King's Analysis #1: The Lion King

It's hard to believe that 20 years ago to this day, arguably the single greatest and most generation defining animated film of all time was released, and no one really knew what to expect.  After all, Disney had all but stomped out any and all competition to their reign as kings of animation, but this new picture wasn't a well known story like The Little Mermaid or Aladdin.  And with the expected success of Pocahontas, everyone at Disney pretty much accepted the fact that their little "Bambi in Africa" project would probably fall by the wayside and never be asked about ever again.

To the shock and everlasting pleasure of most people, The Lion King was a monumental success, coming dangerously close to dethroning Jurassic Park as the most successful movie of all time, and garnering critical acclaim and almost unmatchable fan followings.  What was it about The Lion King that made an entire world fall in love with characters and ideas we knew nothing about?  What is it about this film that reaches people?  That is what I'm going to delve into today for a new project we're working on here at SimbaKing94 Productions.  In this new series, I'm going to go in depth, analyzing the good, the bad, and the ugly about some of the most critically acclaimed motion pictures of all time, and some of the most despised films in cinematic history.  Seeing as how today. June 24th, is the 20th anniversary of one of the most beloved animated films of all time, we've chosen The Lion King first.  So, is everybody ready?  Here we go....

1. Backstory

There are several stories to the beginning of this project.  Many say that it was a pitch idea from the author of "The Brave Little Toaster".  Others give credit to Jeffery Katzenberg, Peter Schneider, and Roy Disney, all of whom began thinking about an Africa movie while promoting Oliver and Company in Europe.  But a general story idea was in place by the fall of 1990, and was an extremely different film than the final project.

As 1990 became 1991, and Disney was beginning to expand on several projects, "Bambi in Africa" was put into development, with Oliver director George Scribner and acclaimed Disney storyman Roger Allers set to direct, Rescuers Down Under producer Tom Schumacher producing, and a small production team began sculpting ideas for a National Geographic film that was to be animated.  The team, led by Allers and Scribner, set out to Kenya to gain an artistic influence from Africa, and many fell in love with the continent.

It was very early into production that Schumacher began to talk with Tim Rice about making "Bambi in Africa" into a musical.  Rice, who had stepped in to help Alan Menken finish writing the songs for Aladdin after the death of Howard Ashman, was adamant that in order to make it a musical, they needed a good story and great musicians to mold the gritty story into a full fledged Disney Musical.  Though Rice first insisted on ABBA and Menken, Studio Chief Jeffery Katzenberg rejected ABBA and Menken chose to work on Pocahontas.  Rice's next choice (though a far fetched idea according to him), was rockstar Elton John.  Though reluctant that they'd be able to book John, the teams were stunned to find out that John was extremely eager to write the music for a Disney Animated film.

Scribner and Allers butted heads about the story.  Scribner was adamant about making the film into an animated wildlife documentary, with just musical score and animation moving the film forward, dismissing the idea of having Elton John write music for the movie.  Allers, fresh off of propelling Beauty and the Beast into hyperdrive, leaned more towards the fresher Disney approach that was making the studio more successful.  Scribner was ultimately removed from the project and was replaced by Rob Minkoff.  Schumacher changed his position to Executive Producer, while Beast's producer Don Hahn was brought on board to produce the film.  With a story in shambles, an indecisive head of the team, and initially bizarre looks at Elton John songs, "King of the Jungle" was an absolute mess.

Desperate to not lose the project, Katzenberg appointed several storywriters to help fuel the picture, even letting Hahn recruit Beauty and the Beast directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale to help reshape the story.  Despite a project back on it's feet, Katzenberg conceded that if "Jungle" were to make $50 million dollars, he'd be fine with it, citing the strong feedback coming from the team that was working on Pocahontas.  This gave the younger animation team, led by unproven people like Chris Sanders (who would go on to direct Lilo and Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon), Brenda Chapman (who would direct The Prince of Egypt and Brave), and Randy Fullmer (who would help create The Emperor's New Groove), the desire to prove everyone wrong and make "Jungle" into the next Aladdin.

While the story was being reworked, casting was called for, as the directors began to search for the perfect roles for each character.  James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Rowan Atkinson were just some of the many stars brought on board for the picture, now renamed The Lion King.

The turning point for the picture became the hiring of acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer to write the musical score for the film.  Zimmer was among the most beloved composers, despite not having won an Oscar yet.  With him, Zimmer brought on board his friend Lebo M. from South Africa, who is best known for giving the film it's opening chant as the sun rises in "Circle of Life".  Lebo and his people brought to the project their own personal turmoils through which many suffered through, particularly apartheid.  The African choirs would add a strong sense of realism to the project, something that would be duplicated in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Frozen.

In the fall of 1993, as the film was nearing completion, Disney decided to take a different approach and released the entire opening to the film as a teaser trailer for the film.  The reaction to the trailer was outrageous, and people began to question if the film would actually not only be a smash hit, or could it perhaps outgross a film like Jurassic Park or Aladdin.  Chris Sanders summed it up the best when he said:

"This is either going to be HUGE, or it's not going to work at all"

The buildup and optimism began to grow rapidly for the film, as many of the Disney releases on video began to give people little tidbits more of information about the film (the theatrical trailer can be seen on the original video release for The Return of Jafar).  Still, there was reason to caution.  Disney hadn't had a significant hit in theaters since Aladdin, and the pressure was growing rapidly.  Then, the Northridge Earthquake prevented dozens from being able to reach the studio, prompting the film to be finished in garages.  

