Hannah Goldberg

Professor Nicholas Gruber

Lion King Review Analysis

The Live Action Lion King

In David Ehrlich’s review of Disney’s new live-action The Lion King, Ehrlich says what

most people are afraid to say, the truth. In the introduction, Ehrlich lets the reader know his

opinion about the movie right away, quoting “… soulless chimera of a film comes off as little

more than a glorified tech demo from a greedy conglomerate — a well-rendered but creatively

bankrupt self-portrait of a movie studio eating its tail”, stating that Disney is not doing anything

exciting.

Throughout the review, Ehrlich describes the movie to be exact with lines, songs, and

characters, the only thing that seems to be different is the animation. The new animation ruins

Disney’s original creativity of hand-drawn cartoon animations. Ehrlich believes that Disney

keeps biting its tail, remaking their once top seller movies. Thinking the audience will fall in love

all over again just because amination is advanced. However, the best part of any movie or story

is the introduction, the climax, and the ending, and something new and different. If it is, all the

same, the money and time Disney put into this was a waste.

Another fair point Ehrlich has is how the feelings and expressions from the characters are

not as clear as they use to be. With the new animation, The Lion King now looks like a channel

of the animal planet. The fun, energetic cub we once loved is now like any other lion expect this
one can sing and talk. Kids related to Simba’s facial expressions, fun dance moves, and mocking

his uncle, which made the character unique and different. Now that he is so realistic, will kids be

able to relate to him as much as they once did?