The Lion King (Live-Action)

[Farerb]

https://youtu.be/qt2IhFRwdPQ

The song is so not right for the film, I just can't imagine Nala doing "yeah yeah". This is awful. I also wonder if the reason this is the only song added to the film is because Beyoncé didn't want other new songs to steal its focus.

[Sotiris]

So "Spirit" will be both on the soundtrack and the "inspired by"- type album?

Yes.

The song is so not right for the film, I just can't imagine Nala doing "yeah yeah". This is awful. I also wonder if the reason this is the only song added to the film is because Beyoncé didn't want other new songs to steal its focus.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't like the song and thinks it doesn't fit the character or the property. This is a Beyonce song, not a Lion King song. She clearly has Oscar ambitions and that's why she wanted to write the song instead of just perform it. There's the end credit song "Never Too Late" by Elton John but I'm sure Disney is only going to push Beyonce's song.

[Farerb]

The song is so not right for the film, I just can't imagine Nala doing "yeah yeah". This is awful. I also wonder if the reason this is the only song added to the film is because Beyoncé didn't want other new songs to steal its focus.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't like the song and thinks it doesn't fit the character or the property. This is a Beyonce song, not a Lion King song. She clearly has Oscar ambitions and that's why she wanted to write the song instead of just perform it. There's the end credit song "Never Too Late" by Elton John but I'm sure Disney is only going to push Beyonce's song.

At this point, I want Frozen to win even before hearing its songs, but the Oscar people will probably give it to Spirit just because of Beyoncé.

[bruno_wbt]

https://youtu.be/qt2IhFRwdPQ

The song is so not right for the film, I just can't imagine Nala doing "yeah yeah". This is awful. I also wonder if the reason this is the only song added to the film is because Beyoncé didn't want other new songs to steal its focus.

But maybe this is the pop version of the song, maybe there's another more fitting version for the film.

Anyway, I just love the song.

[D82]

New clips:

- Circle of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA-gC-PaF48
- Hakuna Matata: https://youtu.be/FqcPgHwL3kQ?t=402
- A Gift He'll Never Forget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUkA3rB8NeA
- I'm Gonna Name Him Fred: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSyTfpPARPY

[disneyprincess11]

This is a much better video of Billy and Seth as Timon and Pumbaa! Love it! I love the little Fred line

It's hard to take Hakuna Matata seriously if Simba is emotionless. The facial expressions doesn't match up with Donald's energy. Simba going "Oooooh, oooohhhhhh" is silly because of it. Same with Nala going, "Yeah, yeah." I don't know why Timon and Pumbaa are allowed to emote and not Simba. What a difference!

What's also disappointing about the music is it's the same exact orchestrations. In fact, it's pretty much karaoke tracks. This would have been a perfect opportunity to use the gorgeous Broadway orchestrations to update the movie + story, but gotta keep it safe, I guess.

[Disney's Divinity]

My online connection’s being annoying today, probably from loading the Mulan and Maleficent sequel trailers the past couple of days, which is why I haven’t been able to listen to the song yet. I’m reading mostly praise everywhere else. I hope I love it, too, and that it’s as good as, say, “Listen” was for Dreamgirls.

I think I’m not going to buy this soundtrack. They have the original performers coming back for “Circle of Life” and “He Lives in You,” which means they’ll probably be mostly the same. And I’ve never much cared for “Hakuna Matata” and “I Just Can’t Wait to Be a King” anyway. So I’m just going to buy Beyonce’s and Elton’s versions of “Spirit” + her and Glover’s gorgeous take on “Can You Feel the Love Tonight, and leave the rest. I might buy this song tomorrow. That way I can listen to it on repeat.

[Sotiris]

New clips

Thanks for posting. We've missed you.

This is a much better video of Billy and Seth as Timon and Pumbaa! Love it! I love the little Fred line

The voice acting is great and Timon and Pumbaa are funny but the animation doesn't work. I've been reading online unanimous praise of the visuals and it puzzled me. All of the characters are expressionless and sport some really bad lip-sync. The visuals never match the vocals resulting in unconvincing performances all around. Do people actually like this?

[JeanGreyForever]

New clips:

- Circle of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA-gC-PaF48
- Hakuna Matata: https://youtu.be/FqcPgHwL3kQ?t=402
- A Gift He'll Never Forget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUkA3rB8NeA
- I'm Gonna Name Him Fred: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSyTfpPARPY

It's great to see you again! Hasn't been the same without your presence here.

