The Lion King is astonishingly dark at times, to the extent that a happy ending seems impossible and the G rating feels questionable. By the midpoint of the film, the only lesson being learned is that loving others is inadvisable because theyll only die, disappear, or betray you. Mufasa has a nice monologue about the importance of balance and wisdom, but he also gruesomely dies shortly thereafter. All in all, we cant really blame young Simba for giving into the flawed premise of Hakuna Matata. The song didnt have a great message for the audience, but at least it was catchy. Fortunately, however, Mufasas spirit steps in to set Simba back on a responsible path. Look inside yourself, says Mufasa. You are more than what you have become. Inspired by his fathers words, Simba takes a detour on his guilt trip to return to Pride Rock. He abandons the no worries premise, defeats his uncle, and restores balance to the kingdom. Even Timon and Pumbaawhom Mufasa clearly does not approve ofshape up and play their part. The overall message of the movie is overwhelmingly positive for kids. Bad things will always happen, but to run away from responsibility is never the right decision. Or, for the literal-minded children out there, the message aligns with the idea that misbehavior will lead to somebody they love being flung off a cliff. Hey, whatever works.
Fiction buff and writer. If it's on Netflix, it's probably in my queue. I've bought DVDs for the special features and usually claim that the book is better than the movie or show (and can provide examples). I've never met a TV show that I won't marathon. Follow on Twitter @lah9891 .
