By Chris Kavan - 06/12/19 at 11:03 AM CT
Sometimes it's better to take quality over quantity and thought the MPAA Ratings Board has only graced us with two new wide-release ratings, they are two big ones. First we have a huge Disney live-action remake that, if Aladdin is any indication, should blow away the competition and be another huge film for the studio. If that wasn't enough, Disney also has the other wide-release, the next Spider-Man and the follow up to the record-shattering Avengers: Endgame. No, its not going to break bank that big, but the MCU is the MCU and I'm sure it's going to do just fine on its own.
If Disney was worried about its live-action chances after Dumbo stumbled, they recovered mightily with Aladdin, which is currently having an impressive run both on the domestic and international fronts. Considering all the hemming and hawing about Will Smith and other assorted questions going into the film, the fact it has done so well bodes very well for The Lion King. This live action remake still has James Earl Jones as the wise king Mufasa, with JD McCrary playing his young son, Simba and Chiwetel Ejiofor voicing his duplicitous uncle, Scar. Most people have probably seen the original animated classic, so we know that Simba is guilted by Scar into leaving his home of the Pridelands behind after the death of his father - a death he is blamed for. He falls in with a Warthog named Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and his meerkat buddy Timon (Billy Eichner) who live a free-wheeling lifestyle "Hakuna Matata" - but Simba's past will not leave him behind that easy. As the Pridelands crumble, childhood friend Nala (Shahadi Wright Joseph and Beyoncé) finds the once and future king and convinces him to return - and take his rightful place on the throne from his maniacal uncle. The rest of the cast includes John Kani as Rafiki, Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari, Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, John Oliver as Zazu and Eric André as Azizi. The film looks impressive - Disney did a great job with the effects and I'm hoping they put just as much effort into the iconic music (both songs and soundtrack). I have little doubt they would mess with this too much - like Beauty and the Beast, this is one of Disney's most beloved and iconic animated films. And I have a feeling it's going to be one of their biggest live-action remakes to date - if not the biggest. Rated PG for sequences of violence and peril, and some thematic elements.
Disney knocked one out of the park - the stadium - and the city the stadium resides in (and probably the state too for good measure) with Avengers: Endgame. The culmination of the MCU to date, it was a massive domestic and global success and paves the way for even greater things to come. Fans won't have to wait long as Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) returns on an international adventure with Spider-Man: Far from Home. And hopefully you saw Endgame before watching the latest trailer, because it pretty much gives away the ending. In any case, Peter is on a school trip with his class, including best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon), potential love interest MJ (Zendaya) and class richboy jerk Flash Thompson (Tony Revolori). But while dealing with the consequences of Endgame, he finds himself recruited by none other than Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and fellow agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) to combat a serious threat - elemental monsters that are popping up all over Europe. He finds help in the aptly-named Mysterio (aka Quentin Beck - played by Jake Gyllenhaal), who is apparently a transplant from another dimension who shifted over during the big event. Comic fans know that Mysterio is a master of deception so it remains to be seen whether his helpful attitude is genuine or merely a ruse - but I'm going with bad guy on this one. And from the looks of the trailer, Peter will be hopping from the UK to Paris to... Prague, maybe? Anyway, all over Europe. Like I said above, Far From Home isn't going to be nearly as big as Endgame, nor do I think anyone really expects that. But if it can top the first film, the MCU is on the right track and we'll see what this next phase is going to usher in. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments.
Disney owns the MPAA Ratings Bulletin this week, but be sure to check out the full list of movies below:
THE BANANA SPLITS MOVIE
Rated R for horror violence and gore.
THE BLACK STRING
Rated R for violence/disturbing images, language throughout, some sexuality and drug use.
CROSS 3
Rated R for violence and language.
CYCLES
Rated G
DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME
Rated R for language, drug material and brief nudity.
INSIDE MAN: MOST WANTED
Rated R for violence and langage.
THE LION KING
Rated PG for sequences of violence and peril, and some thematic elements.
PHIL
Rated R for some language and a violent/disturbing image.
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments.
