The Lion King

My brother and I decided to watch a movie yesterday to really check out the new sound system. A few weeks earlier, we had discussed with our kid brother the movies we believed that everyone should have their own copy of. We came up with: Spy Game, Top Gun, Legends of the Fall, and The Lion King. After this discussion, I really wanted to watch TLK again. It had been years since my last viewing, but TLK has always had a special place in my heart. It's one of the movies from my childhood that is actually a normal kids movie. (My other favorites as a kid included Beetlejuice, Raising Arizona, and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane.) As much as I love Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast, I have to say that TLK is the best Disney movie ever made. I challenge you to come up with a movie that is better.

Where to even begin about what I love about TLK. First, it's a great storyline. Anything that is loosely based on Hamlet is bound to be fantastic. The plot is very simple and yet so intriguing and inspiring at the same time. I always cry when Mufasa dies. (Uhh, I guess I should have mentioned spoiler alerts, but if you haven't seen TLK yet as a 20-something year old individual, then I think you have bigger problems.) I always thought that I was in the minority that I would always cry during this scene no matter what, but after talking to other individuals, I learned that I'm not the only one that sobs when the King dies. The story just makes me want to be a better person.

Second, TLK contains fantastic music. I love Elton John. As strange as he is, he can make some damn good music. The opening of the movie starting right off with Circle of Life is wonderful. I found myself throughout all of the songs singing along in my head, remembering all of the words even after all of these years. And the filler music is composed by Hans Zimmer, composer extraordinaire. Basically Elton John + Hans Zimmer = Perfection.

Finally, the all-star cast. I have to admit that knowing that adult Nala is voiced by the same person that plays Lucas' mom in One Tree Hill really ruined Nala for me. However, Nala is a nagging chick - (Don't be confused - I'm using slang. I don't mean that Nala is a baby chicken. She's a lionness.) - anyways, so I guess it's fitting to have a person I picture as nagging being the voice of a nagging character. So Moira Kelly is annoying, but she is counterbalanced by so many great people: James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, and even Rowan Atkinson. And of course, there is Jeremy Irons as Scar. If you don't know this already, I have a strange obsession with Jeremy Irons' voice. It's just so sexy. So obviously, it's a huge plus that he is a voice, even if it is for a creepy character.

So the moral of the story is: The Lion King is the best Disney movie ever made, and if you haven't seen it, then you need to find a copy ASAP to fill a huge void that you may not know you even have.

Let the Summer Begin!

The awards season has come and gone this year, but does that mean that entertainment has gone with it? Of course not! We are just about to start the mindless summer movies, which are usually bound to be entertaining on the least possible level. All anyone really wants in the summer is to be in an air-conditioned theatre where they can watch a movie with a simple plot and escape from their lives for a few hours. I love going to the movies during the summer, but sadly movie ticket prices are ridiculously high back East and it seems like a waste to go to the actual theatre when you can have the DVD just a few weeks later for about the same price as two tickets and you can watch it however many times you want. Last year, my brothers and I decided that we could go to a maximum of three movies in the theatre. (My choices were Robin Hood, Salt, Knight and Day.) I don't know if that will still hold true this summer or if it was just a one summer only gimmick. Anyways, what I'm saying in a roundabout way is that I will be doing movie reviews this summer to fill the void until the next round of awards shows. In addition to newly released movies, I will also be reviewing movies that I just watch at home. My mom got a new Bose surround sound system - finally making my dad relinquish his hold on his 30-year old box speakers - and it's amazing. Movie watching has reached a new level.

So be sure to check in every now and then to read my thoughts on various movies AND - wait for it....BOOK REVIEWS! And I'm not talking your easy beach read either. I mean classic lit. The Christensen book club will commence in a few short weeks, so you will have the honor of also reading book reviews. I know; it's an odd combination. Popular block-buster movies with classic lit. But that's just who I am. Trashy and Classy - although I hope I'm more classy than trashy.

And a note. I realize that I spell theatre the wrong way instead of theater. But it's something that I carried over from my time across the pond, and it's something that I haven't really tried to get over. So no, I'm not stupid. I'm just stubborn.