Then, of course, came the tragedy of company president Frank Wells, which unloaded seeds of disarray and discontent within the ranks of the Walt Disney Company.  Katzenberg began to push for Frank's job (after pushing and nudging from colleagues in Hollywood), Roy Disney began to protest both Michael Eisner and Katzenberg, and an infamous Wall Street Journal article about Katzenberg "saving" Disney Animation.  Knowing all too well that the writing was on the wall, after the enormous opening weekend of The Lion King ($45 million), he resigned, signifying the end of the golden years of the Disney Renaissance.  

2. Storytelling

Unlike the fairy tales that Disney had been producing, The Lion King had the advantage (or disadvantage depending on your point of view) of not being grounded by one overarching story.  Influence was drawn from various places, from Shakespearean pieces like "Hamlet" and Macbeth", to biblical themes and messages.  That was a huge advantage, because it gave the film a scale.  While the other animated films released during this era had their grand moments, every second of this film makes it seem like it's grander and more important than other films released in the era.  

3. Emotional Resonance 

When you hear people talk about The Lion King, most people bring up the emotional roller coaster ride the film lets us travel on.  People tend to relate more to Simba and his adventures in the Pridelands over Aladdin and his own escapades, because we get to see and learn about the lion cubs backstory.  We see ourselves in Simba's shoes, wondering if we would be as selfish and prideful if we knew an entire savannah was under our control.  We learn to care for Mufasa, even seeing some of our father in him, and are torn apart when he is killed by Scar.  We are able to see our own lives and out own growing up experiences within a story that would have otherwise been scoffed off by the entire world as confusing.  For those of you who don't like this movie, I reccomend you watch it again, but this time picture yourself in the role of Simba or of Mufasa.  Imagine the scenes of this story in your own life.  I doubt you've ever dealt with a stampede, but just visualize your own life and the roads you have taken on the way to adulthood to fully grasp this film.

But it's not just the audiences that feel this way.  Hans Zimmer was quoted on the documentary "Pride of The Lion King", in which he details about dealing with the thought of losing his father at a young age, allowing him to get deeply involved with the emotions of the score, which prompted him to win his first Oscar.  Jeffery Katzenberg says that the film illustrates his own life in some scenes, dealing with growing up and taking responsibility for yourself.  Many animators and people involved with the production can trace a bit of themselves in this film, which is why so many people are drawn to it.  

4. Musical Tapestry

The music, like the music of the previous films, is able to tell the story and help give us an emotional connection to these characters and scenes.  Elton John brings his own bag of tricks to this show, giving us many melodies with which we cannot get out of our heads.  Tim Rice, as he did with Aladdin, gives us lyrics that are not only applicable to our own lives, but to the story.  

But it's Hans Zimmer's dramatic score that gives us the real sense of being in Africa and actually journeying with Simba on his adventure.  A score which ranges from heavy and serious, to playful and humorous, to moody and depressing, Zimmer manages to bring us an entire plethora of emotions in just a few notes.  That takes serious skill to do.  

5. Artistic Endeavors

While I will probably concede that Aladdin is superiorly animated, you cannot talk about beautiful animation without bringing up The Lion King.  Lead by the most talented animation department in the world, Disney Animators studied and observed various animals and African backgrounds and settings to make their film as realistic as possible, while not losing the fantastical edge that Disney is best known for.  

6. Cultural Impact

For nearly 20 years, The Lion King reigned as the crown jewel in the Disney library, being the most successful film in their library not accounting for inflation.  But the film has passed the baton of Disney's great legacy onto Frozen, which looks to keep the Disney legacy alive for many generations to come.  But while Frozen is indeed the new top dog, one mustn't forget the legacy with which Frozen has added.  This doesn't just include The Lion King.  It includes every animated film that has flown from the drawing boards, to theater screens, to home video, and sometimes even to theater.  

I think that these two films will hold their own legacies for the next several years, being both the highest and most widely acclaimed animated films of all time, and some of the most beloved by fans.  In many ways, these two films are similar, but not the same.  Frozen appeals to this current generation, combining the classical Disney songs of old with the more pop musical inclined, which that other film also did.  

The Lion King, regardless of it's thrashing at the hands of Frozen, will hold it's place in the hearts of millions of people around the world and never waver from the public's eye.  With a film studio that was gaining momentum, the Disney Studio took a huge gamble and made a film that proved that an animated film didn't need people to be successful.  If an animated film can touch people on a large and emotional scale, than that film deserves to be held in the highest esteem.  And Disney's 32nd Animated film is just that, managing to bring an entire world to watch a film that will never leave our hearts and will be around for us to show our children for all time and forever.  

Rant of the Month: Complexity of Character

I am a subscriber to "The Write Practice".  Each day, I get emails from the publishers, giving me useful hints about writing and becoming a better writer.  But one of these days, I got a post about Villain Complexity, and it said that in order for a villain to work, it is essential that the villain have a relatable and legitimate backstory.  Um...what?  Why do villains have to be complex?  Perhaps a greater question: Why is complexity so important these days?

It seems everywhere these days, villains and heroes and even sidekicks are getting these deep and thought provoking backstories.  You can see these backstories everywhere throughout movies, books, TV series, video games, etc.  Hollywood seemed to work well in the old days with about 1 or 2 complex characters every three movies.

Why is the complexity of characters so important?  Does a story really thrive on that?  Or is there some aspect of storytelling people are overlooking in favor of unnecessarily deep characters?  That's what I'm here to look at.

1. What is Complexity of Character?

Complexity of Character is when a writer or storyteller gives a specific character motivation for doing what they do or in forwarding the plot.  Complexity of Character is prevalent in real life.  Have you ever heard of the phrase, "There are two sides to every story?"  In real life, more often than not, this statement is fairly accurate.  Let's say a thief steals a loaf of bread from a grocery store.  The store clerk feels angered and agitated that his bread was stolen and he couldn't make a sale on it.   His motivation is his pursuit of justice to see the criminal locked away.

