The Lion King (DVD 2003)

Special Features

Audio commentary from the film's producer and directors Rob Minkoff & Roger Allers
Deleted scenes
'Making Of' featurette
Abandoned concepts
Virtual safari
'Personality Profile' game
Interactive menu
Scene access

Review

Disney's epic coming-of-age saga tells of the love between a proud lion ruler, Mufasa and his son Simba - a naive and curious cub who "just can't wait to be king." But Simba's envious Uncle Scar has other plans, and his scheming for the throne leads to Simba's exile from the kingdom he should rightfully rule. Befriended by the hilarious warthog, Pumbaa and his manic meerkat companion, Timon, Simba forgets his regal responsibilities and adopts a carefree lifestyle of "Hakuna Matata."

Best Disney movie ever made!! - Simply stunning, This is the best movie that Disney have ever made. It is full of emotion, humour and life lessons. I cried during some scenes and I am a grown man of 24!

When a young lion cub is convinced by his evil uncle (who wants to be king) that it is his fault his father (the king) was killed he runs away in shame. Whilst in exile he grows up and builds himself a new life. However he never feels that he truly fits into where he has settled. Events transpire and fate brings him back to confront his past and claim his rightful place as the King.

I see this with a more adult theme rather than aimed at children. The story is really eptomised in the song "The Circle of Life" by Elton John. Everyone has a place in this "circle of life" we just have to find out what that is ;0)

The Lion King Special Edition is a superb restoration. Take a look at the serviceable but dull film clips incorporated in the plethora of extras and compare them to the vivid gorgeousness of the film presentation. This special edition also adds a 90-second song ("Morning Report") that originated in the lavish stage musical. To Disney's credit, the original theatrical version is also included, both restored and featuring two 5.1 soundtracks: Dolby Digital and a new Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, which does sound brighter. As with the Disney Platinum line, everything is thrown into the discs, except an outsider's voice (the rah-rahs of Disney grow tiresome at times). The excellent commentary from the directors and producer, originally on the laser disc, is hidden under the audio set-up menu. Recommended.

Looking back, I knew The Lion King would be something truly special from the first time I saw the posters for it. This film is a world apart from any other, Disney or otherwise. It fully deserves to have grossed so much money in the cinemas, broken records for video sales, inspired two sequels and even make it onto the stage. Just when will it go from the West End? 2050?
The sweeping views of the African landscape and the creatures which inhabit it are awe-inspiring. The animators did their research well - the way that the lions move and interact is as real as any wildlife documentary. The songs complement the movie well, even the gaudy and humourous brilliance of I Just Can't Wait to be King. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Elton John's single version that is, sung over the credits) is one of the most beautiful songs ever.
The characters blend the quality of the actors playing them with their animated counterparts in a way that makes them all too real. Young Simba and Nala, quintessential lovable rascals, will cause kids to sympathise and adults to sigh nostalgically. Grown-ups will also understand as Simba and Nala emerge later as careworn adults, falling for each other. James Earl Jones, as Mufasa, is a character all will inherantly respect, even after his tragic exit. Timon and Pumbaa (Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella) deliver genuinely witty laughs. Rowan Atkinson lends just a touch of Blackadder to the stuffy hornbill Zazu. And while it seems inappropriate to love the villain, Jeremy Irons is sharp and haunting as Mufasa's bitter, devious and malevolent brother Scar. Every movement of this character's eyes, lips and body speaks volumes and of all the characters, he is the one you are sure to discuss the most.
All this makes for a film full of genuine emotion, perhaps simply through the fact the characters are not real people being filmed. Just watch the love shown between Simba and his family, or the fear, sadness and regret in Simba following what happens to his father. There will not only be gasps of awe and plenty of laughs from the audience, but almost certainly tears as well, both of sadness ("Dad, get up...") and joy ("It is time...").
As for the extras on the DVD, they compliment the film perfectly. Here you will get the back-story to the film, discover some deleted concepts and take part in some fun interactive activities. No kid, big or small, should be without this. Five stars is not enough.

"The Lion King" was first released in 1994. Since then it's become one of Disney's biggest grossing - and most fondly remembered - animated movies. But it's never been as big as it is now.

Remastered for the IMAX screen and complemented with a newly remixed soundtrack, this is "The Lion King" as you've never seen it before.

Following hot on the heels of last year's re-release of "Beauty and the Beast", this presentation of "The Lion King" offers little in the way of new material, but it certainly has a wonderful roar.

Blown up to 'Large Screen Format' size - it's a standard 2-D presentation, so doesn't require the use of those special IMAX glasses - the beauty of the original artwork really stands out as the animators soar across the African savannah, run with the antelope, and scale the heights of Pride Rock.

While lesser features might be swamped by such visual spectacle, the story here is majestic enough to cope.

In fact, this epic Shakespearean tale - with shades of both "Macbeth" and "Hamlet" - is perfectly suited to grandiose presentation, as young lion cub Simba (Broderick) is tricked out of his kingdom by his scheming Uncle Scar (Irons).

Forced into exile, he learns a few life-lessons from a warthog (Ernie Sabella) and a meerkat (Lane), before finally facing up to his responsibility as the true heir to the throne.

Admittedly, the enlargement of such an old print to this size causes a few problems - magnified several times over, the occasional blemish becomes more noticeable than it would in the film's standard format - but it's easy to forgive such minor flaws, particularly when the digitally-remixed soundtrack replays the Oscar-winning songs (courtesy of Sir Elton John and Tim Rice) so perfectly.

Long live the "King" - in any size.

One of Disneys finest animated features. The story was originally concieved as "Hamlet" acted by animals in a jungle. However this was soon altered and the general african theme took over. The two paralell musical genre's of western rock/gospell and african folk and tribal rythms set this motion picture to win a string of prestigous awards.
The story is the classic adventure of a young prince,(Simba) his father the king (Mufasa) his evil and cunning Uncle (Scar). If you know shakespear then you'll know what happens next, for those who fell asleep in english lit. The uncle plots with his cronies to overthrow the king. However the young prince escapes and soon falls into the company of a couple of no hopers who fill his head with a life of lesuire. The kingdom is eventually driven to famine and the two worlds colide. The young prince falls in love with his betrothed lady of the court, who reminds him of his responsibilities. After a bit of soul searching the Young prince returns to fight his uncle. I won't tell you what happens next, so you'll have to watch the film. This is a grea film for anyone, yung and old, the story is timeless the musical score is very catchy and often aunting, and the visual apperance has yet to be surpassed in an animated film (Not the new CGI the proper animated films!).
If you don't have this in your DVDcollection you should have your head examined by a specialist.