| Table of Reviews |
|---|
Mufasa: The Lion King – Review
Mufasa: The Lion King – Budget of $200+ million – 1 hour and 58 minutes
| Blu-rayTM | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Digital | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
Simba runs to find Nala and leaves their daughter, Kiara, with Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa. Kiara fears the rain. Rafiki laughs. Simba was the same until Mufasa took him to Pride Rock to roar. Kiara dreams she could be as strong as her grandfather. Rafiki explains that Mufasa wasn’t always a king. He was once a lost stray looking for his family. Rafiki sits Kiara down and tells the story of her grandfather, Mufasa: The Lion King.
Mufasa and his parents, Afia and Masego, are living through drought. Mufasa’s mother, Afia, tells Mufasa that the drought won’t last forever. Until then, he should look at the horizon. Beyond the light is a land called Milele. Milele means forever. Everything in Milele flows in abundance. Then, the rain falls. Mufasa and his family go to the watering hole with the other animals. Then, they hear a rumble and see a flood. Mufasa and his family get separated. An elephant hits the dam, and the water sweeps Mufasa away.
Mufasa struggles on a branch when a cub, Taka, appears. He is the son of King Obasi and Obasi’s mate, Eshe. Taka warns Mufasa that the crocodiles in the water hunt him. Taka saves Mufasa and brings him ashore. Eshe tells Taka to leave Mufasa alone because Obasi doesn’t like strays. Mufasa explains that he’s not a stray, only lost. Eshe has compassion for the cub and brings Mufasa to the pride. Obasi wants to eat Mufasa, but Mufasa says he is too fast. Obasi creates Taka’s first challenge to prove he can be a king. If Taka beats Mufasa in a race, Obasi will eat Mufasa, and Eshe will add to the competition. If Mufasa wins, then he can stay with their pride. They race, but Eshe sees that Taka lets Mufasa win. Obasi keeps his promise but tells Mufasa he must live with the females.
As Taka and Mufasa grow, their brotherly bond becomes tighter, much to Obasi’s displeasure. Taka wants to learn how to hunt like Mufasa, but Obasi says his place is sleeping on a rock, protecting the pride. When Obasi falls asleep, Taka follows Eshe to learn. Eshe teaches Mufasa how to hunt, track scents, and sense danger. They hear others approaching but don’t have time to escape. Mufasa saves Eshe while Taka runs away. When they return, Eshe forgives Taka for fleeing. Obasi tells Mufasa that he owes him a debt. Then he orders Taka to keep his running a secret. The lie will save the pride.
The remaining white lion returns to the leader, Kiros. With a bowed head, the surviving lion explains that Mufasa killed Kiros’s son while saving Eshe. Kiros has his soldiers eliminate the surviving lion. Then, he pledges vengeance for his son.
Mufasa can smell Kiros and his pride coming. Eshe tells Taka and Mufasa to leave and protect each other. Obasi and his remaining pride stand firm as Kiros approaches. Obasi says he doesn’t have a problem, and a stray, Mufasa, killed Kiros’s son. Kiros believes there can only be one king. To take over the land the light touches, Kiros must kill Obasi. They slaughter the pride. However, Kiros knows the lion who killed his son isn’t there. He orders his pride to track Mufasa and Taka. He vows to kill the pair, avenge his son, and become the king.
This Lion King prequel starts with a tribute to James Earl Jones. Then, it transports the audience to Pride Rock. Simba and Nala continue to rule over the land with the same courage as Mufasa. While they are gone, Rafiki tells Mufasa’s story. However, it’s not his story alone. It’s the tale of two brothers, entitlement, courage, and the king’s court. By staying with the pride’s females, Mufasa learned lessons that separated him from the others. Mufasa loves his adopted mother and brother but still longs for home. Mufasa’s journey mirrors Simba’s. He leaves home for safety and finds friends along the way. The graphics far surpass the live adaptation of The Lion King, and the voice acting is stellar. The music flows wonderfully with the theme, although it drowns out the vocal performances. Also, the backing track makes the room vibrate and crescendos with the sun. This film is an astounding prequel.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
I have notes – Timon
Suggestions. Take them or leave them, but take them – Pumbaa
Mufasa, I got you – Sarabi
One day, he will betray you. That’s what strays do – Obasi
It’s easy to doubt everything when you know nothing – Rafiki
The truth is standing behind you – Kiros
Listen to what she says – Mufasa
| Blu-rayTM | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Digital | |||
|
|
|
|
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 – Review
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 – Budget of $120+ million – 1 hour and 50 minutes
| Blu-rayTM | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Digital | |||
|
|
|
|
Tom, Maddie, Tails, and Knuckles throw Sonic a surprise B-EARTH-Day party to celebrate the day he landed on the planet. They race, make s’mores, and connect as a family. Tom and Maddie revel in the quiet when a beam of light comes from a helicopter. Director Rockwell exits and asks for Team Sonic’s help. An alien escaped a private base in Tokyo. And they can’t catch him. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles board the helicopter.