But what about the thief's motivation?  What caused him to lash out and steal that bread?  Was it desperation?  Was it the need to feed his starving children?  Or did the store clerk do something that hurt or inflicted suffering on the man?  Perhaps the thief was once an employee and the store clerk fired him because he needed to save his money.

News stories often disregard the criminal's reasoning and allow justice to be served.  Often, the criminal deserves what was coming to him, be it life in prison or the death penalty.  But sometimes, a man or woman could be perfectly innocent or have a legitimate reason for doing that act and never have the chance to air out their opinions and reasons.  My uncle, a NYPD officer, told me once that "An innocent man is thrown in jail every day."  It seems unfair to me that severe crooks and criminals seem to get away with anything they want (Fred Wilpon and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig are guilty of this), while an innocent man is taken down because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Motivation is critical to many aspects of life.

2. Why is Complexity of Character not needed?



But it is not always essential in storytelling.  More often than not, a characters actions far outweigh his judgement.  When people think of "Othello", they remember that Iago was a ruthless and evil manipulator serving his own purposes.  But does anyone outside of a die hard Shakespeare fan remember his motivation?  When people remember the deeds over the judgment, that character is fine enough as he or she is.  The same can be said for the Wicked Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  We didn't know why the Queen needed to be the most beautiful in the land.  All we knew was that she was willing to do anything in her power to become the Fairest in the Land, even have her huntsman kill Snow White and bring her heart back in a box.  It always irks me that people say that these villains are boring because they aren't interesting or complex enough.  Doesn't the attempted murder of a stepchild on TWO occasions count for something?  How is that not interesting?  Disney has gotten away with having little character development literally DOZENS of times with their villains.  Can any of you tell me the motivation for Professor Ratigan?  Why was Jafar so hellbent on acquiring Genie's lamp?  Can anyone recall why Cruella DeVil desired to kill the puppies for a fur coat?  Why would Scar go out of his way to murder Mufasa and banish his nephew in order to become king?  Simple.  I'll tell you all of these reasons in one word.  Greed.  But the greed goes beyond just wanting money and fortune.  Jafar kept searching for more and more ways to grab power because he was greedy.  Why do I need to know why he wants power?  Doesn't everyone want power?

How about Emperor Palpatine?  He wanted to have absolute control over the entire galaxy?  Why?  Does it matter?  He manages to wipe out the Jedi Order, conquer the galaxy and begin construction on the Death Star.  What about Sauron and Saruman?  They sought the One Ring for their own desires.  Saruman wanted to take Sauron's place as the lord of Middle Earth, while Sauron wanted to wipe out mankind.  Why did Voldemort want to make as many Horcruxes as possible?  To make sure he was immortal and unbeatable in battle.

This doesn't just have to be with villains either.  What were the reasons Han Solo was a smuggler?  He wanted money.  He wasn't evil because he was greedy.  He knew what was right and wrong, but he didn't have to act like Luke in order to be considered a hero.

What about Indiana Jones?  Why was he an archaeologist?  Did he have a tragic backstory?  No.  It wasn't needed.  The adventures he went on were more important than his beliefs and reasonings.

Why did Aragorn return to be King of Gondor?  Did he have a traumatic experience as a child that forced him to accept his responsibility?  No.  His motivation was not as important as the quest to destroy the Ring.

People seemed to gravitate just fine to Cinderella and Aurora without them being as deep and interesting as Belle.  We were able to care about them because we learn to care about people out of empathy.  They didn't need these deep and interesting backstories or big dreams.  They took the roles that their societies had played out for them.

3. When is Complexity of Character needed?

Stories tend to be told in two different ways.  The first is by allowing the events to guide the story.  Such stories include:

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Superman
Star Wars: A New Hope
Pinocchio

The second is character driven stories, where the character is the reason the story moves and flows.  It's more interesting to learn why the son of two of Gotham's most beloved citizens decides to become Batman, than to learn about an alien who comes to earth and is given instructions to make the people a better race, like Superman was.

That is the key to Complexity of Character.  If the character's beliefs and actions keep the story moving forward, that character needs to be complex.  In Batman Begins, we get to see Bruce Wayne begin to search for reasons as to why criminals act the way they do, and why someone would want to make a city corrupt.  He meets R'as Al Ghul and begins to train in the ways of learning to conquer his own fears and doubts and becomes a powerful warrior.

Nolan didn't corner the market on this, though.  When he first appeared on film screens in 1977, Darth Vader was viewed as a cool looking cyborg villain doing the business of the Empire.  But we learn from Obi-Wan that he was once a Jedi, so something must have corrupted him.  In Empire, we learn that Darth Vader is Luke's dad, Anakin Skywalker.  And in Jedi, we get to see his characters redemption.  Had George Lucas not fucked up the the Prequel Saga as badly as he did, than Anakin Skywalker may have been the most tragic character in all of storytelling.

But the Complexity of Character award for a single character has got to be Severus Snape in the "Harry Potter" series.  J.K. Rowling kept us on our toes with Snape.  We never knew if he was a villain or a hero with all of his actions he took.  We watched him allow Harry to be nearly tortured by Umbridge, but we saw him rescue Harry when his broom became defunct.  We watched him kill Dumbledore, but we learned about the truth behind his actions.  We learned that he was in love with Lily Evans and was willing to do anything to protect her and her son when Voldemort began hunting them.  He vowed to protect Harry when he learned he had lost her.  Even when Dumbledore was gone, he aided Harry.  I am still perplexed by him.

4. Is Complexity of Character overused?

The short answer is yes.  The long answer?

Did anyone ask about the Wicked Witch's motivations?  I know I didn't, and I have been unable to watch The Wizard of Oz the same way since I saw Wicked.  What about the entire Harry Potter world?  The way I saw it, everyone but Harry himself got at least a huge scene of character development.

