This felt like a "look what we can do" kind of film. The characters lacked emotion, and the complex themes were lost. Some really important and moving scenes were shortened and skimmed over.
The reconstruction of "be prepared" was a big let down, the true kniving and scheming characteristic of Scar was lost here when it should have been built.
It was definitely scripted for the modern society to keep emotions to a minimum, spirituality suppressed and minimal complex themes.
A relief was the "timone and pumba" characters, very well scripted and voiced - practically saved the whole movie.