How and Why I Became Infatuated with The Lion King

[LoveforTLK]

Hello fellow lion king lovers,

i was inspired to write about why i love the lion king so much today after reading the previous thread regarding why other members here love TLK. I became infatuated with the LION KING after seeing it in 3d several weeks ago for the first time since i was a kid. I can't even remember the last time i saw TLK as a kid- that's how young i was and perhaps i didn't appreciate the message back then. i really have to say i appreciate the messages in the lion king a lot more now as a 19 year old adult. Here's my story of how and why i became infatuated with the lion king. I hope you appreciate my love for the lion king as much as you do.

Why I love the lion king so much:

After watching the lion king in 3d when it came out this year, I felt a lack in my life. Something was missing and it seemed like a part of my soul was missing. I thought why I felt like this. Why would this movie make me feel like something was missing in my life? Something deep down, something I’ve wanted all my life. This was not the first time I was thinking this question and it was not the first time I felt this way either. During junior year of high school I felt this feeling of lack; a yearning for a more purposeful and meaningful life. My emotion of feeling a lack was trying to tell me something. I read articles online from self-improvement gurus on trying to figure out what I really wanted to do and what I Loved doing in my life. And back then, while writing down and contemplating about the questions, I was hitting on small hints and pieces of what I wanted to do in my life. It wasn’t until I saw the lion king this year when it came out in 3d, that the question to this answer was fulfilled. And I knew it was fulfilled once it came to my mind from sitting there on the couch with my computer writing down why I felt this horrible lack. My emotions told me, this is it. This is what I wanted in my life since I was a kid in elementary school all the way until now as a 19 year old in college.

So to address the question, why do I love the lion king so much and why did this movie have such an impact on me that no other movie has? Well, the lion king represents key themes of what I desire so bad in my life. These key themes are having strong, deep, and authentic relationships with others; going on adventures that excite you; and having the freedom to do what you want, when you want to. The relationship between simba and nala in the lion king is one with deep connections. They’ve shared experiences, such as going on adventures together as cubs, experiencing life together and sharing their areas of pain. For simba, this was when simba and nala were reunited and were sharing feelings of joy and pain from the death of mufasa and the deterioration of the pride lands. It’s no question that Simba and Nala share a strong and deep connection with each other. In my life, I have been missing these strong and deep relationships with others. I’ve had friends, but the friendships were more for playing basketball and joking around with- I’m not saying there is something wrong with having friends to joke around with, in fact, I think it’s necessary, but do not forget that having deeper relationships is important as well. I have not had many deep relationships with people in my life before and this was one subtle yet huge reason why I felt such a lack after watching the lion king.

Everyone has their own ideas of adventures, but when it comes down to it simply, adventure is whatever gives you the feeling of joy and excitement. Whatever your interests and hobbies are reveal what adventure is for you. Going on adventures is such an important part of life that cannot be ignored. Without adventures, we live our lives with no passion, no zest, and that is why people lose that energy and curiosity for life little kids have. And with the emotional songs in the lion king, the song “I just can’t wait to be king” symbolizes having the freedom to do what you want, when you want to. That is what ultimate freedom is. This is something people in society today are missing. People work to buy things they don’t really need so they can impress people they don’t really care about. It’s ironic that we live in America, where it’s supposed to be the land of the free, but its people are really chained down to work and only have two weeks of vacation a year.

The lion king is a movie that represents subtle yet significant things that I and possibly many people desire on the deepest level as human beings. Sure the lion king had a great and simple story line, it was a movie with great animation, but the true reason I love the lion king so much is because of what the movie stands for. It stands for having strong, deep, and authentic relationships with people. In other words, deep love and romance. Romance is just having a feeling of deep connection and the sexual chemistry with someone of the opposite sex. Deep friendships is almost exactly the same thing but with no sexual chemistry, because it’s between two people of the same sex. The lion king stands for living an adventurous (passionate) life, and being free to do what you want when you want, as long as you take care of your responsibilities- a life lesson to be learned from the lion king. Without the strong and emotional power and energy from the songs in the lion king, surely the subtle themes I mentioned would not be as apparent. Perhaps if that were the case, I would not have figured out what I want in my life. Songs truly can have a life-changing impact on us, and I’m glad the lion king did just that.

For me, all the songs but one in the lion king have a strong emotional impact on me. The only exception would be “Be Prepared”. Not that the song is bad, but it doesn’t have the emotional impact as the other songs do. My favorite has got to be “Can you feel the love tonight” by Elton john and the version when simba and nala are reunited. Long live the lion king!

[SweetNala]

I'm glad TLK in 3D is bringing new fans to the forums

[TheLionPrince]

Wow!! I can really relate with you in some areas of your life.

