African Cats

On the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, a proud and elderly lion protects its pride from invading lions across a nearby river, while a wounded old lioness tries to secure a place for her cub. Meanwhile, a mother cheetah is raising her little cubs, protecting them from the dangers that surround them while teaching them to fend for themselves. Following "Earth" and "Oceans", "African Cats" is the third film in the Disney Natures series drawn from the acclaimed documentary television program "Planet Earth". Like its predecessors, it gorgeously captures its subjects, here the ebullient colors and magnificent creatures of the Savanna Desert. However, although the film is rousing for awhile, it seems to lose focus and goes on too long. The narration is also terribly simplistic, gearing itself towards the youngest children, although narrator Samuel L. Jackson does his best to keep things interesting. And yet, despite its problems "African Cats" is always beautiful to behold as it captures some of the world's most incredible creatures in action.