The voice acting is great and Timon and Pumbaa are funny but the animation doesn't work. I've been reading online unanimous praise of the visuals and it puzzled me. All of the characters are expressionless and sport some really bad lip-sync. The visuals never match the vocals resulting in unconvincing performances all around. Do people actually like this?

I've read the same online reactions about how for the most part, the characters are believable. Perhaps the clips are just poor showings.

[D82]

Thanks Sotiris and JeanGreyForever! I've missed you guys too. I've been away several days without Internet connection, and then I've needed some more days to catch up. A lot of things had happened in my absence, so there was a lot to read!

The voice acting is great and Timon and Pumbaa are funny but the animation doesn't work. I've been reading online unanimous praise of the visuals and it puzzled me. All of the characters are expressionless and sport some really bad lip-sync. The visuals never match the vocals resulting in unconvincing performances all around. Do people actually like this?

I've been wondering why the reviews don't complain about that too. But maybe when you are watching the film and you are immersed into the story, you forget about it. I think the same happens with live-action films with real animals that move their mouths and speak (which is more or less what this movie is, though in GC).

I think it's really disrespectful they didn't allow the original songwriting team to write a new song for Nala and just let Beyonce do whatever she wanted.

I agree. In my opinion, Elton John should've written the song in the film, and this one should've been in the end credits.

[Kyle]

Wow this looks so bad. The only time it kinda works is when there's no talking. like circle of life. But even that looks horrible.

[tsom]

Went to the premiere on Tuesday and also saw the movie. It's visually beautiful! Story-wise... it's legit the same as the animated version. I don't know how people will take it. It could go either way.

[Farerb]

Went to the premiere on Tuesday and also saw the movie. It's visually beautiful! Story-wise... it's legit the same as the animated version. I don't know how people will take it. It could go either way.

How did Nala's song fit?

[JeanGreyForever]

Went to the premiere on Tuesday and also saw the movie. It's visually beautiful! Story-wise... it's legit the same as the animated version. I don't know how people will take it. It could go either way.

What about the supposed new character? And did they build upon that deleted Nala-Scar subplot in the original film (that was reinserted for the musical) where Scar wants to make Nala his queen?

[tsom]

How did Nala's song fit?

It occurred during the scene where Simba decided to return to Pride Rock. He is running as the song is sung by Beyoncé as background vocals. On his way, he runs into Nala and tells her he’s returning to Pride Rock, and she’s like yay! Then they run home together as the song continues in the background, and it follows them until they reach home. The report that the scene is a Nala moment is false. It was totally a Simba moment for sure.

[tsom]

What about the supposed new character? And did they build upon that deleted Nala-Scar subplot in the original film (that was reinserted for the musical) where Scar wants to make Nala his queen?

Which new one? There wasn’t a major new character, but there were a few minor ones. They were funny. They dwell where Timon and Pumbaa live. We meet them during Hakuna Matata and as Simba grows, he becomes like family to them. Yes, the subplot is there, but not with Nala. Want me to reveal who Scar wants to be his queen?

[JeanGreyForever]

What about the supposed new character? And did they build upon that deleted Nala-Scar subplot in the original film (that was reinserted for the musical) where Scar wants to make Nala his queen?

Which new one? There wasn’t a major new character, but there were a few minor ones. They were funny. They dwell where Timon and Pumbaa live. We meet them during Hakuna Matata and as Simba grows, he becomes like family to them. Yes, the subplot is there, but not with Nala. Want me to reveal who Scar wants to be his queen?

There were talks of some new characters in earlier interviews but I wasn't sure how major their roles were. I think it's a nice addition that there are more animals living where Timon and Pumbaa live. Now that I think about it, it's a little weird that in all that vast space, the only creatures (besides bugs) who resided there were the trio. Yes, I'd like to know who Scar wants as his queen. It wouldn't be Sarabi would it?

[Sotiris]

Which new one? There wasn’t a major new character, but there were a few minor ones.

There was supposed to be an elephant shrew voiced by Amy Sedaris.

Want me to reveal who Scar wants to be his queen?

Is it Rafiki?

[disneyprincess11]

I’m going to take a wild guess: Sarabi.

Wish it was Nala since it would make sense why she was leaving

[Vlad]

Went to the premiere on Tuesday and also saw the movie. It's visually beautiful! Story-wise... it's legit the same as the animated version. I don't know how people will take it. It could go either way.

How sad was Mufasa's death?