The Lion King

            This is a Disney Classic, and between this and the Emperor’s New Groove, there were literally no good Disney movies. They just struck out for about 7 years, with the likes of Pocahontas, the Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules. We start with young Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Home for Christmas), a lion cub who is one day the future king in the image of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones, Conan the Barbarian), he is the apple of everyone’s eye, save for his brooding, ousted Uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons, Die Hard with a Vengeance).

            After one close call, and nearly being eaten by Hyenas, Simba gets in trouble again, only this time, his Father is brutally killed by Scar. Scar also outwits Simba and sends him into the desert to his presumed death.

            Enter Timone (Nathan Lane, The Bird Cage), a smart mouthed mircat, and his buddy, Pumba, a warthog with a garish odor. The two outcasts turned lifelong pals nurish Simba back to health from the desert experience, and convert him to their way of life, foraging for food, lounging around, having fun, and not caring about a thing in the world. The musical number for Hakuna Matata (“No Worries”) is unforgettable. 

            Finally through encounters with his past, including his former love interest, and a strange Monkey Witch Doctor (Robert Guillom, Big Fish), Simba learns that he must reclaim his destiny, and become the king. To do so he must overthrow his now wasted kingdom run by Scar and the Hyenas.

            This is altogether a great 2 Disney epic, and holds everything together stupendously. There are some unforgettable lines, particularly featuring Timon and Pumba, as well as the three lead Hyenas, lead by Whoopi Goldberg (Eddie).