[quote="LoveforTLK"] During junior year of high school I felt this feeling of lack; a yearning for a more purposeful and meaningful life.[/quote]

Like this. I'm still trying to find my place in the great "Circle of Life", which is what The Lion King means to me. Like you, I'm on my way to college, but I'm still thinking to myself, does my future career contain my destiny or I'm just being ambitious about receiving personal fame and glory, and not helping others?

[quote="LoveforTLK"]The lion king is a movie that represents subtle yet significant things that I and possibly many people desire on the deepest level as human beings. Sure the lion king had a great and simple story line, it was a movie with great animation, but the true reason I love the lion king so much is because of what the movie stands for. It stands for having strong, deep, and authentic relationships with people. In other words, deep love and romance. Romance is just having a feeling of deep connection and the sexual chemistry with someone of the opposite sex. Deep friendships is almost exactly the same thing but with no sexual chemistry, because it’s between two people of the same sex. The lion king stands for living an adventurous (passionate) life, and being free to do what you want when you want, as long as you take care of your responsibilities- a life lesson to be learned from the lion king. Without the strong and emotional power and energy from the songs in the lion king, surely the subtle themes I mentioned would not be as apparent. Perhaps if that were the case, I would not have figured out what I want in my life. Songs truly can have a life-changing impact on us, and I’m glad the lion king did just that.[/quote]

Hmm. I never really thought about the movie as that. I must say, this is an excellent observation on your part as well as what you stated above that with Simba and Nala's relationship with each other through their times of joy and sadness being a very strong, deep relationship that you strongly long for. I do pray you that you find what the right relationship you're looking for as you get older.

[quote="LoveforTLK"]For me, all the songs but one in the lion king have a strong emotional impact on me. The only exception would be “Be Prepared”. Not that the song is bad, but it doesn’t have the emotional impact as the other songs do. My favorite has got to be “Can you feel the love tonight” by Elton john and the version when simba and nala are reunited. Long live the lion king![/quote]

The song was never meant to be emotional. In Scar's view, the song is his yearning for an "adventurous" life through means of murdering his own brother and nephew to get the throne. Since your view of TLK centers around the importance of friendship and love, the song is very opposite of that. Scar isn't looking for friendship (not even with his hyena minions, whom he sees as tools for his rise to power) and certainly not for love; he's only out for himself and doesn't care who has to step on to get what he wants.

Aforementioned, your view of the movie is also about living an adventurous life being free to do what you want, and "Be Prepared" is like this, but in a darker, evil tone.

[Regulus]

3 months ago, if you were to tell me I would sign up and post a reply on a Lion King forum, I would think you're crazy.

You might not believe me; honestly, I don't even care. But actually, the day before I saw TLK, I wrote this:

"I am looking for something; I don't know what it is, where it is, or when I might find it, but I know there's something missing. Probably not material, but knowledge. I seek information. A new perspective. A new point of view. Perhaps it's something in the past that I'm trying to recall. Perhaps it's something related to my future. I honestly have no idea.

Something is changing. I think maybe my subconscious brain is telling me that I need to change. I must be looking for information, so that I can gather a new perspective on life, and then use that as a bridge to better myself."

I found what I was looking for when I watched TLK that very next day. It was exactly what you described: freedom and deep friendships.

So, yes, my experience is extremely similar.

Welcome to MLK, by the way.

[SimbasGuard]

Wow that is impressive, I'm glad Lion King was so helpful to you.

[LoveforTLK]

I think it's definitely all right to want to have fame and glory, since we are young, i can understand. In the beginning we are all self-interested human beings. we cannot dedicate ourselves and our lives to helping others until we feel satisfied with ourselves. But when we finally achieve our glory or what ever it is we want, then we automatically begin to think about contributing to the world and not just focus on our own desires. It's based off of Maslows Hierarchy of needs.

TLK is made for kids, but in many ways TLK speaks to adults on a deeper level. When i watched it as a kid, i enjoyed the movie but i never viewed it in depth as i do now. I'm glad to know that other people feel similarly as i do. Do you ever consider being a minimalist? Minimalism stresses spending money on only the necessary things in life and saving a majority of your money to doing things you really want to do. If you must, spend money when you are with your friends as if you guys are planning to go out to eat or see a movie. Spending money on experiences is a whole lot more worth it that spending money on unnecessary materialism. After i graduate from college and start working, I plan to live on a close to minimalism lifestyle and saving up money so i can pursue adventurous hobbies. Regarding forming stronger and deeper relationships with others, i find that sitting and talking with a friend is necessary. If you are always doing something with a friend but never get a chance to just talk, it's harder to transition into deeper topics. Transitioning into deeper topics and showing vulnerability is absolutely vital to becoming closer with others. I'm really curious, what are your plans to make that freedom and creating stronger relationships with others a reality?

