It’s no surprise to me that The Lion King dominated the box office last weekend, as countless parents ushered their children to the theater to catch this classic in three dimensions. It made more than $30 million over the opening weekend, and that will only grow as Simba continues his reign through the next couple of weeks. Sure, you and I both know that Disney does this every few years as a cash cow, but it’s still fun to see all the old classics I grew up with.
I remember watching this show multiple times at the theater as a teen. I was singing Hakuna Matata for weeks, and the image of Mufasa falling into the herd of animals was soul-crushing. I’ve watched almost all of the Disney movies through the years, and The Lion King is by far my favorite. It had a certain sweep and majesty that no other movie before or since has been able to achieve.
You can talk about Toy Story all you want, but it lacked the depth of emotion that The Lion King created. Disney has never shied away from sadness in their movies, but in The Lion King it never felt so real. Simba runs away after his father dies and turns to a life of ease in the jungle, eating bugs with Timon and Pumbaa. He finally returns to reclaim the kingdom from the clutches of his evil uncle. This movie had perfect characters, perfect songs and perfect emotions.
I’m super stoked to share The Lion King with my children. I haven’t taken them yet, but odds are we’re going this week. The thought of seeing my children’s eyes light up when they see Rafiki and feel them cuddle up against me when Scar is working his dastardly mojo has me completely psyched for the adventure.
I can’t resist an opportunity to watch this movie on the big screen again, even if it looks like every animal is going to trample me. Disney cartoons have always been meant to be watched on the big screen, and I can’t wait to share the experience with my kids in a way that even I’ve never seen it before.
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