On July 19, 2019, a new version of the Lion King came out. The remake has many well known actors, including Keegan-Micheal Key, Donald Glover, Beyonce, Seth Rogan, and James Earl Jones.

The new Lion King and the 1994 version have many similarities. The new movie features new versions of much of the same music as the 1994 version. Some of the redone songs include The Circle of Life, I Just Can’t Wait to be King, and Be Prepared.  

While it has some of the same songs, and sounds, there are notable differences as well. While the plot is the same, I felt like none of the characters showed enough emotion.  It made it seem like if I had not watched the 1994 version, I would not have understood the movie.

Also the trio of troublemaking hyenas, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, are not all in the movie. Instead now two new hyenas are in the film, Azizi and Kamari. 

Another part that has been changed is the moment when Timon and Pumbaa have to act as bait. In the or original, Timon and Pumbaa dress up in hula outfits and sing to distract the hyenas. In the new version, Timon sings Be Our Guest, from “Beauty and the Beast”. The scene is cut short when the hyenas start to chase after them. 

In the original, after Mufasa dies, Scar tells Simba to run and never come back. After Simba takes off running, Scar tells the hyenas to kill Simba. Simba escapes by going through some thorn bushes, but in the 2019 version, Simba simply hides behind a rock. 

The 2019 Lion king is still a great movie worth watching. Timon(Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa(Seth Rogan) were especially humorous. I found the new Lion King to be quite funny and interesting.