I went to see the rerelease of Lion King this weekend.  It has been released for a limited two week run in 3D to theaters.  Unfortunately, being a single woman with no children of my own I had to do what I did the first time I saw it 17 years ago.  I borrowed a kid.  When I saw it during its initial release, I took my nieces who were ages four and three and possibly a one year old.  I can’t remember if Bubba got to come with us because I didn’t take the kids for them to see the movie.  I took them so I could watch the movie.  But 17 years ago I had a lot more energy and was a little crazier so I think she probably came.

Bubba was my borrowed kid for this viewing.  When I asked if Bubba wanted to accompany me she told me she only wanted to see it in 3D.  “I’ve seen it before so I don’t need to see it in 2D.”  I didn’t tell her I would have gone to see it in 2D again.  We showed up to the theater with a theater full of parents and little kids.  And me, with my one big kid who will be nineteen in four months.  To be honest, it was probably Bubba who was there with a big kid.  We were just as excited as the little kids that surrounded us.   

The movie started with the impressive “Circle of Life” number – which is still stuck in my head today – and I could tell this movie was just waiting for technology to catch up.  It was always meant to be in 3D.  I also enjoyed the fact that it looked like a cartoon.  It didn’t look like a cartoon trying to look like it was live-action.  The title came on and the little boy behind us said, “Oh wow mommy, that was cool!”  The movie didn’t lose his interest one little bit because when the end title came on in similar fashion, he whispered the same thing. 

And he’s right.  The 3D effects gave Disney an excuse to rerelease the movie but it didn’t enhance it.  Sure, I enjoyed it, but even without the special effects it’s still a good movie.  It proves even more that Shakespeare was one good storyteller.  Take the story of Hamlet and kidify it a bit by having talking lions and loveable baboons and funny meerkats and wart-hogs, make sure and take out the incestuous themes and BAM! A classic is born.  Stories don’t need to be dumbed down for children.  That being said, when I took the same trio to see “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” it scared the patootsies out of not only them, but me as well.  The difference?  No wisecracking/dancing meerkat.   For example, the meerkat allowed the hyena-supremacist scene when the animals are marching Nazi-like past Scar.  Never underestimate the power of the meerkat.

There is one plot point that bugs me every time I watch.  How does a Lion become a fierce, strong animal by growing up eating bugs?  Then I realize, the lions talk, the meerkat sings, and the baboon knows martial art.  And the bugs are the deal-breaker for me? 

One audience member enjoyed the songs thoroughly.  While the lions were getting amorous with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” we heard an echo in the theater.  The voice was too deep to be a little kid.  I couldn’t see who was singing along because of the 3D glasses and it was very dark, but it had to be a dad.  Or one really big kid.

It was fun to see the Lion King in 3D but it was also fun to just have an excuse to watch it again.  The story holds up.  My recommendation is to watch it.  If you don’t want to watch it in theaters, put the disc in and curl up on your sofa.  It’s still a good time.