Mufasa: The Beginning of the Fracture in the Unrelated Brotherhood

Synopsis:
Simba (Donald Glover) has become the king of the Pride Lands and is expecting his second child with Nala. (Beyonce). He is forced to leave Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), his eldest daughter, under the supervision of his two friends, Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and Timon. (Billy Eichner).
The two of them were not enough to make Kiara feel safe from her anxiety about the storm happening there, and fortunately, Rafiki (John Kani) appeared. He then told a story about his grandfather, Mufasa (Aaron Pierre), who was separated from his family and eventually met Taka or Scar. (Kelvin Harrison Jr).
Unfortunately, he was not well-received there and was considered a wild animal. Slowly, he began to be accepted, but that peace was disrupted by the appearance of a pack of white lions, Kiros’s subordinates. (Mads Mikkelsen). They were forced to flee from there and tried to find their dream place called Milele.
Review:
Director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) successfully brought The Lion King (1994) viewers a sense of nostalgia while also experiencing the visual beauty presented in the film. They managed to fix what was lacking in Jon Favreau’s remake of The Lion King (2019) and achieved significant technical accomplishments along with an emotional leap from its predecessor.
All the animals that appear here, such as elephants, giraffes, and birds, do not look like melted plastic pieces. Similarly, the lion’s face, which has facial expressions, shows a naturalness that does not appear stiff.
And although the story of Mufasa and Taka, two brothers who became enemies, is not new, Jenkins added enough twists in various terrains to make their sibling rivalry, which could be predicted, even more intense. How the two, who seemed to find each other, could then become enemies (setidaknya benih-benih permusuhan itu sudah ditampilkan di layar).
The script written by Jeff Nathanson seems to really not want to stray from the corridors of its old film. He repeatedly showcases scenes that reinforce the actions of his character in the future. Like how Taka saved Mufasa by digging his claws into him.
Unfortunately, this actually doesn’t bring anything new for the viewers of the original film. The nostalgic atmosphere and explanations of various events from the previous films are what are felt, such as the scar on Scar’s face, the origin of Pride Rock, and the battle between Mufasa and Kiros.
Fortunately, the beautiful visuals truly make us enjoy watching the 118-minute film. Especially with the many beautiful landscapes and camera movements by James Laxton, which make this film unlike other contemporary Disney films.
In addition, the songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda leave a strong impression and do not disrupt the flow of the story. One of the most iconic is the song “Tell Me It’s You,” which serves as the backdrop for the love story of Mufasa and Sarabi. Not only do they explore feelings of happiness, but they also depict Taka, who is consumed by jealousy and whose initial motive for hating his brother is revealed.
Overall, Mufasa: The Lion King is an engaging watch to enjoy with your little ones, as if passing down the beautiful Disney magic we once experienced.