Ron Weasley
Hermione Granger
Albus Dumbledore
Sirius Black
Draco Malfoy
Remus Lupin
Cedric Diggory
Ginny Weasley
Neville Longbottom

just to name a few.

Frozen had the disprivilege of having multiple characters having these deep motivations:  Anna for wanting to rekindle her relationship with Elsa, Hans for his desire to become King of Arendelle, Elsa for her desire to be free from responsibility, Olaf for wanting to be part of Summer, even Kristoff for his desire to get a new sled, then to keep Anna alive from the curse Elsa placed on her.

It's not just using Complexity of Character too much.  It's using it improperly.  Did we really have to sit through the scenes with Olaf wanting to be part of Summer?  Or did we really have to sit through scenes of Anakin Skywalker's dreams of becoming a Jedi as a child?

Here are 4 examples of Complexity of Character done perfectly:

The Lord of the Rings: The story keeps the focus on the world around the characters instead of keeping it on Frodo's dreams of adventure or Aragorn's desires to become King.  Characters are given certain scenes in the story for their personal development, but not much else.  Imagine if it had been overused, and we had to learn all about Gimli's motivation?  Or about why Gandalf was a good wizard while Saruman was evil?

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Much like LOTR, Avatar manages to keep the focus on the terrible war that is engulfing the entire world.  We learn bits and pieces of Katara and Sokka's dreams and personal goals, but that doesn't steal too much time from other characters and situations.

But Prince Zuko is the one who undergoes the complete physical and mental transformation from a snobby and self-centered exiled prince of the Fire Nation, to an ambitious and confused adolescent, to a mentor and true friend to Aang and the team.  It never seems too forced or too contrived, and we get to see what a true redemptive cycle looks like, rather than have it all squeezed into one package as in Return of the Jedi.  Zuko's flip flopping between good and evil is necessary, because it forwards the story.

The Chronicles of Prydain: The stories in Pyrdain hardly give time for other characters and their motivations, keeping the focus on the two main characters: Taran and Eilonwy.  But it won't shy away from giving a character development if it meant that it could help forward the story.  Prince Ellidyr in The Black Cauldron is sort of a reverse Faramir from LOTR, where he actually begins to commit bat deeds in favor of restoring his name, but ultimately becomes a true good guy and aiding the companions in their quest to destroy the Black Cauldron.

Return of Jafar: The writers made a surprising choice by allowing Iago to have a much larger role, after having him depart from Jafar's services and begin to look out for himself.  And while he manages to trick Aladdin and co. into accepting him, he actually begins to care for them, and we see the suffering he has to endure when Jafar forces him back into his services.  There wasn't much need for Aladdin's character to develop or Genie's or Jasmines.  They kept the focus on Iago, and that's what matters.

5. What is the most important aspect of storytelling?


This brings me to the most important question: What is the most important aspect of storytelling?  Is it the development of complex characters, a deep and thought provoking story, or is it establishing a vivid and expressive scenery and character design?  The answer:

All of the Above.

There is no surefire formula for a masterpiece novel, or a sweeping epic movie.  The only way for the entertainment medium to truly impact us on a high and serious matter, is for a proper balance of all of these aspects.

The Lion King could have been a disaster of a film had it not been for it's thought provoking message and epic take on storytelling.  The characters in this film are not deeply complex, they help forward the plot of the film, and that is the most important idea.

Imagine if Darth Vader's introduction and redemption were done in one film.  Would we have had that cultural connection to one of the greatest tragic characters had he been revealed to be who he was at the end of A New Hope?  George Lucas and his writing team allowed Vader's character to develop throughout the trilogy, never giving in to their own selfish desires about making millions of dollars (at least until 1981).

Imagine if Frozen was as rigid and stale as the original fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen.  Would we have grown to care for Elsa had she been a villain?  Would we have grown to care for Kristoff had he been in love with both Elsa and Anna?  Would we have cared for Hans if he was a Jafar-like villain?

There is no way to fully predict the ebb and flow of a movie/book/video game's impact on popular culture.  It needs to have an adventurous story, a few complex characters, and a rich tapestry of design and scenery.
But in Hollywood, people tend to overcompensate a weak storyline with numerous plot holes with an entire menagerie of complex characters, even when it isn't needed.  Sometimes, as in Harry Potter, we have a ton of interesting side characters and villains, but an incredibly weak main character that is given no room to mold his character into something believable.  Or in the case of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, we get 3 amazing and well developed characters in Jafar, the Red Queen, and the Knave of Hearts, and two disgustingly nice and good main leads we don't care for.

Complexity of Character is indeed important, but without a well written story or great scenery and setting, does it all really matter?

SimbaKing94's Top 50 Favorite Movies of All Time Part VI: 10-1

                                                                                    10. Goodfellas (1990)

Director: Martin Scorsese  

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta

In terms of the motion picture industry, my father and I often don't get along with the films we like.  My dad prefers films like Casino, The Godfather, Analyze This, and often doesn't have much of an interest in anything else.  But we do agree on two films, one of which is deemed the best film of Scorsese's career: Goodfellas.  I think it's because my Dad really takes pride in his Italian heritage, being both Italian and Native American.  What is there to say about this film that hasn't been praised into the ground already?  DeNiro and his fellow stars are electric, and like Pulp Fiction, this film has some of my favorite scenes in cinematic history, including the infamous "Shine Box" fight.  Among the many great all time motion pictures ever, Goodfellas could compare to the old well, and outclasses most, if not all of it's contemporaries.  

