The Legendary Battle Between A Lion and A Hedgehog

The epic battle between the King and the Ultimate Lifeform is on. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King are going head-to-head in the box office, both releasing in time for the holidays. Audiences are divided about which film to watch first this holiday season. 

Both films are expansions of their respective stories. With Mufasa being a live-action prequel to Disney’s The Lion King exploring the origins of the titular king of the Pride Lands. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda's music enriches the epic tale of Mufasa, set to captivate audiences this Christmas season.

The score for the movie will be provided by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also composed music for Moana, the live action The Little Mermaid, and Encanto. Senior Jojo Esparza-Garcia is excited about Miranda’s involvement in the film’s music, anf feels that “Disney should have Miranda as their permanent music producer because the movies are not the same when they are produced by other composers.”

However, Mufasa has been weighed down due to Disney’s current reputation of creating low-reception films, as well as the negative feelings surrounding their live-action remakes. Sophomore Owen Sponaugle shares his thoughts, “I feel like Disney has really been a letdown in the previous years with movies. I don’t have very high hopes for the movie.” 

Mufasa was also criticized for appearing as a “cash-grab” by using The Lion King to spit out another story with familiar characters. Esparza-Garcia reflects that, “The Lion King is a classic and I really hate that Disney keeps reusing the same material.” 

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 races into action this Christmas, showcasing an epic showdown in theaters on Boxing Day.

The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film has been highly anticipated by audiences and fans of the games alike, especially due to the introduction of Shadow. Junior Jayden Wilson expands, “The main selling point of this film is the whole dynamic between Sonic and Shadow, and how they’re gonna adapt on Shadow’s backstory.”

People are excited for the story of the movie that could dive into more serious topics, as foreshadowed in trailers. Shadow’s backstory is oftentimes interpreted as a tragedy, which could create a heavier tone for the film. 

The casting for Sonic 3 has also generated excitement and anticipation for the film. Jim Carrey will be playing two characters, Dr. Eggman, and his grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. Also, Keanu Reeves of John Wick fame will be voicing Shadow. 

Whoever happens to beat the other in the box office, audiences will enjoy watching these two blockbusters this holiday season. It will certainly be a wonderful time of year for moviegoers.