be driven by the IP more than WOM. Which may still work as we saw with Moana 2

[@OPedroVilaNova]

Gosh, do this: go to the movies and have fun! The movie is beautiful, the plot is interesting, visually it is surreal and exciting! That's it, enough! No one wants to create a timeless work, it's more about being less critical and embracing the idea that no, IT'S NOT BAD, IT'S VERY GOOD, GO!

[@DanMurrellMovies]

I didn't say it was bad. It's weird to give a critic the note "be less critical." And I have fun at the movies a lot - and had more fun watching Sonic 3 and others than I did watching this movie.

[@jonathanortega753]

Definitely not gonna see Mufasa but I would see Sonic 3 which they did really outstanding marketing and those who went to see Gladiator 2 on AMC theater the Sonic and friends shows up for the last upcoming previous and it is funny.

[@Yourhighnessnona]

This is the worst movie I've seen this year, sadly. I had high hopes. The only thing that was remotely entertaining was how Rafiki was written and the voice actor for the character did an amazing job, too. And of course: the animators. But the rest of the movie was cringe after cringe. Even how the movie started: "I am coming Nala" oh my God, I knew from that very second I was going to hate it.

[@SuperFlik]

So the villain isn't Kimba the while lion? Seems like a missed opportunity

[@guysimchony309]

Hey Dan, could you also provide your thoughts on the visuals of this film?

[@LeonardoMenezes03]

l liked the remake of the Lion King because I liked the original and it's the same story. Shot for shot. I was against the idea of remaking it, but I liked it.

[@TVandManga]

This sounds about the level of the Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, if it were traditionally animated. The computer generated life like lions are just too uncanny valley for me.

[@RBrown803]

7:58 - No.

[@MysteryMii]

Well, based off of the reviews for Mufasa, at least we now have a baseline for Sonic 3 (that's not being petaled by the echo chambers of Sonic fans and people who didn't like TLK '19) to see if the discourse around both films opening on the same day ended up being what I'm dubbing "A Battle of Mid Vs. Mid" or not in the end. (this is not me hoping that Sonic 3 underperforms (I actually do hope that it's at least decent) but my gut feeling is that Paramount not delaying the film after the strikes and doing everything in their power to make sure it made its original date isn't making me as optimistic as I once was, and while I don't doubt that Sonic fans will love it no matter what, I'm afraid that that there's a bit of over-hyping going on by them that's going to crash if the embargo lifts and the reviews aren't as glowing as the early buzz has been)

[@summertime_blooz]

I haven't loved any of Jenkins other movies I've seen, and he seems like a really strange choice for a Disney movie. I'll still give a chance even though I thought the first Lion King remake was not any good.

[@sonaldon-w1f]

transformers one but with lions

[@rawexplorer8373]

Phew, I was worried that they will ruin the character of Mufasa by making him a traitor to his adoptive brother. That didnt happen. The story is fine but I agree that it feels too jammed and rushed. At times I had problems keeping up. Also the transition of Taka to the dark side is too fast. He literally goes from being sad Sarabi doesnt love him to betraying his brother. And I didnt understand why did he save Mufasa in the end and got the scar. Also why was he punished by being forbidden to use his name. I didnt like Kiros musical number - it just didnt fit the cold calculated murderer character he is. And OMG Timon and Pumbaa are super annoying and rather awkward. But apart from these I love the personalities of the two brothers - its a shame they didnt utilize that in the rift between Mufasa and Scar.

[@JoYiSgUiTaR]

Great Review!

[@matthiasschulz3569]

Wait, the speed of the actors' speech is _slower_ when they do a Miranda song? That sounds like a first ...

[@Dames529]

With the Jay -Z bad press, good luck 🍀 going head to head with sonic 💫

[@unknownuser3000]

Movie looks like an unreal cutscene, can't get over the video game environments