Alex – Mufasa (The Lion King)
I have no problem admitting I cry a lot during movies. Tears of happiness, tears of sadness, tears due to the pure epicness of what I’m watching, I’ve had them all. So the task of narrowing down which movie death made me cry the most was a daunting one to say the least. I went to the deepest darkest compartments of my soul where I keep all the jars of tears I’ve accumulated over the years. Once down there I found something astonishing. One movie had surpassed all the jars, surpassed even the gallon jugs I keep just in case. In fact, a full keg of tears was just waiting to be re-tapped. The label on that keg? The Lion King.
In case you’re completely heartless and thus confused, the death I’m talking about is that of Mufasa. Anytime a father dies, especially when his son is still a child, it will always be heart-wrenching, but the fact that Simba’s jerk of an uncle was able to convince that innocent little cub that it was his fault is absolutely horrible.
Simba is so distraught by his guilt that he runs away and eats bugs in the middle of the wilderness, far away from Pride Rock. Think about the impact that has on a child. The fact that he’s still a child amplifies the gravity of this death all the more. Not only is he a child though, but he’s a cute little lion cub. When he places his paws on his father’s lifeless body and calls out in a voice filled with confusion and grief I have a part of my soul torn apart every time.
Throw in Hans Zimmer’s hauntingly beautiful score that echoes through every inch of your being as you watch the little lion in that giant wildebeest-stomped chasm and you’re stuck watching with wide eyes as you question why those bastards at Disney felt the need to make you feel so bad.
I’d keep writing, but if any more tears hit my keyboard it’d be ruined forever.
RIP Mufasa