9. Dead Poets Society (1989)

Director: Peter Weir 

Starring: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke

It's rare that I see a film in school for the first time and am instantly hooked on it.  The only other time was with Catch Me if You Can.  But in 10th grade, I first saw this movie and was immediately caught up in the story, not just Robin Williams's stellar performance, but all of the actors who gave it their all in this movie.  Dead Poets Society was the second film distributed by Buena Vista to be nominated for Best Picture, following Mary Poppins, and with good reason.  It challenges the people watching to go out and make their own opinions and voice their own voices throughout their lives and not to feel oppressed or subjugated by people trying to control our lives.  This also has the distinction of being one of the movies that made me want to become a writer.  

8. The Godfather (1972)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola 

Starring: Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall

I was raised on this movie.  If I wasn't watching a Disney Film or a Star Wars film, I was having my mind blown by all of the wondrous things that occur in this movie, widely regarded as the greatest ever made.  Like with Goodfellas, it's hard to really articulate what makes this film work, because there have been so many people who have done it in the past.  Every actor in this movie is electric, and I get the feeling that Coppola went out of his way to make this the most gritty and realistic gangster movie ever created.  Kudos to him, for this is indeed one of my all time favorite movies.  Period.

7. The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Directors: Simon Wells, Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner

Starring: Val Kilmer, Sandra Bullock, Ray Fiennes

For my friends who ask why I am so critical of Dreamworks Animation's films, I refer you to one of the greatest animated films ever made.  Hardly held in esteem with such animation milestones like The Lion King or Up, The Prince of Egypt took perhaps the boldest step an animated film has ever taken: recreating not only a famous movie, but one of the most highly regarded moments in religious history for billions of people on earth.  And instead of simply recreating Cecil B. Demille's famous biblical epic, The Ten Commandments, Jeffery Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg decided to create a motion picture that takes a different angle, the relationship between Moses and his adopted brother Ramses, who are truly depicted as brothers who truthfully cared about each other until their religious views caused them to drift apart.  And yet, the duo still holds out hope that things could return to the way they were when they were children.  Told wonderfully, acted flawlessly, and animated beautifully, The Prince of Egypt is one of the greatest animated movies ever made, with absolutely no regard for marketing and simply wanting to tell a story as old as storytelling began.  Similar to another animated film...

6. Aladdin (1992)

Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements 

Starring: Robin Williams, Jonathan Freeman, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin

If Beauty and the Beast was dramatic storytelling done perfectly, than it's successor Aladdin must be comedic storytelling done perfectly.  I've gone on the record more than enough times by saying just how wonderful and brilliant this film is, but I'll keep it to the most important points.  Like other early 90's Disney films, Aladdin keeps the modernized fairy tale angle, but expands it and becomes the first full length animated film that had several broken fourth wall jokes, such as the Genie turning into Rodney Dangerfield and Jack Nicholson in back to back scenes.  The Genie alone makes the film, but he is thankfully blended with a wickedly entertaining performance by Jonathan Freeman as Jafar, songs that have a good case to blow Beauty and the Beast's out of the water, and arguably the most beautful animation ever captured on a piece of paper.  Aladdin manages to capture in animated form what kids of today love, and what their parents loved when they were young, managing a spectacular blend that is a wonder to behold.  There ain't never been a film like this....

5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

Director: Robert Zemeckis 

Animation Director: Richard Williams

Starring: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charlie Adler, Mel Blanc

When did anyone born in the 1940's or 1950's expect to see Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse on screen together?  I know that I didn't believe it until I saw Who Framed Roger Rabbit? for the first time when I was 5 or 6.  I fell in love with this movie the instant I started watching it, for this was the first time in a very long time that an animated film was this funny without resorting to Aladdin's fourth wall jokes, or the humor being directed at kids.  My entire family sits down to watch this film at least once a year because we love it so much.  Not just for the surrealness of seeing Mickey and Bugs on screen together, but for the memories we get watching this film, a landmark in movie making.  Sure, animated films blended animation and live action, but when did it look this real?  

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Chirstopher Lee, Sean Astin

Why do I hold The Two Towers in higher esteem than the other two in the series?  A couple of reasons.  First, I just seem to be attracted to the stories where the heroes have no where to go but up, but still need to fight for what they want.  Second, is Saruman, who I have always viewed as the main villain of the series because we can clearly see what kind of threat he will pose to the Fellowship.  I always thought Sauron was menacing, but not truly evil and corrupt.  Saruman is absolutely tormenting the Kingdom of Rohan before he invades, by killing Theoden's son and possessing his mind.  Then, he decides to take back the initiative and invades the weakened Rohan in Helms Deep.  Thirdly, of course, is Andy Serkis as Gollum.  We actually get to see just how tormented he has been by the Ring.  Its full of dark imagery, dark and brutal battles, and life altering choices made by all, which makes it my all time favorite Fantasy movie.  

3. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Director: Irvin Kershner 

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Frank Oz

See what happens when George Lucas decides to leave Star Wars in the hands of competent people and not his little yes men?  The Empire Strikes Back shook the very foundation of movie making and set the standard for all movie sequels to be judged.  Unlike most Hollywood sequels, which basically rehash the old film, the highly anticipated sequel to Star Wars developed a story that was darker and much more cold and unforgiving, giving audiences the sense that the little fun adventure of Star Wars was not about to take a much darker tone.  We learn much more about the Force, even our conception of it is challenged by Master Yoda, we get to witness Industrial Light and Magic's incredible special effects get heightened even further by giving them a bigger budget to experiment with, and we are witness to the most shocking revelation in cinematic history.  Never pandering and never caring what the audience thought, The Empire Strikes Back is the perfect example on how to make a sequel not only good, but twice as good as the original in almost every way.  Dark, saddening, and even downright sinister, this is a film that deserves to be in a class all it's own.

