Voices of Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones
Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
And here we are. The countdown that was only supposed to take 3-4 months but instead took me nearly a year comes down to this post. As Luke told me last week, "the post that will define this whole countdown".
That's a big statement but hey, "Hakuna Matata".
I saw this movie in theaters at 7 or 8 years old. Saw it with my entire family and I still remember that day. I remember bobbing my head to the great music. I remember smiling, laughing, and getting close to crying at times. I remember leaving the movie thinking it was the best movie I had ever seen. And maybe most importantly, I remember the phrase "Hakuna Matata", a phrase sung in the movie that translates from Swahili as "There are no worries".
All 4 of those things I remember still stick with me to this day. The only difference is that instead of bobbing my head to the music, I sing the words. I'm a proud owner of the soundtrack and the trilogy of movies on DVD. And if you think I have any shame of admitting any of that, you don't know me very well.
I'm just going to assume anyone reading this has seen the movie. Nearly every kid does, whether born in 1986 or 2006. It's a movie that will never get old. In fact, even though it was 17 years old, Disney re-released the movie in 3D and it made $94 million, proving that the movie is a true American classic.
And it is one for many reasons. Reasons that sometimes are hard to describe. So instead, I'll say what I say to everyone when they ask me why is this my favorite movie.
It is the perfect combination of everything you want in a movie. Action (fight scenes), romance (Simba and Nala), comedy (Timon and Pumbaa), drama (Will Simba come back?), horror (Scar and his hyenas), tear-jerking moment (Mufasa's death), underdog story (Timon and Pumbaa being heroes), great music (seriously, buy the soundtrack), and an amazing ending (you know it). And the best part, it is enjoyable for everyone, no matter their age, race, gender, or culture.
And of course one of the biggest reasons why this is my favorite movie is because from it, I gained a personal life motto: "Hakuna Matata". The song says "it means no worries, for the rest of your days. It's a problem-free philosophy". Well, everyday, I try to live that exact way.
I'm a normally carefree, happy guy. It's not easy to rile me up and even harder for me to get angry. The phrase "Hakuna Matata" is exactly why. For me, it's the perfect mindset to get through the day in the best way. It allows for pleasant interactions with both friends and foes and keeps stress away at all times. It helps me keep a smile on my face, which I've been told, is much more attractive than my frown.
I wake up to that song every morning. No lie. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so fortunate to have seen this movie because in a way, I feel like it has guided my life. I don't have one tattoo on my body but if I ever do, you can bet that phrase from this movie will be it. It means that much to me.
So with that, I end my countdown with a movie that is not just funny, exciting, dramatic, thrilling, and downright entertaining, but a movie that has in a way, made me who I am. And THAT is why "The Lion King" is my all-time favorite movie.
TRAILER
FUN FACTS
One of the bugs that Timon pulls out of a knothole during Hakuna Matata is wearing Mickey Mouse ears.
There have been rumors that when Simba collapses on the cliff after talking with Timon and Pumbaa about stars, the dust that flies off the cliff forms the letters SEX. In fact it forms the letters SFX, the abbreviation of the special-effects team that worked on that portion of the film. For all subsequent releases more flowers and dust were added to the scene to avoid controversy.
Originally titled "King of the Jungle", it was supposed to be about African lions living in the jungle until the production team realized that lions don't live in the jungle.
The best selling home video of all time, with more than 55 million copies sold to date.
Pumbaa the Warthog was the first character in Disney films to exhibit flatulence (fart).
When Mufasa tells Simba about the Great Kings of the Past if you look at the stars in the wide shot you can see Mickey Mouse.
The lyric for the opening chant of "The Circle of Life" is: "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba / Sithi uhm ingonyama / Nants ingonyama bagithi baba / Sithi uhhmm ingonyama / Ingonyama Siyo Nqoba / Ingonyama Ingonyama nengw enamabala". This translates as: "Here comes a lion, Father / Oh yes, it's a lion / Here comes a lion, Father / Oh yes, it's a lion / A lion We're going to conquer / A lion A lion and a leopard come to this open place".
This is the second movie in which James Earl Jones (Mufasa) and Madge Sinclair (Serabi) perform together as an African King and Queen. Jones and Sinclair were also King and Queen of a fictional African nation in Coming to America.
Script writers envisioned Sean Connery as the voice of Mufasa.
MEMORABLE QUOTES
Pumbaa: [about "Hakuna Matata"] It's our motto.
Young Simba: What's a motto?
Timon: Nothing. What's a motto with you?
Zazu: Checking in with the morning report.
Mufasa: Fire away.
Zazu: Well the buzz from the bees is that the leopards are in a bit of a spot. And the baboons are going ape over this. Of course, the giraffes are acting like they're above it all... The tick birds are pecking on the elephants. I told the elephants to forget it, but they can't. The cheetahs are hard up, but I always say, cheetahs never prosper...
Pumbaa: It's times like this my buddy Timon here says: you got to put your behind in your past.
Timon: No, no, no. Amateur. Lie down before you hurt yourself. It's "You got to put your past behind you."
