New Lion King evokes fond memories of Chinese filmgoers

In the past two decades, more imported movies and domestic films have broadened horizons for Chinese audiences and brought new vitality to the Chinese movie market.

Though many have already watched the classic animated classic The Lion King in 1995, they were still eager to watch it again on the big screen. For them, memories of The Lion King are tinged with a special feeling about the time when film resources in China were not as adequate as they are now.

"I was deeply touched by the scenes where Mufasa risked his life rescuing his son Simba, and I wept when I saw the death of Mufasa when I was little," an audience surnamed Cheng said, recalling her memories of film from her youth. "Still, what impressed me the most in the new version is the use of the same plot."

Many netizens echoed and left their comments effusively on China's major social media platforms such as Weibo and Douban, saying that the film reminds them of their common memory of the post-1980's generation childhood, from which they learned about love and courage.

The topic "grow up with bravery like Simba" on Sina Weibo has gained a total of 580 million views after the 2019 version movie hit big screens in China.

The past 25 years have witnessed a growth of both the Chinese film market and a generation.

"I think the simulation effects of the new version does do a better job in achieving an immersive experience," Cheng said. "Now I feel that I have a better understanding of Mufasa's love and his expectation of Simba as I watched it again as an adult."

While there are some complaints about the overemphasized technology applied in the new "Lion King", some said it is worth a second watch. "After I became a mom, I understood more about the fear and fury when Mufasa saw his son in danger, which is really touching," said another viewer on Weibo.

Instead of yearning for the good old days, the remake also arouses Yuan's emotion to his beloved son Leo, who, in Yuan's eyes, still needs to experience as much as Simba did.

It was not very popular for kids to watch films in a cinema back in the 1990s, especially not in big cities. Many movies and series were watched on DVDs or VCD. For them, events behind the big screens are even more nostalgic.

"The Lion King is the first animation VCD my father bought for me when I was in the third grade, on which I can feel my great emotion attached," a Weibo user said.

The circle of life never ends. "When I was a child, I watched the animated 'Lion King' with my parents, and now I have brought my child here," a Weibo user said.