2. The Lion King (1994)

Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones

Among the most acclaimed, most beloved, and most cherished animated films of all time, The Lion King manages to combine the great music of The Little Mermaid, the dramatic undertones of Beauty and the Beast, and the comedic scenes of Aladdin, while also adding to the lore of Disney by making it's story deeper with more Shakespearean elements, along with epic biblical themes and powerful emotional moments.  No animated film will ever match the caliber of this legendary masterpiece, which is held in the same conversations with some of the greatest pictures of all time.  The acting is incredible, the animation beyond comprehension, and the deep and moving score by Hans Zimmer and Lebo M. is almost as inspiring on it's own as it would be played in these scenes.  The Lion King is the most epic and one of the most adult animated films of all time.  

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart

I have never been as awestruck by a movie than the night I walked out of the theater after watching the most shocking and single greatest movie I've had the privilege of watching in the theaters.  Heath Ledger probably put this film well over the expectations after Batman Begins all by himself, but the other performances aren't anything to shrug at.  Bale reprises his role as the caped crusader, while Aaron Eckhart gives us the most realistic version of Harvey Dent I've ever seen, with the exception of the animated show.  Filled with dark and brooding moments, intense action scenes, and a deep and thought provoking plot, The Dark Knight is the greatest of the great.  I have never seen a film better.  And I probably never will.  

Let me know what YOUR favorite movies are.  Feel free to post a comment on this page or any of the others and let me know about which movies thrill you or make you happy.

SimbaKing94's Top 50 Favorite Films of All Time Part V: Honorable Mentions

Before I get to the TOP 10, lets fill the pipeline with a few honorable mentions:

The Great Gatsby (2013)

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Fantasia (1940)

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Eight Men Out (1988)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

SimbaKing94's Top 50 Favorite Films of All Time Part IV: 20-11

20. Dances With Wolves (1990)
Director: Kevin Costner
Starring: Kevin Costner, Graham Greene, Mary McDonnell 

Here's a fun fact for you guys.  In case you didn't know, I am Native American.  Partially to be precise.  While my people's tribe (the Mohawks) aren't represented in this movie, this is one of the few movies involving Native Americans that  actually gave a valiant attempt to make the culture out to be legitimate and not laden with stereotypes (like SO many other films did).  While I will be one of the first people to admit that I don't really like Kevin Costner (he was being Mel Gibson before it was cool to be Mel Gibson), he does try to immerse himself in the culture.  And while the story doesn't exactly cover anything new, I don't mind it as much as others do.  I think people are too tough on this movie and willign to allow a film like Avatar to get away with too much.  But that's for when I review this one.

19. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Directors: Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale
Starring: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White

Beauty and the Beast is a marvel in filmmaking history.  Nowadays, it's practically commonplace to find an animated film that can touch kids and adults on practically the same emotional level.  But in 1991, with people still on the fence as to whether or not animation was a cinematic art form, Beauty and the Beast brought audiences in in droves.  I've already went in depth enough about how wonderful this film is, so I'll try to be short and to the point.  This film is one of those truly rare Disney movies where both protagonists (Belle and the Beast) have to learn to love each other.  In fact, when they first meet, their hostile towards each other.  But in an age where Disney could do nothing wrong, they crafted one of the most brilliant and amazing love stories ever on screen, and without a single actor appearing on stage.  The songs are splendid, the animation legendary, and the story timeless.  Beauty and the Beast is and will always be one of the only two animated films to deserve Best Picture nominations.

18. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Director: Henry Sellick 
Starring: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, Danny Elfman

Similarly to how a film like Dumbo is simplistic emotional storytelling, The Nightmare Before Christmas is also simplistic in it's storytelling.  It doesn't need to be overly complicated like The Lion King or Up, but it still manages to grab more and more of an audience every year.  I can safely say that I have watched this film at least once a year my entire life, even before it became "the cool" thing to watch.  The stop motion animation is some of the best ever, even though the art has been around since the early days of cinema.  Danny Elfman gives us a rich tapestry of songs that could contend with the best Disney's ever had, and the two main leads are very engaging and keep our interest throughout.  This may be one of the most perfect animated movies ever made, alongside gems like Aladdin and Up.  As quotable as it is jaw dropping, The Nightmare Before Christmas is the single best Christmas movie out there.  Yes.  Let the argument begin!  Mwahahahaha!

17. Schindler's List (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ray Fiennes, Ben Kingsley

But the best film of 1993 is easily Schindler's List.  While The Nightmare Before Chirstmas is probably the most well known, and Jurassic Park was the most successful, Schindler's List was the most thought provoking.  Granted that a film about Jewish life inside Nazi concentration camps would most likely be not as realistic, Spielberg made tried to give his audience the exact feeling of being inside one of Hitler's hell halls, and of the absolutely daring attempt by Oskar Schindler to hide and protect as many Jews from the wrath of the Nazis as possible.  One of the greatest films of all time, Schindler's List is without a doubt the greatest WWII movie ever made.  Even with minimal war scenes, it tells us the other side of the story of World War II.  The darker side, and Spielberg should be forever praised for that.

16. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Rhys Davies

From 1973-1989, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg could do no wrong.  Think about it.  We got American Graffiti, Star Wars, Jaws, among others in this era.  Of course, Lucas went on to suck while Spielberg went on to Schindler's List, but Raiders of the Lost Ark will always be the duos best collaboration.  The most basic adventure story that could be written is punctuated by kick ass action, no horribly CGI effects (which sunk Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in my mind), and an evil ass of a villain in Belloq.  Harrison Ford is of course wonderful as always, while we see many other actors and filmmakers begin to set their careers in order.  While not remotely being a flawless film, Raiders of the Lost Ark manages to convey many of the things the old loved when they were kids, and the action and adventure kids love to pretend they are.

