I picked “The Lion
King” for my Film Review. Released in 1994
I did watch this movie as a child many times. All I remember
is that I watched it and I liked it.
Watching the movie now what I noticed was that Scar looked
like a bad guy (stereotyping). The hyena looked and acted stupid and weak
(stereotyping).
What a child might absorb from this movie is that it has a
love story in it. It is funny and sad movie. A normal kid movie.
Some of the controversy could be that a brother kills a
brother for power and greed. The female lions depend on the males for redemption.
Scar is evil looking and Simba is beautiful, which could be seen as stereotyping.
I don’t feel that there was any blatant racism in the movie.
Maybe you could talk about the hyenas and race but I don’t think so because
Whoopi Goldberg was a voice of one of the hyenas and I don’t feel that she
would have taken on the role if it had anything to do with racism.
The Washington Post (July 28, 1994) stated a few of the same
things I did. Which was that he talked about how the female lions depend the
male lions and how Simba was beautiful and Scar was not. The article also
stated that the lions could not take care of themselves without Simba. They can’t
help themselves. Helpless. He (Steve Twomey) also stated that he actually didn’t
see any of those problems. What he did see was “a funny movie with mind-blowing
animation”.
I very much agree with him. I think the movie has many funny
parts and great animation. I really don’t believe many children will see anything
more than a movie that is about animals. That has sad and funny parts to it.
I thought it was interesting that at the beginning of the movie Simba and Nahla are wrestling and Nahla actually pins Simba showing that SHE is the strongest. Good start Disney. But later in the movie it is Nahla that goes to find Simba and tells him that he is the only one that can save them. What Disney forgot to tell Nahla is that in the real lion world, it is the female lion that is the shinning star of the pride. Female lions are the hunters, protectors, mark their territory and rear the cubs. They can actually survive on their own unlike male lions, but they seem to thrive in a pride.
ReplyDeleteI used to watch this movie all the time when I was a kid and I loved it. I agree with this movie is atypical kid movie themes as love story, sad and funny. I also agree that Scar is a stereotypical bad guy who has a scar on his face like his name. I really enjoyed your analysis and learned different perspectives from you. Good job!
ReplyDeleteGood point on the way the charters looked. Scar and the hyenas were scary looking for my son when he was young, and I believe that was the point that the creators were trying to do. The stuff that my son picked up was that bad guys are low in the community and look dirty and beat up, whereas the good guys were healthy and strong with lots of friends. Thank you for your review.
ReplyDeleteYou did very interesting research. I've never think that movie has some racist connection. Since I read your post, I've thought that those facts have a place there. It's very good to read a shared opinions to check your own beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post, I wish that it had more pictures, mostly because I love the Lion King and anytime that I get to watch even the slightest part of it makes my day a little better. I do have to disagree with you on this comment: "I don’t feel that there was any blatant racism in the movie. Maybe you could talk about the hyenas and race but I don’t think so because Whoopi Goldberg was a voice of one of the hyenas and I don’t feel that she would have taken on the role if it had anything to do with racism," mostly because Whoopi Goldberg has been known to be very involved in racial political issues. She makes her stances on things well known, I mean we really only have to watch one episode of the View to understand that. However I do agree with the fact that there may no be blatant racism within the movie, but I don't think that Disney can really make any sort of movie that is supposed to be set in Africa and not have racial undertones with it. I feel like this is not a "normal kid movie" there are so many different aspect that you didn't get a chance to touch on. There are so many different aspects of this movie that we would be able to look at and direct, however what you have and your opinions are good. Thank you for Sharing.
ReplyDeleteNice post! i've always loved the Lion King, one of my favorite children's movies! i liked your research and comments on stereotyping. Maybe more pictures but other than that, Nicely done!
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