Author: Sheryl Oh / Source: Film School Rejects
As is now customary when one of their remakes prepares to hit the market, Disney continues perfecting the art of the teaser trailer. The latest bit of promo from the Mouse House shines a spotlight on the highly anticipated “live-action” re-imagining of The Lion King, and it is one that thoroughly appeals to our base emotions.
For multiple reasons, we’ve been primed to notice this adaptation a little more than the rest (although we’re still totally going to see Aladdin and Dumbo). Firstly, Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff’s original The Lion King was the biggest box office hit out of all the Disney Renaissance releases back in the day, grossing $968.5 million at the worldwide box office. The movie’s legacy has further spawned a successful video game of the same name, as well as one of the longest-running Tony Award-winning musicals in Broadway history.
For many enthusiasts of “Hamlet in the savanna” — and I count myself a part of that camp, with worn-out VHS tapes and hours of my childhood spent learning to play the soundtrack on the piano to show for it — The Lion King is a true testament to Disney’s ability to tell powerful and distinctive coming-of-age stories that impact audiences of all ages, in spite of their simplicity. The original works so well that with a teaser only a minute and a half long, Jon Favreau‘s redo invokes its influence by tossing together every nostalgic moment that it can. For the most part, it all meshes well together.
Watch The Lion King teaser below.
Much like Disney did with their Aladdin teaser, the Lion King trailer re-creates some of the most iconic imagery from the animated film in photorealistic glory, most prominently the Circle of Life sequence that begins the original movie. Favreau’s past experience directing Disney’s CG-infused The Jungle Book clearly shows, as well, as there’s already a discernible mix of menace and wonderment peppered throughout this early footage. Let’s break this down.
Right off the bat, we’re treated to the sheer vastness of the savanna with epic wide shots of the plains.
This sunrise is as memorable as the animated film’s opening musical refrains. It’s apt that the trailer immediately goes for this throwback.
Close-ups are used sparingly but effectively, mostly showcasing the pristine (and frankly slightly uncanny valley) realism of the CGI.
The extreme long shots are nothing short of magical, though. They reinforce the textural depth that the film is bound to have. Granted, I do mourn the loss of the vibrant hues that make the 1994 version unique. This darkness hints at a generally more ominous vibe that threads through the rest of the trailer.
Still, a plethora of…
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