Mufasa viewers have complained that the film is a ‘far cry’ from the original Lion King as they gave their feedback on social media after the movie was released.
The new film is a prequel to Disney’s 2019 CGI remake of The Lion King, which featured Beyoncé in the leading female voice role of the lioness Nala.
Now director Barry Jenkins, who helmed the Oscar-winning drama Moonlight, has cast the singer’s daughter Blue Ivy, 12, in his new movie as Nala’s daughter Kiara.
Blue Ivy’s parents both appeared on the red carpet to support their daughter at Mufasa’s Los Angeles premiere last week.
But those who have been watching it so far haven’t been too impressed – writing on X that they were disappointed in ‘rushed storylines’ and a ‘forgettable’ soundtrack.
They penned: ‘#Mufasa fell short for me. It didn’t connect with me emotionally, even though I had certain expectations.
Mufasa viewers have complained that the film is a ‘far cry’ from the original Lion King as they gave their feedback on social media after the movie was released
The new film is a prequel to Disney’s 2019 CGI remake of The Lion King and Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy, 12, features as Nala’s daughter Kiara.
‘However, the animation is incredible, and the story succeeds in providing background to these characters many of us grew up with. In that sense, it fulfills its purpose. I’m sure it will be a success, especially as a production with strong commercial appeal.’,
‘#Mufasa is a real mixed bag. When it works, it really works. Mufasa’s rise can elicit big emotions. But Scar’s fall felt unearned. His entire personality changes w/ 1 scene. There’s too many rushed plot lines. Songs were all forgettable. Moments of greatness. Many issues.’,
‘#Mufasa improves on the 2019 Lion King, finding some compelling moments in this sibling rivalry tale. Even so, the more thoughtful storytelling is disrupted by an annoying and unnecessary Timon and Pumba framing device, dragging the film down. It works, but not problem-free.’,
‘Even the songs were mid?!’
‘There’s a bit more life in the animals this time around, even if it’s a far cry from the original. Still, Jenkins finds some genuinely compelling imagery throughout MUFASA that really enhances the story. The same goes for Lin’s songs, which add a fresh sound to the film.’
Others were most positive however, and wrote: ‘Wow. I am shocked. #Mufasa is a DEEPLY emotional film, filled with great music and incredible visuals.’,
‘Disney righted every wrong from the original ‘live-action’ remake, creating what might be one of the best ‘live-action’ Disney film in YEARS.’
Mufasa: The Lion King director Jenkins recently claimed Beyoncé and Jay-Z were not ‘involved’ in their daughter Blue Ivy getting a role in his movie.
But those who have been watching it so far haven’t been too impressed – writing on X that they were disappointed in ‘rushed storylines’ and a ‘forgettable’ soundtrack
Others were most positive however, and wrote: ‘Wow. I am shocked. #Mufasa is a DEEPLY emotional film, filled with great music and incredible visuals’
Blue Ivy’s parents both appeared on the red carpet to support their daughter at Mufasa’s Los Angeles premiere last Monday – in the wake of a shock allegation that Jay-Z raped a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2000.
Two days later, Jenkins has sensationally insisted that Blue Ivy’s ‘parents weren’t involved in her booking this film,’ via People .
He maintained that he heard Blue Ivy narrating the 2020 audio version of Matthew A. Cherry’s children’s book Hair Love and ‘just really loved her voice.’
‘You know, she had read this book, this audiobook Hair Love with my friend Matthew Cherry. And I just really loved her voice,’ Jenkins said.
He noted that as the ‘movie begins, it’s all voices,’ and gushed about Blue Ivy: ‘I could just tell that she was going to bring this really wonderful innocence, but also the knowingness of a highly evolved child.’
Jenkins added that ‘the children in the audience, they’re going to see themselves in the character she plays, Kiara. She just brought all the complexity that it demanded.’
After praising her acting talent, Jenkins also vaunted Blue Ivy’s professionalism, saying: ‘It was great working with her. She came extremely prepared.’
