R.I.P. JAMES EARL JONES

You were a man of regal greatness, a Korean War veteran with Shakespearean command, not only the voice of Darth Vader, but the embodiment of roles that remain unequaled. 

Such prime examples are your portrayals of Barney Hill in The U.F.O. Incident; Terence Mann in Field of Dreams and Thulsa Doom in Conan the Barbarian.  

Other examples are just as sweet: The Great, White Hope; The Greatest; The Lion King; The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride; The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar; Coming to America, Coming 2 America; Jesus of Nazareth; Swashsbuckler; Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold; Merlin; Meteor Man; Judge Dredd; The Sandlot; The Sandlot 2; The Benchwarmers; Summer's End; Sneakers; The Hunt; The Hunt for Red October; Patriot Games; Clear and Present Danger; The Angriest Man in Brooklyn; Convicts; Matewan; A Family Thing; Sommersby; The Last Remake of Beau Geste; Clean Slate; A Piece of the Action; Best of the Best; Excessive Force; The Annihilation of Fish; Jefferson in Paris; Roots; Roots: The Next Generations; Guyana Tragedy: The Jim Jones Story; Road to Freedom: The Vernon John's Story; Gardens of Stone; Our Friend, Martin; The Flight of Dragons; Nine Dog Christmas; Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night; Freddie the Frog; Jack and the Beanstalk 2009; Dr. Strangelove ...; Gimme Shelter; My Little Girl; Undercover Angel; The Comedians; Percy & Thunder; Santa and Pete; Good Luck; City Limits; The Feast of All Saints; Rebound; Soulman; Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings; Welcome Home; True Identity; The Vegas Strip War; The Cay; Warning Shot 2018; By Dawn's Early Light; The Second Civil War; Cry the Beloved Country; Bloodtide; Exorcist II: The Heretic; Grim Prairie Tales; Scary Movie 4; Claudine; The Bushido Blade; Heat Wave; Deadly Hero; The Reading Room; Gang Related; What the Deaf Man Heard; The Lone Star Kid; The River Niger; Ambulance; Finder's Fee; The Atlanta Child Murders; Sign and Wonders; Rod Serling's thought-provoking The Man; and a significant slew more. 

You were also a honorable, guest star and solid staple on a number of television programs, including Ron Ely's Tarzan; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman; Stargate: SG-1; Faerie Tale Theatre; Gabriel's Fire; L.A. Law; Dr. Kildare; House; Long Ago and Far Away; According to Jim; Homicide: Life on the Street; Pros and Cons; Black Omnibus; Me and Mom; Agent X; Under One Roof; As the World Turns; and onward ... 

To say that you were an icon, a legend, wouldn't do you enough justice, Mr. Jones. You were part of our lives, our culture ... our mindset, and for that, your star will never fade. If anything, it's only destined to grow brighter. 

I saw Another Lion King...

Though I've been unkind to most Disney remakes, I'm hip to Jon Favreau's "The Jungle Book". Let's face it, there have been other adaptations of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale prior to and beyond the studio's exalted cartoon: case in point, Disney '94, live-action edition with Jason Scott Lee.   

I'm also hip to Favreau's retelling of "The Lion King" for much the same reason. Whether new or old, "The Lion King" is a retread at heart, stealing shamelessly from "Kimba the White Lion" and "Hamlet". "Lion King" also captures the let's-crush-the-cuteness conflict of "Watership Down", as well as the prophetic power of Arthurian legend, but maybe I'm stretchin' it a tad. All the same, most media-savvy folks would label "Lion King" a fine, royal hodgepodge.

Unlike other recent Disney remakes, the new "Lion King" isn't truly live action. I suspect its redundancy could cause some distress among those desiring actual animals with simulated mouths. No matter how one spins it, "Lion King '19" is another animated endeavor, despite it looking "live". It's also rich in character and breadth and damn it, I do dig its colorful, CGI components, even though (I suppose) I shouldn't.

The top-drawer vocal talent doesn't hurt, either: Donald Glover and JD McCrary as Simba; Beyonce as Nala; Seth Rogan as Pumbaa; Eric Andre as Azizi; Kegan-Michael Key as Kamari; Florence Kasumba as Shenzi; Billy Eicher as Timon; Chiwetel Ejiofor as Uncle Scar; John Kani as Rifki; Alfri Woodard as Sarabi; John Oliver as Zazu; Phil Lamarr as Impala...and sticking to regal tradition, James Earl Jones as King Mufasa. 

To fortify the familiar unfurling, Jeff Nathanson's script presents the same, epic setup that Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Wooverton offered in '94, albeit with a half hour of padding. At least Nathanson's extensions aren't as superfluous as those of the new "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast". In fact, "Lion King'"s heft holds welcoming virility and ferocity: ideal for essaying the ups and downs of seizing one's rightful crown within that great circle of lion-eat-lion life.  

These beefy additives balance well with the movie's intermittent levity. When those beloved, Elton John/Tim Rice songs (along with the Tokens' wondrous "Wimoweh") bounce off Hans Zimmer's reinstated score, the effort feels natural and never overdone, thanks to Favreau's dealt-in-moderation execution.  

Impulse inspires me to call this remake the majestic exception to the rule, exceeding its famous foundation on all (or at the very least, most) aesthetic levels. I sure didn't see that coming, but it's made me darn glad and maybe a little more open-minded to future Disney rehashes.  

On the other hand, an imprint is an imprint, and just because something hits the right chord at the right moment doesn't make Gus Van Sant-ish tactics acceptable. Will I get that "Lion King" vibe when I catch Disney's live-action "Lady and the Tramp" and/or "The Little Mermaid"? Probably not, but if my chord just so happens to be receptive...

FIELD OF DREAMS: REDEMPTION RETURNS

It's hard to believe that thirty years have passed since I first viewed "Field of Dreams". I was inspired to see writer/director Phil Alden Robinson's adaptation of W.P. Kinsella's novel, "Shoeless Joe" after catching a wee "making of", which conveyed a right-up-my-alley, "Twilight Zone"/Frank Capra tease. I sure wasn't disappointment. In fact, "Field of Dreams" rivaled my expectations and remains one of my all-time favorite films.

There's no point in rehashing the plot.  (Has any one not yet seen this wondrous creation?)  Still, for that select few who may be out of the loop, it's suffice to say that the fable features ghosts, time travel, Noah's Ark-ish faith and a tenderhearted, James Horner score, bracketed by a father-son, baseball motif that references the woebegone Black Sox Scandal. 

Its cast is an all-star dream come true: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, Frank Whaley, Burt Lancaster, Timothy Busfield, Dwier Brown, James Earl Jones, Gaby Hoffman and a slew of stand-out, supporting players, each lending empathy and depth to a heaven-on-earth concept, where redemption is the magnificent reward. 

The movie's big line, "If you build it, they will come" has become one of the most quoted in popular culture and epitomizes the main characters' quests for forgiveness, love and the precious basics of life. 

Thanks to TCM, "Field of Dreams" will return to the big screen on June 16 and 18 in honor of Father's Day.  What a wonderful way to commemorate the occasion. 

Go on, now.  Listen to that voice. Buy your ticket. Replenish your dreams.