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Mufasa: The Lion King Roars with Impressive Visual Effects

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A nice tribute to beloved James Earl Jones is displayed before the movie begins, setting up the nostalgic tone. The screen then lights up with a majestic panorama of the “Pride Lands”. Director Barry Jenkins delivered a majestic vivid quality of live animation, which were absolutely stimulating on an IMAX screen. His style of imagery had wonderful depth perception of the rugged mountains, valleys, and waterfalls. Plenty of work went into the details of the animal characters – from their body movements, fur, mane, jaws and claws. The facial expressions on the animals were adorable, I just wanted to reach out and touch the screen.

The screenplay was well written but lacked creativity. It’s the typical story, told in flashbacks, about a pair of loners (Taka and Mufasa) that need each other in order to survive from Kiros and his clan of white lion outsiders. They make new friends along their way to the land of abundance, Milele. Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) learns what it takes to become a great leader – strong natural skills, conquering fears, and not being afraid to ask for help from others (animals). As for Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), since he was raised by an egotistical father, his basic survival skills are weak. Taka considers Mufasa a brother but treats him more like a buddy. Tensions arise when Sarabi (Tiffany Boone) comes into the picture. The fate of these characters is foreseeable, but enough to keep me engaged to watch it unfold.

I wanted to see more of Timon and Pumba, but they were more of comedic support characters to Kiara (voiced by Blue Ivy Carter). They did tease us with a snippet rendition of “Hakuna Matata”. Seth Rogen was the perfect fit for Pumba’s character. It was interesting to see how Zazu (voiced by Preston Nyman) becomes part of the clan and always irritating others with his sarcastic humor. However, the real star of the show is Rafiki (voiced by John Kani). He plays a key role in Mufasa’s life. The best part was how Rafiki ends up with a walking stick. Another notable scene was how pride rock got formed. I was overcome with nostalgia.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the majority of the songs, added a unique gospel hip-hop sound that brings out that wilderness passion. Miranda’s music always gives that special note to films. It was a relief to know that Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce (Nala) and Donald Glover (Simba) did not take away from the movie. They were more like cameo voices. Although Mufasa: The Lion King was a bit longer that what it needed to be, it was overall enjoyable.

Sabrina - Kiddo is the newest member of Countdown City Geeks and is a contributor of movie and television show reviews. Her passion for film derived from her college days where her rhetoric-writing professor focused on the aspects of screenwriting and music lyrics. She also has a knack for saying movie quotes.

Movie Reviews

‘Wolf Man’ will have you howling in fear – Review

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Talk about perfect timing to release a horror film, right after the first full moon of 2025, which is known as the wolf moon. Blumhouse is known to produce amazing horror movies without the large budget and granting directors the freedom of creativity. Wolf Man has all the right elements for delivering a fantastic terror thriller movie.

Director Leigh Whannell once again raises the bar for the new era of horror films. He knows how to get into the mind of the audience and lures them into a psychological nightmare. Whannell stuck with the Blumhouse tradition with the main plot being set in a home– a place where you typically consider to have a sense of security, a home sweet home feeling. Then, the terrifying atmosphere begins to set in as soon as rug is pulled from underneath you and the warm feeling is gone.

The storyline has a unique approach about a father-son-daughter relationship and mother- daughter relationship that applies the supernatural werewolf theme. Wolf Man has the ideal cast that were able to convert and adapt their characters gradually throughout the scenes. Christopher Abbott as Blake delivered an impressive performance, especially transforming from a subdued father to bring out his inner animal. Julia Garner as Charlotte, Blake’s wife, did well transforming from a city dweller to finding her grit to survive and protect her daughter, Ginger – played by adorable and witty Matilda Firth.

Whannell also used distinctive camera angles and styles that immerses the audience into Blake’s viewpoint when he is transitioning into a wolf man. The slow heavy breathing and deep low vibrating sound effects also added to the chilling experience. The make-up special effects department did an exceptional work with the disintegrating tissue and detaching limbs. There are plenty of gruesome scenes that will have you squirming and popping out of your seat, even pulling your hair. If you are familiar with Whannell’s work, you will even notice some references to Saw and M3GAN.

The ending did leave a bit of a cliffhanger. It will have your mind wondering and forming your own conclusions, a great way to make discussions with your movie companions. Wolf Man will be sure to satisfy the appetite of horror film fanatics.


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Nick Frost’s new film ‘Get Away’ will having you second guess the next family vacation – Review

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Synopsis

Written and starring the hilarious Nick Frost, ‘Get Away‘ puts a slight spin on previous horror films such as “Midsommar‘. You get everything from the humor to the gore that you expect from a Nick Frost film and there are some twists you won’t see coming. Catch it now on the Shudder streaming service and let us know what you think in the comments.

Synopsis: The Smith family’s much-needed vacation to the remote Swedish island of Svalta takes a dark turn when they arrive during preparations for a mysterious local festival that celebrates a dark history. Unsettled by the unfriendly locals and strange rituals, they try to make the best of their trip, stubbornly enjoying the island’s isolation and natural beauty. However, as the festival looms closer, the family realizes something far more sinister is unfolding—especially when they discover that a serial killer is on the loose.


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‘V/H/S Beyond’ is a solid addition to the franchise – Review

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From Shudder comes 6 all new short films that make up V/H/S Beyond. Directors Kate Siegel, Justin Martinez, Jay Cheel, Justin Long, Christian Long, Jordan Downey, and Virat Pal have compiled 6 very different yet effectively terrifying tales that make V/H/S Beyond a worthy addition to the franchise. See my instant reaction below.

SYNOPSIS: Six bloodcurdling tapes unleash horror in a sci-fi-inspired hellscape, pushing the boundaries of fear and suspense. From Directors Kate Siegel, Justin Martinez, Jay Cheel, Justin Long, Christian Long, Jordan Downey, and Virat Pal.


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