Reviews for
The Lion King hit the web this week and reviews for the live-action adaptation appear to be a mixed bag. While many reviews seem to praise the film's visual and technical achievements, the adaptation has also been dinged for lacking the emotion and heart of the original Disney animated film.
The critical consensus reads: While it can take pride in its visual achievements,The Lion King is a by-the-numbers retelling that lacks the energy and heart that made the original so beloved--though for some fans that may just be enough.
When reviews first arrived,
The Lion King was
initially deemed "rotten" with a 58 percent after 78 reviews. Since the, about 40 more reviews have come in,
boosting its critics score to a "fresh" 60 percent.
Critics appear to be split on this one, though almost everyone has praised its stunning technical accomplishment and the comedic roles of Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa, respectively.
For what it's worth, Guy Ritchie's
Aladdin adaptation has also been deemed "rotten" with a 57 percent, but audiences seem to disasgree. It's got a whopping 94 percent Audience Score, suggesting a disconnect between critics and everyday audiences. Thankfully for Disney, the low scores didn't impact the box office for
Aladdin, which has surpassed $900 million worldwide. The House of Mouse can only hope for something similar with
The Lion King when it opens in theaters July 19.