Disney shows characters Kiara, voiced by Blue Ivy, left, and Simba, voiced by Donald Glover
Mufasa: The Lion King director Jenkins recently claimed Beyoncé and Jay-Z were not ‘involved’ in their daughter Blue Ivy getting a role in his movie
BRIAN VINER: Mustafa: The Lion King (PG, 118 mins)
Verdict: Does the job
Amazingly, three decades have passed since we first set eyes on The Lion King, the joyous animated musical which reminded us, after a lacklustre few years, that Disney could still create spellbinding cinematic magic.
My children, all born in the 1990s, grew up knowing the words of those Tim Rice/Elton John songs like catechisms. For them, the fruity baritone menace of Jeremy Irons as Scar defined villainy, while Mufasa (James Earl Jones) was a byword for valour. As soon as they were old enough, we took them to see the stage version.
Those memories of The Lion King were so precious that they baulked at the idea of seeing the heavily digitalised 2019 remake, even though I assured them that it was fun.
But they would be right to swerve this overblown sequel.
Mufasa: The Lion King (dedicated to Jones, who died in September) strains with every sinew to make us feel the love tonight — to paraphrase one of the original song titles.
It is sometimes spectacular on the eye, with all those computerised bells and whistles combining to bring the African savannah to vibrant, exhilarating life. Yet the film, directed by Barry Jenkins (who made the Oscar-festooned 2016 film Moonlight), is touched with a spot of leonine laryngitis. Hard as it tries, it never quite roars.
Although a sequel in the sense that the grown-up Simba (voiced by Donald Glover) is now King of the Pride Lands, it is really a prequel, as wise mandrill Rafiki (John Kani) tells the stirring life story of Simba’s late father, Mufasa, to his wide-eyed granddaughter, Princess Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter, herself the daughter of what passes for US royalty, Beyoncé and Jay‑Z). Beyoncé is also back in the voice cast, as Simba’s queen, Nala.
Anyway, after being swept far away from his parents Afia and Masego by raging floodwaters, Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) reaches adolescence as the adopted son of kindly lioness Eshe (Thandiwe Newton), whose disagreeable mate Obasi (Lennie James) is less well disposed to a ‘stray’.
Mufasa forms a strong fraternal bond with Eshe’s natural son Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr), which intensifies when a belligerent army of lions, the so-called ‘Outsiders’, arrives to conquer Obasi’s pride. Mufasa and Taka escape — with the Outsiders, led by the ill-tempered Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen), in hot pursuit.
This all bowls along watchably enough, and as the pursuers close in there is a clifftop scene perhaps intended to evoke Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969), although the film lacks the wit to make it sing.
Indeed, it’s a surprise there isn’t more wit throughout. The screenwriter is Jeff Nathanson, whose credits include not just the 2019 remake but also the wonderful Catch Me If You Can (2002). But this time he somehow contrives to make the banter between Timon the meerkat (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa the warthog (Seth Rogen) more tiresome than funny.
Most of the songs, though written by Broadway superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda, are decidedly forgettable. Of course he has a mighty act to follow: Tim Rice nailed the lyrics perfectly back in 1994. But this isn’t even tepid, reheated Rice.
As Mufasa and Taka seek the Elysian, sun-drenched lands known as Milele, the chase rather oddly takes them across a snowy mountain range.
In response to pedants everywhere, concerned about the unexpected arrival of Himalayan-style avalanches in sub-Saharan Africa, I suppose the filmmakers might make the point that meerkats and warthogs don’t buddy up in real life, either. Or maybe it’s their mischievous nod to climate change. Either way, it’s a bit weird.
Still, the objective of all this, narrative-wise, is to show us how Mufasa overcame a traumatic cubhood to grow into a heroic king, and also what became of Taka, who, in a climactic fight and no spoiler intended, acquires a nasty facial… scar. In that respect, the film does its job.
It’s a safe bet for a family outing to the pictures these Christmas holidays. But it’s not as good as the 2019 movie, and not a whisker on the magnificent original.
Mufasa: The Lion King is in cinemas now.