The Lion King - 10 stars out of 10

The Lion King - 10 stars out of 10

This is truly the peak of the Disney franchise of animated musicals! I do not believe that any animate film will ever be as good as "The Lion King." Pick any aspect - story, hero, animation, music, villain, sidekicks - none can compare. When you use actors like Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, and James Earl Jones, a precident is set for the quality of the film. The use of Jonathan Taylor Thomas as young Simba was a very smart move based on his talent and popularity at the time in Home Improvement. Toss in Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella as Timone and Pumbaa, Rowan Atkinson as Zazu, plus Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin as the hyenas and you're looking at a "Who's Who" list of popular actors from the time period. Next, consider this deep story of patricide (which is actually fratricide), exile, corruption, and redemption, all under the guise of a children's movie while allowing children to absorb these values. The dialogue is beautifully written and these characters are much more than a few lions and a meerkat. The music is the icing on the cake as Hans Zimmer weaves together cultural African music and strong, romantic thematic lines that somehow manage to get stuck in your head just as much as Elton John's catchy showtunes. Zimmer's heroic music as Simba climbs Pride Rock at the end will always make me cry in that moment of glory. The Lion King is more than just a cartoon - it is a hope for a better world.