Recently, the 1994 Disney classic, The Lion King, returned to the big screen for a release in 3D. This version of the movie was only available to see in theaters for two weeks. Even though my generation has seen this movie multiple times, it dominated the box office over new films like Moneyball and Dolphin Tale.
Waiting in the theater, my friends and I were excited for the "Circle of Life" to begin and to see the rising sun in the opening scene. We put on our 3D glasses and immersed ourselves in a world of colorful nostalgia for our youth. Going to see this movie put me right back into the prime of my childhood. I was again looking forward to my favorite lines and the song "Hankuna Matata."
Many people already know the tale of young Simba and his father, Mufasa, king of Pride Rock. Scar, Simba's uncle, kills his older brother to become king and tells Simba to run away. Simba flees to the jungle and ends up with two unlikely friends who help him realize his place as the King of Pride Rock.
This movie is a great story for little kids, but now I realize how wonderful a movie it is for adults too. I get the jokes and references that I didn't understand when I was younger, and to realize the list of stars who worked on this movie is incredible. James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Broderick, and Nathan Lane lend their voices to bring our favorite and beloved characters to life.
The attraction that 3D is getting lately has been tremendous; however the reason The Lion King did so well recently, I believe, was not that. Many of the people who flocked to the theater went to enjoy a reboot of one of their favorite Disney movies. Growing up in the ‘90s, everyone had their favorite Disney movie and this limited re-release gave people a chance to remember why they loved this one.