REVIEW: ‘Cats” is a good date night rental
“African Cats” tells the stories of two families, one of cheetahs and one of lions, who live and survive in Africa. It shows the lengths mothers will go to protect their families.
Sita is a single cheetah mother who hunts alone while trying to raise her newborn cubs. She has to fend off a multitude of predators, including hyenas, other cheetahs and the weather to protect her young ones as she trains them to be self-sufficient.
Mara is a young lion cub who is loyal to her mother Layla. They are part of the River Pride, led by Fang. The dynamic in the pride is interesting to watch. The lions in the pride rely on each other, but they are threatened by outside sources. Kali is a lion from the other side of the river, and he wants to expand his kingdom into Fang’s territory.
“Cats” is told as a nature documentary, but with Samuel L. Jackson as the narrator and a script that is cheesy at times, the stories flow smoothly and effectively. Jackson was a good choice for a narrator with his interesting, but not dominating, voice.
Director Alastair Fothergill has been creating documentaries for more than 10 years. He previously directed Disneynature’s “Earth,” so was a natural choice for “African Cats.” Fothergill’s co-director, Keith Scholey, has been involved in documentaries focusing primarily on Africa, so he was an excellent choice for the role.
The cinematography was incredible. Some of the shots of the landscape were breathtaking. There were scenes that showed detailed views of the cats’ fur, which was amazing.
“African Cats” was filmed in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya over a period of about two years. Everything shown is real. There are no extra special computer generated effects. There are time lapse sequences, and times when the camera is slowed down to allow the audience to really capture the complexities of what is happening in a particular moment, but that’s good cinematography.
I enjoyed the hunting scenes, as they were filmed in a way that made me feel as if I was there. As the cats stalked their prey, the tension built up in the room, and it was great. When the cats took off after their prey, some of the most amazing scenes in the movie take place. The camera slows down and you can feel every moment of the chase.
One of my favorite scenes showed a male lion and a crocodile roaring at each other in a contest for space at the side of a river. Talk about a photo-op!
As can be expected with a nature documentary, there are many more animals shown than stories told. Some of the other animals include wildebeests, warthogs, aardvarks, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, elephants, zebras, rhinoceroses, giraffes and a variety of birds.
Parts of the movie, most of the time featuring the lions, were loud enough that it was almost like the lions were there in the room. It was an awesome feeling.
The score to the film was good, and it accompanied the action well. However, I would have preferred a score that was less orchestral and more traditional to Africa with a tribal element. Jordin Sparks sang a beautiful song during the end credits of the film that concluded the movie well. Disney had fun with the end credits. They were the most hilarious part of the entire movie.
“African Cats” is a perfect date night movie rental. During the movie, I kept thinking about “The Lion King,” and I wanted to mix up a few lines for humor’s sake, but couldn’t since I was in a movie theater. Having the opportunity to watch “African Cats” in a more casual environment will allow for personal commentaries and a chance to poke fun at some of the lines.
To all seven people who read my reviews over the semester, thanks. Have a great summer. Remember: Life is the greatest adventure. Enjoy it.
– Spencer Palmer is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in math. He enjoys watching new movies, old movies and the movies in between. He’s looking forward to the grand adventure of life. E-mail him at spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu.