The Lion King (Live-Action)

[Sotiris]

That's the problem when they try to make the animals as realistic as possible....and then they try to talk like people and it just falls apart.

Not only that but Beyonce's voice acting is subpar.

[Kyle]

As someone who really doesn't care for her, her acting is just fine, close your eyes and it pretty much sounds like the original voice. it really just comes down to the animation and design. There's no emotion in it.

[Atlantica]

She is just Beyonce in everything she does ... really not a fan. But she is a massive, massive star so that alone will give the film vast numbers. Does feel like Dreamworks style stunt casting for this remake.

[Farerb]

Well, I'm glad they took her just for the soundtrack alone. Regardless of what the film will turn out to be, the soundtrack should sound really good.

[JeanGreyForever]

I'm not a Beyonce fan at all but her voice matches up quite well as Nala. I agree that if you close your eyes, you could be mistaken into thinking it's Nala herself speaking. I don't see the issues with her performance so far.

[UmbrellaFish]

I for one love Beyoncé (I mean, Lemonade, anyone??) and she and the rest of the cast are why I’m so excited to see this remake. From what we’ve heard, it sounds like the remake will be very faithful to the original— maybe that’s a good thing, maybe it’s a bad thing, I don’t know yet. I’m thinking of this film as if it’s a revival ala the theatre. Same material, different cast.

[Sotiris]

She is just Beyonce in everything she does ... really not a fan.

Exactly. It just sounds like her talking in her everyday voice. Didn't detect any sort of performance. Maybe it's because her voice is so distinctive that I can't buy her into the role. Maybe it's the completely emotionless CG that makes the voice stick out. Can't be sure. But I am sure she sounds nothing like Moira Kelly. I have no idea what you guys are hearing.

[ChrisLyne]

I’m thinking of this film as if it’s a revival ala the theatre. Same material, different cast.

Great analogy! That's actually a really good way of thinking about all of these remakes.


Regarding the whole Beyoncé/Nala thing, I'm probably one of the few people who knows almost nothing about her work. I wouldn't recognize her if I walked into her on the street. I don't think she sounded good or bad in that trailer, but unless a line read is absolutely terrible it's almost impossible to judge a vocal performance off one line of dialogue. She didn't do anything that made me go "OMG that's Nala!" or "oh Disney what have you done", so just going to reserve judgment and go in with an open mind.

That said, I need to re-watch Jungle Book as I remember seeing the animals speaking seeming a lot more natural in that. Been a few years so could just be my memory, or maybe once you're into the film it feels more natural, so I want to compare it. I think Timon looks the best talking so far, what little we've seen of Nala and Scar seems a lot more limited in facial movement, and Pumbaa looked a bit off at the end of that clip. I think we need longer scenes to judge better in context.

After the internet went into meltdown over Genie I can't blame Disney for being cautious but Jungle Book didn't disappoint with the animals so I don't see why Lion King should. We're just over a month away and we've seen very little actual talking and not much music beyond Circle of Life (and we all know Lebo M is awesome). They're going to have to peel back the curtain sooner than later at this point.

[Disney's Divinity]

Beyonce, Donald Glover, and the new take on Scar are the only exciting things about this thus far. I'm definitely glad she was cast.

[DisneyFan97]

I think Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Timon and Eric Stonestreet could have been very good. They like Nathan and Erin are friends and they could have recorded together.

[disneyprincess11]

Beyonce sounds fine. I'm underwhelmed by Seth and Billy for now. In that clip, Billy is a bit too flamboyant and Seth sounds too human-like. Ernie had a warthog-like sound in his performance.

Here's a lot of new footage and voices! Young Simba sounds exactly like OG young Simba.

(Starts at 1:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3Z9-F-mis8

[rodis]

Beyonce is the definition of overrated. Not hating, she's OK but definitely not what she was made up to be in the media. Can't figure out why her casting was a make or break for Favreau.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'll agree that, to a degree, she is overrated, in that she's no Whitney Houston or anything, but I don't think her fanfare is entirely undeserved. She is very talented, without a doubt. Disney's lucky to have her involved with this.

[disneyprincess11]

And we have Simba’s part in I Just Can’t Wait to Be King

https://www.instagram.com/p/BynWx-intqc ... bj9rbiiue8

[Sotiris]

That sounds surprisingly good.

[Farerb]

I liked that. I really truly believe the soundtrack will be spectacular.

[D82]

Yes, it sounds great! I wonder how they're going to approach the musical numbers visually though, now that they've chosen this photorealistic look. We'll see, but I think they could feel incredibly out of place compared to the rest.

[Sotiris]

New TV spot and Chinese posters.


Source: http://www.sohu.com/a/320729782_114988


Source: http://www.shxwcb.com/279850.html

[Sotiris]

TV spot featuring Glover and Beyonce's rendition of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".

https://www.instagram.com/p/By78N90gPxv/

[Disney's Divinity]

You mean "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," right? I’ll have to listen to it later this week when I’m at someone else’s house. I can barely get Instagram to work here when it's just pictures.

I love that poster of Simba and Mufasa looking at one another. I’ve been thinking about seeing this in theaters after how much I enjoyed Aladdin. Maybe it won’t be so bad if B&tB and Aladdin turned out alright. And the people involved with TJB are on this, too, which makes it even more likely to be good.

I know this will no doubt hit 1.5 billion, but I wonder if it might actually hit 2 billion? Speaking of the live-action Aladdin birthing a franchise / sequels, I’m sure they’ll make a trilogy for TLK. Mulan will get its own franchise, too.