[Noah]

[quote="LoveforTLK"]TLK is made for kids, but in many ways TLK speaks to adults on a deeper level.[/quote]
I can't agree with you enough! I'm a big movie fanatic, but The Lion King is my favorite film. There is so much to take in that you don't when you're younger. Anyway, thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum!

[Regulus]

[quote="LoveforTLK"]I'm really curious, what are your plans to make that freedom and creating stronger relationships with others a reality?[/quote]

Well, mostly, I've been trying to be a bit more friendly. Very rarely do I just sit around and talk with friends, but I have been making an effort to change that. I have also been trying to make new friends, and while it's a slow process, I am managing to pull it off.

Minimalism is an idea that has always appealed to me, although much more so now. It's the whole "Hakuna Matata" philosophy that got to me. Temporarily living a simple life at Walden pond like Thoreau did actually sounds like a good idea to me. I get so tired of all this work for school I have to do. I take my schoolwork too seriously, and I rarely, if ever actually step back, relax, and enjoy life. I'm trying to stop being such an overachiever, and live a simpler life, although it isn't easy.

I have also been trying to plan out some vacations for next year, although we'll see how that goes. I will be graduating in a few months, so that's always a good excuse.

[LoveforTLK]

what do you usually talk about when you are with friends? I have had two close friends in my life so far and what i have noticed that it is vital to talk about deeper more personal topics in order to form deeper connections with others. and here's the golden nugget of them all, if you really want to connect with someone, transition into topics that you can mention the areas of pain in your life. One of my closest friends right now, that relationship was established over one night when we were just sitting in the car and talking and he told my brother and I a story about something personal in his life that caused him pain. and if you listen and really be curious and be nonjudgmental towards this person, you will connect with them on such a deep level. i left that night after talking to him feeling such a deep connection with my friend. Keep in mind that prior to that night, we were just friends that i would strike up simple conversations with at school. In a way, nnot to sound gay by any means, but the next morning when we met up again, i was with two other friends and my brother, and my brother and i walked up to him, it was a moment as if my two other friends were just extra people on a movie set and it was just me, my brother, and my friend that mattered. it's really an amazing feeling when you connect with someone on a deep level.

And I definitely know what you mean when you say that you have a lot of schoolwork. for most, school work is not related to where our interests really lie and spending so much time on work that does not appease to us can be quite soul crushing. I've spent many years in middle school and high school really focusing on academics- which is a big reason why i haven't been as focused developing more relationships with people- because my parents always tell me that getting a good job that pays well is important. What do you really want to do in your life after you graduate?

[Regulus]

[quote="LoveforTLK"]what do you usually talk about when you are with friends? I have had two close friends in my life so far and what i have noticed that it is vital to talk about deeper more personal topics in order to form deeper connections with others. and here's the golden nugget of them all, if you really want to connect with someone, transition into topics that you can mention the areas of pain in your life. One of my closest friends right now, that relationship was established over one night when we were just sitting in the car and talking and he told my brother and I a story about something personal in his life that caused him pain. and if you listen and really be curious and be nonjudgmental towards this person, you will connect with them on such a deep level. i left that night after talking to him feeling such a deep connection with my friend.[/quote]

Normally, I would avoid such situations. The thought of showing weakness has always made me very uncomfortable. Additionally, in the past, I've always regretted talking about personal things. In fact, it has even made me question whether or not I actually have any true friends.

[quote="LoveforTLK"]And I definitely know what you mean when you say that you have a lot of schoolwork. for most, school work is not related to where our interests really lie and spending so much time on work that does not appease to us can be quite soul crushing. I've spent many years in middle school and high school really focusing on academics- which is a big reason why i haven't been as focused developing more relationships with people- because my parents always tell me that getting a good job that pays well is important. What do you really want to do in your life after you graduate?[/quote]

I have been almost entirely focused on academics all throughout secondary school. In many ways, I don't think that's a bad thing, not at all. Some of my interests actually are relevant to some of my classes, so I wouldn't say it's soul crushing. I just need to learn that there's nothing wrong with making C's, and as long as I'm passing, there's nothing to be worried about. Sometimes I lose sleep because I think I'm not going to do very well, but I always end up doing fine. Then I realize I was concerned over nothing, and could have spent my time doing whatever.

Most importantly, after I graduate, I just want a steady income. Once I have that, then I'll be able to focus on the other areas of my life. I plan on going into the engineering field; not for the money, but because that's actually what I want to do. That is how I will be able to contribute to society.