"Mufasa: The Lion King" - Epic Prequel or Cash Grab? Honest Review 🦁👑 | Xperience Turtle Island

I’ve Always Wanted a Brother… 🦁

“Mufasa: The Lion King” takes us back to the ascension of one of Disney’s most valuable pieces of intellectual property (I mean beloved character’s that aren’t all being milked for IP sequel/prequel dollars), following his rise from orphaned cub to king of the Pride Lands.

Directed by Barry Jenkins, the film offers a fresh perspective on the story while pushing the limits of CGI to bring the world to life with expressive characters and stunning landscapes. Aaron Pierre brings real depth to Mufasa’s voice, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. delivering a memorable turn as the young Scar.

While this was not a film that NEEDED to be made, I will admit to enjoying Mufasa’s animation and plot much more than I anticipated. Congrats Disney… you won this round against the Turtles. We want more original concepts, but we understand why Disney keeps making these movies when even turtles like us buy a ticket.

While the film dazzles visually and builds out the world in compelling ways, it occasionally struggles to step out of the shadow of its predecessors. It will always be “The Lion King Prequel.” The story introduces some interesting twists, but certain moments feel a bit predictable, and not all the humor lands.

Even so, “Mufasa” is a worthy addition to the franchise, balancing heart and spectacle in a way that will resonate with both kids and longtime fans.

Lin-Manuel Miranda put together a good, not amazing soundtrack, but what it did right? It made me smile… and I remember a few of the songs. That’s much more than I can say for Moana 2, which missed much of the appeal and catchiness of the original’s music, primarily because of the lack of Miranda.

It’s not a normal Monday… it’s Christmas Eve Eve! Spend part of it with Manic Misha, the fastest slow turtle on the internet.

Turtle TV Score? 2.5 out of 5 Shells 🐢

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