Mufasa: The Lion King
Plot
The story begins in the Pride Lands of Africa, where a majestic lion named Mufasa sits atop Pride Rock, surveying his kingdom. As the rightful king, Mufasa is a just and fair ruler, loved by his people. His wife, Sarabi, is proud of their young son Simba, who is next in line to the throne. Mufasa's brother Scar, however, harbors resentment towards his brother and is consumed by jealousy. In a distant part of the kingdom, a lost and alone cub named Mufasa stumbles upon a group of misfits, including a goofy but lovable warthog named Pumbaa and a free-spirited meerkat named Timon. Told by the wise-cracking duo that "Hakuna Matata," or no worries, the cub finds himself drawn to the carefree lifestyle they offer. As Mufasa settles into his new life with Timon and Pumbaa, they teach him how to live without worries or responsibilities. The trio spends their days lounging in the sun, snacking on grubs, and enjoying each other's company. Meanwhile, Simba is struggling to find his place in the kingdom under his father's shadow. As Simba navigates the complexities of growing up, his father's teachings about responsibility and leadership weigh heavily on his mind. His mother tries to reassure him that one day he will take over the throne, but Scar's manipulations sow seeds of doubt in Simba's mind. The young prince begins to wonder if he's truly meant to be king. The cast of misfits, now including a devoted elephant named Rafiki, who Serves as an old friend and mentor to the trio, sets out on a journey to find their true purpose in life. Mufasa's existential crisis intensifies as he grapples with the loss of his family and his struggle to accept his destiny. As he navigates this uncharted territory, the stakes grow higher, and the characters are forced to confront the harsh realities of the wild. As the group traverses the Pride Lands, they stumble upon a sinister plot by Scar to overthrow Mufasa and assume the throne. The manipulative king has allied himself with a rival pride of hyenas and is secretly turning the other animals against Mufasa. Scar cleverly spreads false rumors that Mufasa intends to overthrow him, turning the people against their beloved king. Mufasa is unaware of the danger that looms ahead, but he becomes increasingly worried about Simba's disconnection from the kingdom. Sensing his son's uncertainty, Mufasa tries to reassure him that he is indeed worthy of leading the Pride Lands. However, Scar seizes the opportunity to frame Mufasa for a crime and orchestrates a tragic event that changes the course of Simba's life forever. As Mufasa's world crumbles, the group of misfits is left to pick up the pieces. Simba, reeling from the loss of his father and feeling overwhelmed by his responsibilities, finally accepts his destiny and the legacy of his ancestors. With a newfound sense of purpose, he begins to reclaim his place as rightful king of the Pride Lands.
Reviews
Abigail
While the technology has reached its peak, it's nowhere near as touching as it was twenty years ago.
Amy
Alright, folks, a solid two hours of the animal kingdom and not a single lion chows down on anything! My stomach was growling the whole time – seriously, how does the circle of life even work here? And the whole thing with feuding brothers, royal lineage, and power struggles? Nah-uh! Girl doesn't like me? Time to go full villain mode! This plot is totally familiar; it's basically "Zhou Sheng Ru Gu: The Musical," but with lions.
Lyla
With the pride of lionesses, Mufasa learned to hunt, to read the scents of the world, to feel it... Alongside the male lions, Taka learned the art of deception.
Penelope
Okay, am I the only one who feels kind of bad for Scar? He saved Mufasa's life three times, and then just... randomly turned into a love-crazed villain? Seriously, no one else shipping this? I'm thinking, it's not the lionesses you're into, Scar, it's Mufasa! You wouldn't dare save your own mom, wouldn't dare save your crush, but you save Mufasa again and again, even taking a blade for him! OMG, who do you truly love?! He was the beloved little prince growing up, and then his parents died, nobody loved him anymore, all the new friends didn’t like him but suddenly went all ga-ga for Mufasa. Anyone would go mental over this!
Genesis
While the logic is a bit inconsistent – for example, Mufasa befriending herbivores raises the question of what he eats. Does he prey on animals who can't speak or aren't close to him? If so, does that make them inferior? 🙂↔️ Nevertheless, Disney films usually maintain a good pace, and even at their worst, they're never truly boring. Besides, there's just something undeniably帅(handsome/cool) about the lions. Mufasa is a warm-hearted character, but he and Taka have a great bromance.