Displaying items by tag: Donald Glover

THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE

US/France/Japan, 2026, 98 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Donald Glover, Brie Larson, Benny Safdie, Kevin Michael Richardson, Keegan-Michael Key, AnyaTaylor-Joy, Jack Black, Luis Guzman, Issa Rae, Glen Powell.

Directed by Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc.

For 40 years the Super Mario Bros and entertained generations all around the world. They are identified with Nintendo and computer and video games. There was a live-action feature in the 1990s, not well received or reviewed, starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo.

However, the games and the programs developed, with special appeal to younger players and audiences, and, as the years pass, happy memories of now adults and parents. 2023 saw the first feature length animated version of Super Mario action.

The present film serves as something of a movie icon worldwide with its immediate success on release, breaking records, audiences flocking to see it, millions of dollars.

One might say that the production is hyper-spectacular, the range of animation figures, humans, creatures, spacecraft, castles and builders, action in space.

While the two brothers, plumbers in their overalls, are ordinary characters, Mario forceful, Luigi of less effective, they are presented as ordinary heroes in extraordinary galaxy adventures and rescues. But, there is a strong female presence, especially in Princess Peach, definitely coming to the rescue. The three are voiced by Chris Pratt, Charlie Day and Anya Taylor-Joy. And, for so many of the multi-varied characters, a wonderful array of voices which adult audiences will be enjoying, Glenn Powell, Jack Black, Brie Larson…

And, while there are heroics, there is also the money, and ambitions for not only world power but Galaxy power. Ambitious Bowser at one stage says to his son, in Jack Black’s voice, “I want to stand on the ashes of the world…” (And, at the time of its release in early 2026, Donald Trump was offering similar sentiments about Iran.)

So, excitement for the younger audiences, experiencing it in the cinema, experiencing the big wide screen and heightened sound, an invitation to come to the cinema more often. Extraordinary the way that animation films have developed over recent decades.

But, adults accompanying the children might find that this one is more than enough for them, Super Mario comedy and drama all over the galaxies.

MUFASA: THE LION KING

US, 2024, 120 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Blue Ivy Carter, John Kani, Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Thandiwe Newton, Lenny James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Donald Glover, Beyonce.

Directed by Barry Jenkins.

In the 1990s, the Disney studios produced a succession of striking animation films, 1989 in The Little Mermaid, then Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin. 1994 introduced The Lion King who has stayed popular and in our consciousness ever since, leading to a Broadway musical, some sequels, of live action re-making 2019. And, now, the prequel in the early life of more far so and his becoming the Lion King.

Technically, Mufasa is significant in its re-creation of the range of animals, the pride of Lions, the hostile White Lions, Rafiki the storyteller and the meerkat, Timon, and the warthog, Pumbaa and a whole range of African plains animals from elephants to giraffes. There is plenty to delight audiences who enjoy seeing these animals.

But, the significant aspect is that they speak, the manipulation of their mouths to make this sound authentic, and a range of voice cast led by Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr as Mufasae and his friend Taki who, we know, will become his brother then his enemy, Scar. There are also other well-known voices, especially Mads Mikkelson as the hostile King of the White Lions, contrasting with John Kani as the the storyteller (reprising his role from the 2019 film) and, unexpectedly, lots of chatter and cheeky references, even to the musical, with Seth Rogen voicing Pumbaa and Billy Eichner, Timon.

In the present, so to speak, Simba’s daughter, Kiara (voiced Beyonce’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter), is anxious as her father leaves for a meeting. The wise Rafiki is prevailed upon to tell the story of Mufasa, his childhood, his relationship with Scar, his becoming the Lion King. And Rafiki has the chorus commentators. At key moments during the film, the narrative returns to the present and some episodes with Kiara and the storytellers.

At the beginning of Rafiki’s tale, Mufasa and his parents are isolated, drought, dangers, and the pursuing dangerous White Lions, hoping for a peaceful further valley and their making their way towards it. But, tragedies, Mufasa is lost, encountering other lions but considered an outsider, a stray. However, he makes a good impression – but, at the expense of his father’s love for his son, Taki, who has rescued Mufasa from crocodiles.

On the one hand, there are many playful sequences and family affectionate moments to delight. On the other hand, there are many fearsome moments with the pursuit of the White Lions, Taki and his betrayal of Mufasa, his sinister behaviour and an ultimate confrontation.

We are anticipating the happy ending when Mufasa will be recognised by all the animals as the leader, he being modest and self-deprecating, but responding to the acclaim and ascending to the sloping cliff to take his iconic stance.

1. The long popularity of The Lion King, animation film, Broadway musical, sequels, the 2019 live action, this prequel?
2. The range of voices, African-American voices?
3. The musical score, the range of songs, Lin Manuel Miranda, lyrics?
4. The style of the film, special effects work, the range of animals, action, voices and the credibility of their mouth movement and speaking? Layout and backgrounds?
5. The setting, Simba, audience knowledge of the future, Rafiki and his telling the story, the gathering of the animals, the Circle of Life, Timon and Pumbaa, the original film, comedy, the wisecracks, the references to the film and musical, the comic chorus? Kiara, apprehensive, wanting to hear the story of Mufasa? The flashbacks and the continued returning to the storytelling and the comments?
6. The situation, Mufasa and his parents, difficulties, the terrain, the dry, the outside alliance and her persecutions, the vision of the future beyond the sunrise, the tragedy, Mufasa and his being lost, in the river, the crocodiles, his being pulled out to safety by Taki?
7. Mufasa as lost, not astray, Taki’s father rejecting him, the mother compassionate, the bonding of the two young lions, their adventures together, hopes and joy? (And the audience knowing that Taki would become Scar?)
8. The pursuing lions, the fights between the young lions, the death of the white lion, the anger, his father, the blame on Mufasa, Taki and is avoiding responsibility? The consequences, the pursuit, Mufasa fighting the white lion, Taki, his fears, betrayal, leaving the marks for the white lions to pursue?
9. Taki and his father, the race, Mufasa winning, the challenge to Taki, his father’s disapproval, sending him away?
10. The themes of friendship, fear, betrayal, self-protection, the friend becoming a victim?
11. The range of adventures, the falling over the cliff, surviving, underwater, the rescue? The continued travels, the rain, the floods?
12. The other animals, the giraffes, the comments, the fears of the pursuing lions, the well being of Mufasa and Taki, their mother?
13. The arrival of the white lions, the confrontation, the revelation of the truth, Taki and his scar, the fights, Mufasa winning?
14. The acceptance of all the animals, his modesty, the qualities of a king, the acceptance, scar and his exile? And Mufasa are going to the cliff, the visual emblem always of The Lion King?