Team Sonic lands in Tokyo and can’t believe the alien standing before them looks like Sonic. However, he’s black with red streaks and can teleport. His name is Shadow. Shadow makes quick work of the team and escapes on a motorcycle. Sonic chases after him, but Shadow outsmarts him. The team meets Commander Walters at a restaurant.
Commander Walters explains that Shadow landed on Earth 50 years ago inside a meteorite. They hid him in a top-secret base to study his powers under the guidance of a professor. The professor’s granddaughter, Maria, bonded with Shadow and became best friends. Then, an accident at the base took Maria’s life. The government deemed Shadow too dangerous and put him in suspended animation. Now that Shadow is free, he wants revenge for Maria.
Hours ago, someone hacked their system and lowered their defenses. Shadow escaped, and now he’s looking for revenge. Reports state that Dr. Robotnik’s symbol emerged on the screen during the hack. Then, Robotnik’s drones enter the restaurant and aim for the team after fatally wounding Commander Walters. Walters hands Sonic a key to a powerful weapon. He warns Sonic not to trust anyone. A motorcyclist rides into the restaurant, incapacitates the attack drones, and exits. The team follows the cyclist until he stops. It’s Agent Stone. He says someone framed Dr. Robotnik, and he has proof.
Agent Stone takes the team to Dr. Robotnik’s lair. Dr. Robotnik is a shell of his former self. When he learns someone stole his tech, Dr. Robotnik chooses to work with Team Sonic to find the culprit. However, he needs something from Sonic. Sonic rolls his eyes and pulls out a quill. Dr. Robotnik gets a dose of energy and finds the hacker’s location. This unlikely mash-up must stop Shadow’s revenge and keep the key out of the wrong person’s hands.
It may be unbelievable, but this film is the best of the trilogy (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). First, this adventure is worldwide. Team Sonic travels to Tokyo, the U.S., and London to save the world. Second, this film is about the toxic nature of anger and revenge. Sonic tries to win Shadow over with kindness and promises of a family. Sonic’s anger boils over when someone hurts his loved one. Sonic doesn’t care about the team because he wants revenge. Third, this movie respects its core audience by referencing old tech, movies, and jokes. However, it doesn’t forget its new fans. Sonic 3 is delightful, with well-timed humor, dramatic moments, and intrigue. The movie kept a steady pace while introducing new characters. The plot didn’t waste time recapping the last films. If you didn’t see the first two, a few jokes may not connect. This film is an animated action-adventure comedy for the whole family with mid- and post-credit scenes.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Humanity is a failed experiment – Gerarld Robotnik
I can’t blame you, though. It’s hard to copy perfection – Sonic
Make good choices – Maddie
Dude, can you, for once, walk at my speed – Tom
Why won’t you leave me alone – Shadow
You do look like a Pokémon. Pika pika – Knuckles
It’s been a real drag – Dr. Robotnik
You’re not gonna make it – Tails
What’s it like working for Sonic – Agent Stone
| Blu-rayTM | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Digital | |||
|
|
|
|
Share this:
Categories: Aaron Pierre, Anika Noni Rose, Ben Schwartz, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Billy Eichner, Blue Ivy Carter, disney, Donald Glover, idris elba, In The Theater, James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Krysten Ritter, Lennie James, Mads Mikkelsen, movie, Mufasa: The Lion King, Natasha Rothwell, review, Seth Rogen, Shemar Moore, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Thandiwe Newton, Tiffany Boone, tika sumpter
thatdarngirlmovie.reviews 