You South Africa – 08 August 2019

COMPILEDBYSANDRAVISSER

Fromtheopeningscenewhich sees the

sunrisingovertheAfricansavanna to the

animalsmakingtheirway across the

pridelandsasSimba( JD McCrary) is

presentedtotheanimalkingdom, famil-

iarscenesfromthe 1994 original film fill

youwitha senseofbeautiful nostalgia.

Justliketheoriginal,The Lion King

tellsthestoryoflioncubSimba, who’s set

tofollowinthefootstepsof his respected

father,KingMufasa( James Earl Jones).

Butnoteveryoneinthekingdom wants

Simbatofulfilhisroyaldestiny, most no-

tablyhisuncle,Scar(Chiwetel Ejiofor).

DirectorFavreau,who was also re-

sponsiblefortheremakeofTheJungle

Animatedadventure.Voices:DonaldGloverand

SethRogen.Director:JonFavreau. PG V.

CHILLOUT|WHATTOWATCH Book (2016),hasbroughtanotherDis-

ney classic to vivid life – from the photo-

realistic animals to the sounds of nature

such as the lions’ roars, you feel like

you’re completely immersed in the nat-

ural world.

The characters might not be as ani-

mated in expressing their personalities

as in the original and there are minor

changes in the script and the songs, but

it all works beautifully. South Africans

will also appreciate the local touch of

Rafiki ( John Kani) speaking Xhosa.

Even after all these years, the heart-

rending scene after Mufasa’s death is like-

ly to move you to tears. While many have

dubbed it “Beyoncé’s movie” because of

the superstar singer’s involvement in

the film, including the soundtrack, it’s

actually the warthog and meerkat duo

Pumbaa (Rogen) and Timon (Billy Eich-

ner) who steal the show with their sharp

wit and hilarious antics. A must-see for

thewholefamily.– SHANAAZPRINCE

Simba with the hilarious

Pumbaa and Timon, who steal

the show in the new version

of The Lion King.

AT THE
CINEMA

The Lion King

M-NET

THEROOKIE

StartsMonday 12 Augustat20:00.

Ifyou’rea fanofcrimeseriesCastle or

itscharmingleadingman,Nathan Fillion,

youcouldgivethisnewseriesa try.

FillionplaysJohnNolan,a 45-year-

oldconstruction-companyowner who’s

goingthrougha toughdivorce.After

beingcaughtupina bankrobbery and

experiencingtheadrenalineoffighting

crime,Johndecidestopackuphis life

andmovetoLosAngelestobecome

theoldestrookiepoliceofficerin the

department.Canheprovetohis new

colleaguesthathe’smorethanjust a

walkingmidlifecrisis?

TheRookieco-starsRichardT Jones

(JudgingAmy)andEricWinter(Days of

OurLives’RexBrady).

NETFLIX

TITANS

The Teen Titans started out as a side-

kick team to DC Comics’ Justice League

and are probably best known in their

funny cartoon incarnation, Teen Titans

Go! But with an age restriction of 16 this

live-action version isn’t for little ones.

The series is centred on Batman’s

sidekick, Robin aka Dick Grayson

(Maleficent’s Brenton Thwaites), who’s

left Gotham and is working as a police

detective in Detroit. He meets a teenag-

er (Teagan Croft), whose mom has been

killed by a weird cult trying to abduct her.

Titans has been especially praised for

its acting ensemble, which also includes

Minka Kelly as Dove, a former ballerina

who fights crime with her partner, Hawk

(Alan Ritchson). – DENNIS CAVERNELIS

Series

DVDS SUPPLIED BY VIDEORITE, FISH HOEK

• FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK

DONNYBROOK

Drama. Jamie Bell

has certainly moved on

since the days of Billy

Elliot – and in this case

not for the better. He’s

a talented actor but

the role of Jarhead Earl

(the name says it all)

is one step too far. He

and rival Chainsaw

Angus (I kid you not) –

played by The Grey’s

Frank Grillo – prepare

to compete in a legendary bare-knuckle fight

where the winner gets a $100 000 prize.

Some might call it atmospheric, others ago-

nisingly slow. But if dark, depressing and unre-

lentingly violence is your thing, then give it a try.

• JANE SURTEES

2018. 101 MIN. 18DLNSV.

HAPPYDEATHDAY

2U

Horror comedy. This

is a sequel to Happy

Death Day ( 2017 ), in

which Tree Gelbman

(Jessica Rothe) died

over and over until she

could find out the iden-

tity of her killer with

the creepy baby mask.

Tree is in the same

university res room,

but this time it’s her

friend Carter Davis (Israel Broussard) experienc-

ing one day over and over. Then other students

also start repeatedly dying and waking up on the

same day, with one death bloodier than the last.

Unfortunately, the film then starts going off

the rails as the characters try to figure out why

this keeps happening. Some things are just bet-

ter left unexplained. – PIETER VAN ZYL

2019. 97 MIN. 16HLV. ALSO ON DSTV BOX OFFICE.

DVDs

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES, UNIVERSAL PICTURES, IFC FILMS, AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANY

60 | 8 AUGUST 2019 you.co.za

A All ages

D

Drugs

H

Horror

L

Language

N

Nudity

P

Prejudice

PG

Parental guidance

S

Sex

V

Violence