One of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed Disney cartoons, “The Lion King” draws influences from the biblical tale of Joseph and Moses and Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. It tells the tale of Simba, a young Lion forced out of the African Pride Lands where his father Musafa once ruled. Musafa was killed by his younger brother Scar after Simba was born as the rightful heir to Musafa’s throne. Scar not only killed his brother, but also convinced Simba that he was responsible for his father’s death and advised him to flee the Pride Lands. Simba managed to escape the hyenas sent by Scar to kill him, and grew up leading a carefree life among his unlikely rescuers, a meerkat called Timon and a warthog called Pumbaa. One day Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry lioness who turns out to be his childhood love Nala, who lets him know that Scar has turned the Pride Lands into a desolate wasteland. She also tries to convince him to return and take his rightful place as the ruler of the Pride Lands, but Simba refuses, since he is still feeling guilty about his father’s death. Eventually, Simba meets another old acquaintance who leads him to the spirit of his father, who ultimately convinces Simba to return to the Pride Lands and challenge Scar in a battle that will determine not only the king, but also the future of the Pride Lands. “The Lion King” won two Academy Awards for the music written by Elton John and the original score written by Hans Zimmer.
Joan Rivers still in coma
