Do you love talking about Films? Are you trying to watch more films in English?
Thinking in English will host the monthly Film Club: Premiere
at 18:00 (UTC) on Wednesday 16th July!
Join us to discuss… The Lion King!
You can find more details on how to participate on Patreon and Discord!
Film Club – The Lion King – Conversation Questions –
Useful Resources – Vocabulary – Example Answers
What is the Thinking in English Film Club?
The Film Club is a great opportunity for Thinking in English Patreon members to practice their conversational English by discussing a film with other members.
Members meet every week on Wednesdays at 6pm UK Time to discuss Films and TV. Most weeks there is no specific topic and you do not have to watch or prepare anything before joining. It’s just a free chat about films!
However at the end of each month we have a special Film Club: Premiere where we discuss one specific film. Earlier in the month, members have voted for what film they want to discuss and just like in the normal Conversation Clubs we will provide 10 questions about the film to help to inspire you.
You can find these (and some other useful resources) below…
For our next Film Club: Premiere on Wednesday 16th July, we will be discussing The Lion King (1994), the Disney classic about a young Lion’s journey from prince to outcast to … well I don’t want to spoil it!
The Lion King (1994)
What is The Lion King?
Here is a movie description for The Lion King
The Lion King is the story of Simba, who is the son of Mufasa, the King of a vast stretch of the African savannah and all the animals that live there.
This is an animated Disney classic because it mixes a child-friendly and highly imaginative setting with classic literary themes. It is generally accepted that the story loosely follows that of Shakespeare’s Hamlet
When Simba is just a small cub (baby lion), his father is murdered by his own brother, Uncle Scar. The protagonist is forces to run away and live in exile where he is raised in the jungle by his eccentric friends Pumba and Timon (a warthog and a meerkat). Eventually, when the time is right, Simba must return to his kingdom to realise his destiny.
At it’s core this is a coming-of-age story. We see Simba grow up, learn about life, fall in love, and accept his responsibilities. It is also about betrayal, jealousy, greed, and retribution. Despite being a children’s film, it has stood the test of time because of it’s powerful themes!
Join us for the Film Club Premiere on 16th July to share your thoughts!
Conversation Questions and Talking Points!
- What are your overall feelings about the film? Did it impact you differently now compared to when you first saw it?
- Talk about the film’s music, do you have any favourte songs? Why?
- What did you think about Simba’s growth and development? What were the most important moments in his coming of age?
- In your opinion, is Mustafa the perfect father and king? Or is he flawed?
- How did you interpret Scar’s motivations? Was he simply evil, or did he represent something more complex?
- Did you sympathise with Timon and Pumbaa’s “Hakuna Matata” philosophy? Is it wise, naïve, or something in between?
- How does the Circle of Life concept shape the film’s message? Do you agree with its philosophy?
- In your opinion, does the film idealise monarchy? Is it relevant in the modern world?
- Have you seen the 2019 remake of this film? How does it compare to the original?
- What’s your interpretation of the film’s overall message? Is it about growing up, reclaiming one’s place, restoring balance, or something else?
And finally, how would you describe the film to someone who has never seen it before? Would you recommend it? Why?
Do you have any more thoughts or questions? Why not prepare 1 or 2 more of your own questions or opinions about the film?!
Useful Resources
To help you prepare for the Film Club, you might want to look at the following useful online resources:
IMDb Page
IMDb page where you can find everything about the film including: Videos, Characters, Cast and Crew, Plot Synopsis, Quotes, Reviews and more!
“Owes something to Greek tragedy and Hamlet”
Review by legendary film critic Roger Ebert
Top 10 Differences Between The Lion King (1994) & (2019)
A popular youtube channel compares the original film (that we are discussing) to the new version that was released in 2019
Vocabulary
The Lion King Vocabulary
Learn and practice vocabulary for this Conversation Club!.
Practice using 5 different study games and activities – including writing, listening, and memorisation techniques!
Flashcards
Matching Game
Learning Game
Test Yourself
Listening and Spelling
General Film Vocabulary
Learn and practice vocabulary for this Thinking in English Conversation Club.
Practice using 5 different study games and activities – including writing, listening, and memorisation techniques!
Flashcards
Matching Game
Learning Game
Test Yourself
Listening and Spelling
Example Answers
3. What did you think about Simba’s growth and development? What were the most important moments in his coming of age?
B1 Example Answer
B2 Example Answer
C1 Example Answer
See you all at the Film Club!
