"The Lion King"

-We're all a part of the circle of life.-

"The Lion King" is my all time favorite movie.  I wouldn't even have to watch it and still be able to recite every line from it.  That is why I enjoyed analyzing it so much.  For those who have not seen this movie I highly recommend it as it is one of the best Disney classics out there.  It is a blend of a love story, struggle for power, and having to deal with the past.  This film incorporates great music and amazing artistry.  I love these old Disney movies since they all have the old style of artistry instead of everything being computer generated.  It makes it seem like what it is an animated film instead of trying so hard to make them look like more life like.  The colors throughout the movie are genius.  Everything is bright and colorful yet it still doesn't get overdone.

This film along with others talked about in the text incorporates ideas that are suitable for kids yet has dialogue that brings in the adults.  Each of the characters in this film have many lines throughout the movie that will get a chuckle out of anyone.  "The Lion King" is not as shrewd as some of the newer animated films that have come out recently but still has a story that adults can appreciate.

Early on in the film we can see that there is a constant struggle for power between the male lions.  First it is between Mufasa and Scar and later turns in one between Simba and Scar.  We also see the close relationship between Simba and Mufasa which is why the stampede scene has such an emotional impact on its audience.  The relationship between Simba and Nala starts out as purely just a couple of kids being friends but later we see it develops into much more.  This film has the typical Disney story of good winning over evil but also has the message that you cannot just run away from your problems but need to face them.

"The Lion King" starts out as a happy story with everyone having a good time but then the stampede scene takes place which changes the whole tone of the movie.  We see the true darkness of Scar who is willing to kill not only his brother but his nephew in order to gain complete control of the pride.  Simba runs off and tries to forget about his past and lives a happy life with Timon and Pumba.  This all changes when Nala finds him and makes him face his problems.  I like how Rafiki says either we can run from something or learn from it.  This simple line reaches out to anyone who has ever had a problem they haven't wanted to deal with.

Disney movies are great in that they have some of the best music in them.  The music keeps the audience into the movie and links what they are singing in the songs to what is happening in that scene.  A movie without some type of music in it just gets boring after awhile.  Even just having music in the background of what is going on helps to make the movie move forward.

Throughout this movie there are close-ups, panning shots, and tilting shots.  The most prominent close-up during the movie for me is when Simba arrives on Pride Rock after Scar has yelled at Serabi.  This shows how he is back and ready to claim what is rightfully his.  Many of the panning shots take place scanning over the grasslands and just taking in the view.  The best tilting shot I think of is right before Scar and the hyenas sing and it starts at the top of the rocks and slowing moves down to where the hyenas and Scar are at.

All in all I enjoyed this week as I got to watch my favorite movie and knew how to go about analyzing it.  (or at least I think I do!) "The Lion King" is an absolute must see for anyone who has not seen it.  You do not always have to have little kids to go see an animated movie.