Along with the live-action Disney films not really having the best rep, I was admittedly in the camp of not really understanding why a Mufasa origin story was necessary. I also didn’t understand why the film needed to be live-action, as I believe the film’s narrative would have benefitted from the charm and emotion that only animation can bring. However, while the film had some issues in terms of pacing, thanks to an impressive voice cast and the songwriting of Lin-Manuel Miranda, watching Mufasa progress from orphaned outcast to king of the Pride Lands ended up being relatively entertaining to watch. Witnessing the beginnings of Mufasa’s relationships with characters from the original Lion King such as Sarabi and Scar was interesting, and having the story be told by Rafiki to Pumba, Timon and Simba’s daughter, Kiara, was a nice touch. Overall, in my opinion, Mufasa: The Lion King ended up being one Disney’s more enjoyable live-action ventures despite its flaws. Score: 7/10
Noah Robinson 