Beyoncé was the stain on this production. I find it baffling that there was consensus at Disney to cast her for this. Not only is her voice undoubtably distinguishable, which takes you out of the fantasy of it all, but she’s a terrible actress. Her lines are dry and emotionless. Very disappointing.
I'm surprised that no article has mentioned that Elton John is actually a couple people down in that line...
That’s entertainment?
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35 lines too many, judging from hearing her mediocre voice work in the trailer for this unnecessary money grab.
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Why is this even in the NYT?
I'm all for "movie insider fun obscure factoids" but this is almost non-information.
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I find these pop royalty references (Queen bey, my queen, my king) extremely obnoxious. They are celebrities with optional talents. First we hype them up, then tut-tut when they act like divas.
Let's move out of the royalty obsession dungeon, and start grading them as people and how they act towards others if not on their art alone.
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First, I'll admit I'm just not a huge Beyonce fan. I don't drink the Kool-Aid. Second, I did not know she voiced Nala when I saw the film. I found Nala's voice to be the most distracting in the movie. Instead of thinking abt the lines(lions, also) or action, it made me think of a woman voicing the lines. The movie is fantastic while telling the story we all know so well -- animated, Broadway, etc. The technology makes it so real that you're swept up in the story again and, of course, those wonderful songs you sing along to which the Dad next to me did to his little son's delight (not obnoxious --sweet). With or without Beyonce, it's a nice summer family outing so just GO and drink the Icee, not the Kool-Aid.
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I went last night to see the Lion King. Beyonce has such a distinct voice whether she is singing or speaking. I loved the movie with all my people. Naturally there were tears this time around for me. This is the circle of life, especially as we age
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Why do the royals never know what to do with their hands?
Meh. It’s kinds odd how obsessive some people are of her.
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I agree. Plus, the music for the “Simba crosses the desert on his way home” sequence was always one of my favorite moments in the iconic original. It’s ruined now because of that lame new song.
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@Nick Exactly! She really isn’t all that. Just a bunch of hype.
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