The Lion King Reboot Is a Must See For Families, but Here's What Parents Should Know Going In

As a 27-year-old woman, I found myself catching my breath when Scar appeared on the screen for the first time. Thanks to brilliant CGI technology, the villain looks even more frightening and realistic than I ever thought possible. Factor in Chiwetel Ejiofor's chilling voice, and yep, he's the perfect bad guy. Though Scar's character doesn't deviate much from the 1994 version in terms of lines and mannerisms, his lifelike appearance is certainly jarring at first and makes those scary scenes that much scarier. While there's not a whole lot parents can do in the moment, warning your children that they might be afraid at first could be helpful.

Given the beautifully realistic nature of the flick, the scenes that might have spooked your kids in the original are next-level in the live-action version. Parents should prepare for their kids to jump when Simba and Nala are being chased by the hyenas in the elephant cemetery, and while it's beautifully done, the second Scar stops singing "Be Prepared," the classic high-energy scene kicks off, and boy, is it a wild ride.

As for the infamous stampede scene that's so emotional it still brings grown men to tears? It's just as well put together, but even more heart-wrenching. While the time between Mufasa trying to rescue Simba and the young cub finding his father seemed to elapse far faster than I remember, it's still just as heartbreaking. Heck, most of the adults in the room were crying, so expect that your little ones may need some consoling.

Life lessons abound, The Lion King especially impresses on its viewers the importance of listening to what your parents say. Although Simba wants to prove he can hold his own, Mufasa explicitly tells him never to go beyond the shadows — aka to the elephant graveyard — because it's simply not a safe place. Despite being told this, Simba ditches Zazu (John Oliver) and ventures out to the forbidden territory with Nala in tow. Like the 1994 version, it's not too long until the pair find themselves in way over their heads. The big takeaway here? Your parents — and responsible adults like Zazu — always have your best interests in mind, so listen to them. This plot line can serve as a way to remind your kiddos how vital it is to take what you say to them at face value after walking out of the theatre.

From the moment we get a glimpse of Scar on screen, it's very clear he's up to something sinister. After gently tricking Simba into going to the elephant graveyard despite knowing the dangers, Scar goes on to manipulate his army of hyenas into doing his dirty work. And let's not forget: he's 100 percent responsible for his brother Mufasa's death, proving that his evil streak runs deep. While it might be clear to children that Scar's a bad guy, they might not be able to fully appreciate the fact that just because someone says something in a nice tone, it doesn't mean they have good intentions.

Less of a warning and more of a happy note: make no mistake, moms and dads are in for one heck of a treat. Oftentimes while sitting through kids' movies, parents don't get a ton of humour that appeals to them directly. Sure, there's the occasional joke that may go over your children's heads, but Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen breath new life into the already over-the-top hilarious Timon and Pumbaa. In fact, viewers even get to hear Seth try his hand at singing, and frankly it's not bad! Without giving too much away, rest assured this duo is the star of the second half of the movie, no questions asked.

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