15. Batman Begins (2005)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine


 The movie that saved the Batman movie franchise, Batman Begins gives us the origin story of the Caped Crusader as never told before.  Many, myself included, thought Bruce just decided to fight crime in the city after his parents died.  But we see a fully in depth look at how Bruce Wayne became Batman.  We get to see some villains who were previously kept only to the comic books and animated show, such as Dr. Jonathan Crane as Scarecrow and the immortal master of the League of Shadows, R'as Al Ghul.  And like the comic books, the answers aren't exactly clear cut.  Even the ending isn't too overly happy.  While Batman does manage to save Gotham, the crime rate is still drastically high and the police force is just as corrupt as ever.  Bale, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, and even Katie Holmes give us some incredible performances outside of just simply retreading characters.  Bale isn't Keaton, and I'm willing to accept that.  And I also firmly believe that this film is the best film of 2005.

14. Blazing Saddles (1974)
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks was at his best in the 1970's.  Simple an to the point.  And his funniest and most outrageous movie in that era was his take on western movies: Blazing Saddles.  A movie completely unapologetic in it's conception, it takes shots at pretty much whatever Brooks felt like taking shots at, be it 1870's politics, Native Americans, or racial prejudice.  Harvey Korman is a hilarious villain in Hedley Lamarr, while Cleavon Little is one of the funniest parts of any movie, giving us a truly hilarious look at the ways African Americans were treated during Westward Expansion and Reconstruction.  The film I think held the record for most usage of the "N" word in a movie until Django Unchained took that and ran with it.  Blazing Saddles was Brooks at his best.

13. Thank You For Smoking (2006)
Director: Jason Reitman 
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Katie Holmes, J.K. Simmons


Long before he was cleaning the streets of Gotham as Harvey Dent, Aaron Eckhart was out there lobbying for Tobacco companies and their interests in and out of America.  One of the funniest and yet most thought provoking films of the last 20 years, Thank You For Smoking is truly one of the best films to get swept under the rug.  It gives us not as intellegent people the perfect way lawyers think and act in order to make people believe every single word they say.  In Nick Naylor's own words:

"That's the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you're never wrong."

A film completely devoid of cliche and otherwise boring things, Thank You For Smoking allows Eckhart to gives us a solid performance for a surprisingly likable douche like Nick Naylor.


12. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Director: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness


Some would say that this film ruined the age of dark and gritty movies like The Godfather and The French Connection.  I say, that Star Wars not only saved the age of film making, but saved film making altogether.  Without Star Wars, James Cameron wouldn't have quit his job as a truck driver to make his films, nor would Peter Jackson make Lord of the Rings.  George Lucas brought us into a new age and reexilerated the art of storytelling with his science fiction marvel that still astounds people to this day.  With the coming of Star Wars, the entire world changed.  Movies were no action packed and packed with likable and lovable characters and dark and dramatic villains.  Movies were fun once more.  Thank you Star Wars.  Thank you for everything.

11. Toy Story 2 (1999)
Director: John Lasseter 
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack


People often have the misconception or belief that Finding Nemo was the first truly adult Pixar film.  I would have to respectfully disagree with them on that front.  No other film made or makes me feel more like an adult than Toy Story 2.  Why?  Because it gave us probably the most adult message in any animated film: even though nothing lasts forever, why should someone waste away their happiness thinking about the end?  Woody begins to realize that Andy is growing up, and yet he refuses to give up on his dream to be there when he does.  He forgets how much he means to Andy and how much Andy means to him, and decides to allow things to happen.  What else haven't I already said?  Toy Story 2 is one of the greatest animated films ever made.  Period!

SimbaKing94's Top 50 Favorite Movies of All Time Part III: 30-21

30. Ponyo (2008)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki 
Starring: Noah Cyrus, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett

I don't care who you are or how discriminatory you are against Animation/ anime, every best movie ever made list needs at least one Hayao Miyazaki movie.  I had a hard time deciding which of the movies of his I liked the most.  Howl's Moving Castle was the last of them I saw, and Ponyo was the first I saw.  I chose Ponyo, because this was the first time I was able to recognize the genius of Miyazaki.  As much as I loved Spirited Away, I just found Ponyo was more engaging and by far the most entertaining of the Miyazaki I saw.  Primarily because of the relationships, whether it's between Ponyo and Sosuke, Ponyo and her father, or even Ponyo's parents.  I have yet to see the Japanese version of this film, but when you get the big names of Cate Blanchett and Liam Neeson on this film, I have to get a copy of this film at some point.  As with all of his stories, Ponyo has incredible animation and great heart.  I cannot acclaim this movie enough.  But I have more films to cover.

29. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Director: Gore Verbinski 
Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffery Rush, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom

Who else out there wanted to be a pirate when they grew up after watching this movie?  Despite several wretched followups, The Curse of the Black Pearl is the absolutely perfect pirate movie.  It has skullduggery, pirates acting like pirates, swordfights, and treasure hunting.  Johnny Depp, who has gained infamy for his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, is of course brilliant.  But the rest of the cast is also fairly well rounded.  After getting his feet wet in Fellowship of the Ring, Orlando Bloom took Hollywood by storm as Will Turner, while Geoffrey Rush was awesome as Captain Barbossa.  One of the best films Disney made in the 2000's, the first journey of Jack Sparrow will always be the best.  No substitute.

28. Shrek 2 (2004)
Directors: Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon, Andrew Adamson
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas

Were it not for this film's influence on an endless line of "not as funny" comedies (Madagsascar, Madagascar 2, Monsters v. Aliens, Shrek 3, Shark Tale), Shrek 2 would have had a serious case to take a spot in the Top 10.  This film is a comedic marvel, every single joke in this movie hits a gem and it never overuses the jokes, like other Dreamworks movies do.  While I am absolutely fine with the first Shrek movie, this one completely knocks the first out of the ballpark.  The villain reaches new levels of evil and cruelty, the new characters are so well thought of, that it makes it seem that they were in the first movie too, and the pop cultural references aren't nearly as annoying as they were in say Shark Tale.  Shrek 2 is one of the funniest movies ever made, and almost had a solid case to make it into the Top 10.  Seriously, if you haven't seen this movie, SEE IT!

