Lion King for adults-Some observations from the Cat

[TheBlackCatCrossing]

[Regulus]

Just something I'd like to add: http://www.mylionking.com/theatre/lk/an ... ?clip=scar

Scar is a fictional character. His sexual orientation is ambiguous because it doesn't really exist. Sure, he was animated to be more expressive than Mufasa, but that's for reasons explained in that video.

Scar was created as a devious, cunning villain. He was not created with a specific sexuality, just like Nala wasn't created with a specific father. We can only speculate. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.

[TheBlackCatCrossing]

How did you all react when you finally made the connection between Scar and the hyenas and the Nazi goose step? For me, I thought it was darkly clever and added another emotional dimension to TLK.

[DGFone]

The whole Scar-Hitler and hyena-Nazis thing is a rather nice tough in my opinion. It also shows how Scar treats the hyenas - that in the end, no matter what he tells them, they are nothing more than tools to be used for his own personal gain.

Hitler allowed Germany to be trashed in the end of WWII when it failed him. Scar abandoned the hyenas as soon as he saw that they were losing. In both cases, the tyrant had no love for their subjects, and when their ambitions got a hold of them past the point of sustainability (Scar's careless ruling, Hitler's war), both blamed their subjects instead of themselves on their failures.

[TheBlackCatCrossing]

Anyone else wanna share their unconventional ideas? Come on, don't be shy. I'll think of more and then post them.

[TheLionPrince]

Well, I'm not sure if there's anything new I can add to this discussion since pretty much everything has been discussed.

So, I pretty much agree with "the Cat" and KentuckyWildCat on the use of the "Muslim cresent moon" at the end of "Be Prepared".

Regulus's opinion on Scar's sexuality is the same as mine own.

And I fully agree with the OP and CGW (to an extent) on the portrayal of the lions and hyenas.

As for the goose-stepping hyenas, I was surprised at this, and wondered whether it was intentional. Only to find out that it was through the audio commentary, I believe.

And about the socio-political themes in the movie, I likened TLK as an allegory to illegal immigration in the United States. You see, there's a kingdom ruled by Mufasa, and he has to protect the borders of the Pride Lands from the hyenas. This is nearly the same as the President and the army protecting the borders from illegal immigrants. Once Scar (whom I find similar to a liberal politican) gives the hyenas "amnesty", they take away all the resources (food, water, etc.) for themselves, similiar to immigrants taking away jobs from the U.S. citizens, and the Pride Lands fails to function properly. After the hyenas are gone does the "economy" of the kingdom rebounds.

[DGFone]

I don't really think that the Lion King has allegories to illegal immigration. Remember that the movie was released in 1994, so it was in full production in the early 1990s. Back then, the American economy was in full swing, and only getting better.

While yes, there were problems with illegal immigration back then, no one really cared about it that much: the argument that Mexicans are stealing American jobs only came about after the .com bubble burst - after 2000, and now in our current recession as well. But as for when The Lion King was in production, I don't think illegal immigration was on anyone's minds.

[TheLionPrince]

I don't really think that the Lion King has allegories to illegal immigration. Remember that the movie was released in 1994, so it was in full production in the early 1990s. Back then, the American economy was in full swing, and only getting better.

While yes, there were problems with illegal immigration back then, no one really cared about it that much: the argument that Mexicans are stealing American jobs only came about after the .com bubble burst - after 2000, and now in our current recession as well. But as for when The Lion King was in production, I don't think illegal immigration was on anyone's minds.

Yeah, I highly doubt the filmmakers were planning for this film as an allegory to illegal immigration or to any political issue or event. It was just a weird connection I thought up. If TLK is an allegory to anything, it's an allegory of life.

[TheBlackCatCrossing]

There's no right or wrong answer. As long as we're all respectful, that's all that matters. That being said, that is a keen viewpoint, LionPrince.

[TheBlackCatCrossing]

Okay everyone, what did you think about this the first time you saw it?



Even back then I knew what was implied but as an adult now, I shake my head and laugh. I think 'I can't believe they got away with that!' To me, this image was VERY sexual. Thoughts? This along with Esmeralda's striptease dancing make me think "How did the censors ignore that one?"


Anyone?