Gugu Mavundla

•The visuals were breathtakingly brilliant. Full marks here. •My partner (South African) was underwhelmed by the music but I thought it was okay-ish. Kiros’ song was awesome! •As a South African, it’s an ongoing annoyance in the Lion King franchise having a story which takes place in Africa and in South Africa to be specific (by the vernacular language spoken in the movie franchise) however having actors with American accents just makes it unbelievable. Imagine a story about slavery in America but with actors who sound Australian! It’s just something that you wouldn’t be able to put past you during the entire movie as it undermines the credibility of the movie itself. It’s the same annoyance when for example American cast members are chosen to do Nelson Mandela’s story and do so in American accents which pivots the movie into a realm of the shamefully unrealistic. Rafiki was unfortunately the only believable cast member. •The same goes for the name Kiara. This is an African American female name and completely unrelated to the African movie context. The American name in addition to the American accents of the characters was a serious oversight to what is a great movie. •Taka was dealt a bad deal in his life. He genuinely was a good kid with an authentic heart and spirit. He became a good young man too with a heart of gold reticent of his mother. He saved Mufasa time and time again but the one time he made a bad decision in a moment of weakness Mufasa decided to remove his identity from him by permanently changing his name which forever reminded him of his wrongdoing and shadow side (Scar) rather than all of his past good (Taka). Even though Taka redeemed himself by saving Mufasa again in the cave waters. What if I put it to you that the real villain is Mufasa? He should have forgiven Scar without condemning him or renaming him thereby taking his identity away from him, something no one should ever have the right or power or ability to do. •Taka was failed by his father in how he parented him and in the terrible values he imparted on to his son. This is the other villain in the story, he should have done better by his son. •Poor Taka ended up with no kingdom, no parents, no wife, no kids and no career. Ouch. •All in all the movie was great so I rate it 4/5. A solid 80% which is a distinction. I was engaged and vested throughout. Well done team!