27. Gone With the Wind (1939)
Director: Victor Fleming 
Starring: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard

There are few modern movie marvels that can compare to the stunning wonder of Gone With the Wind.  Despite the great depths of raw emotion and power in the film, I only find my serious interest in the first half.  While the first half is a historical drama filled with war and a romantic underpinning, the second half of the film drags on through the long periods of Reconstruction and the never ending soap opera of Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley, and Melanie.  Nevertheless, there is a reason Gone With the Wind among the most acclaimed and most successful films ever made.  It took risks, gave us a sweeping epic in scale and fortitude, and gave us a cunning and insightful female lead that was as deadly as she was beautiful, with the brain of a super villain and the vanity of the Queen from Snow White.  It's epic in scale, dramatic in storytelling, and grim in tone.  Gone With the Wind is one of the best, for a reason.

26. Forrest Gump (1994)
Director: Robert Zemeckis 
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise 

An expected one for a Top Movie list, but with good reason.  1994 was one of the best years for movies ever.  We had The Shawshank Redemption and two other films that I can assure you will be on this list.  But we also had Forrest Gump, a movie that was basically guaranteed Oscar glory, despite several worthy recipients.  Hanks, of course, is stellar as the titular character, while Robin Wright as Jenny and Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan also manage to add to the depth of drama that this film is easily able to convey.  Like with The Last Crusade, it's a film that has several surreal moments, such as Forrest discovering the Watergate scandal, and receiving notoriety from such historical people as JFK among others.  It's a story that is simple and yet at the same time, deeply thought provoking and meaningful.

25. Moneyball (2011)
Director: Bennett Miller
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman

While I will be the first person to admit that the theories and ideas portrayed in this novel and movie are slowly murdering baseball for future generations, when you are the GM of a team with an extremely low payroll and need to think out of the box to outsmart big budget teams like the Yankees and Dodgers, the ideas portrayed in Moneyball should be your first place to go.  Brad Pitt is a believable Billy Beane, a GM with aspirations to find ways to win baseball games within a payroll one quarter that of many of his competitors, while Jonah Hill plays the fictional character of Peter Brand (real life Paul Depodesta, assistant GM for the Mets today), a harvard graduate who thinks he can turn baseball into a game of numbers and find true value where others don't see it.  The ultimate story of misfits, Moneyball refuses to sugarcoat things and actually ends on a rather omniscient note, with Billy Beane turning down the Boston Red Sox offer to manage them, only to watch the Red Sox go out and win the World Series in 2004, while Beane has yet to reach one himself.

24. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel

Like I said with Gone With the Wind, I prefer movies about war over movies with soap opera undertones.  Maybe it was because I was a huge history buff in High School.  But when it comes to war movies, even ones that are bloody and gory (Pearl Harbor), I still wince at some of the sights in Saving Private Ryan.  The movie begins with the invasion of Normandy in 1944, and the bloodbath in the movie doesn't stop until the last few minutes.  It's a movie about one group of soldier's extraordinary reslience to break into mainland France while searching for a soldier with an order to return home, who's missing somewhere behind enemy lines.  Hanks is once more solid, while the rest of the actors act more like people than those seen in Pearl Harbor.  A gem that got screwed out of Oscar Glory, Saving Private Ryan was quite possibly the best live action movie made in the post 1995 world.

23. Ghostbusters (1984)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd

"Who ya gonna call?"

Ghostbusters was one of the first non kids movies I saw with someone, along with Star Wars and Jurassic Park.  Unlike the other comedic gems of the 1980's, which were mostly spoof films like Airplane! and Spaceballs, this film is an absolute comic marvel.  Ever single main actor in this movie has their hilarious moments, while some of the effects still look cool by today's standards.  I swear, if they ever remade this movie, I'd flip the shit.  This and the Original Star Wars trilogy are just a handful of movies that should NEVER be remade, by any standards!  I'm serious!  DON"T YOU DARE SCREW THIS MOVIE UP, AYKROYD!!!

22. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Ian McKellan

Not a single aspiring High Fantasy author like myself could help but draw infulence on your own stories from those of J.R.R Tolkein.  Of the three Lord of the Rings movies, while I prefer The Two Towers over the others, I do admit Fellowship is probably the most well rounded of the three.  It allows us time to get to know most of, if not all of the characters, while giving both Sauron and Saruman their own time to act as the main villains.  We get that epic fight with the Balrog, we get to see Christopher Lee revive his career as Saruman, and once more, Sean Bean gets to die.  While there aren't any epic battles in this one, like there were both Two Towers and Return of the King, Fellowship allows us to emerse ourselves into the world and not necesarily the battles.  We needed to learn to care for these characters before we saw them in any huge battles, something Jackson did brilliantly.

21. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Director: Quentin Tarantino 
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman

I think I might just have to get a bit older and more world weary to fully grasp the wonder and awe of Tarantino's work.  Of the two of his works I have seen (Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Bastards), I find myself leaning more towards Pulp Fiction, mainly because this film has some of my all time favorite scenes from any movie, period.  Such as when their interrogating Brett about Marsellus Wallace, to Travolta shooting Marvin in the face in the car accidentally, to Christopher Walken's hilariously awkward cameo to give Butch his father's watch.  One of the best movies ever made is also one of my favorites.  But there could only be one King of 1994.  But we'll find out where he ranked later on in the countdown.