Okay, I know " The Lion King" is like the almighty oracle to stage and screen critics. But does Every Disney stage adaptation have to be compared to its standards. Im sure Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast are all just as good as The Lion King. In my honest opinion I think the Lion King has become overrated in the years since its movie release. Even the animated films are compared to it. Not everything needs comparison sometimes things are valuable and noteworthy on their own. The audience reviewed The Little Mermaid and 95% of them loved it. So in the end I think critics are just looking for the bad in things instead of enjoying the show for the masterpiece that it is. I am seeing it this fall on Tour. And I have heard it is great from fellow fanpopers. Peace and take this however you wish.