Not an ideal choice for younger kids, this hip and violent animated feature from Disney was nevertheless a huge smash in theaters and on video, and it continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed Broadway production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is sabotaged by a rivalrous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the "circle of life" with some new friends and eventually comes back to reclaim his proper place. Characters are very strong, vocal performances by the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, and Whoopi Goldberg are terrific, the jokes are aimed as much (if not more) at adults than kids, the animation is sometimes breathtaking, and the music is more palatable than in many Disney features. But be cautious: this is too intense for the
Rugrat crowd.
--Tom Keogh How good-looking is the DVD restoration of Disney's popular animated film? 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.
The second disc is organized by 20-minute-ish "journeys" tackling the elements of story, music, et cetera, including good background on the awkward Shakespearean origins at Disney where it was referred as "Bamlet." The most interesting journey follows the landmark stage production, and the kids should be transfixed by shots of the real African wildlife in the animal journey. Three deleted segments are real curios, including an opening lyric for "Hakuna Matata." Most set-top DVD games are usually pretty thin (DVD-ROM is where it's at), but the Safari game is an exception--the kids should love the roaring animals (in 5.1 Surround, no less). One serious demerit goes to the needless and complicated second navigation system that is listed by continent, but just shows the same features reordered. --Doug Thomas
1 It's like Hamlet,only better!
This movie is a sequel to Hamlet,and the DVD is cool,I even liked it on video. You know the story,when a young lion cub named Simba is forced to take his place in the Circle of Life and sometimes he disobeyed his father,King Mufasa and got into T-R-O-U-B-L-E,but most of the time he played with his BFF (Best Friend Forever) Nala. Day after day,they wrestled and tumbled until one day Simba's evil Uncle Scar caused a stampede killing Mufasa. Scar lied to Simba telling him that he killed his father and told him to leave the Pride Lands and never return. But when he meets a warthog named Pumbaa and his meerkat buddy Timon,he learns about their "Hakuna Matata" way of life,living on a diet of grubs,but when the years pass,Nala returns and tells Simba that when Scar became king,there was no food nor water,but Simba couldn't return,but when a wise old baboon named Rafiki tells Simba that his father lives in him and he learns to face his past and challenges Scar for the throne and when he destroys Scar once and for all,Simba becomes the Lion King and Nala becomes his queen.
2 Beautiful, compelling, and heartwarming
This is my favorite movie of all time. Why? It's a beautifully wrought out story about life, death, betrayal, love, and honor. The animation is Disney at it's best, superior to Beauty and the Beast, which is my second favorite Disney animation film. The voice acting is perfect, the characters are very well developed, and the story reflects the humanity in all of us. Losing the one you love, and thinking you're responsible as a result of terrible cruelty from someone you trust is the worst thing that could happen, and to see Simba reclaim his proper place with his own courage and help from true friends is tremendously uplifting and joyful. Simba LEARNS and grows so much in the course of the film and it's just a joy to grow with him. The music is gorgeous, especially the background music, and while I don't enjoy Elton John's renditions of these beloved songs, the performances within the film were top-notch. Beautiful, detailed animation, geniune, feeling voice acting, and a real, compelling story make The Lion King first in its class, and then some.
3 BEST MOVIE EVER MADE ! :D ~SPOKEN TRUTH~
I LOVED IT SINCE I WAS THREE!! I luv Simba's ambition and sweet bravery. And nala the cute BFF of simba is just as spunky. The animation is amazing as the music. They painted the picture perfect! by showing somthing so corrupted and evil (scar) showing a kind, brave loving father (mufassa) a sweet loving brave mother (sarabie)and an ambitious innocence of a cub (simba)who is gullable and easily tricked by his evil uncle who wants 2 steal his throne but his daddy luvs him and watches him from above and guides him from his heart to destiny and truth BUY IT WATCH IT CHERISH IT ~Spoken Truth~
4 The top animated film of all-time...
Winner of two Academy Awards for Best Music (both Original Score and Original Song), The Lion King would have won Best Picture had it not been an animated film. Arguably the greatest full-length Disney feature of all time, The Lion King is a drama of epic proportions, and a film that forever extended the boundaries of the animation genre. Hans Zimmer creates an original score that is second to none in cinematic history, and Elton John's hit single swept the nation at the time of the film's release. With powerful and sweeping visual sequences, the use of a timeless plot device, and brilliant direction, the film will stand the test of time as one of the best to ever be produced.
The story is set in Pride Rock, a serene jungle paradise on the African plain. All of the animals live in a harmonious ecosystem, ruled by the greatest animal of all - the strongest and wisest lion, King Mufasa. When Mufasa's wife gives birth to the lion cub Simba, the young heir's Uncle Scar begins plotting the overthrow of his brother and the taking of the kingdom by force. Forming a conspiracy with a pack of wild hyenas, Scar's evil plan is to lure Simba and Mufasa into a valley where the hyenas stir up a herd of wilder beasts which end up trampling Mufasa and leaving him clinging for his life to the edge of a cliff. With his brother's life hanging in the balance, Scar seizes the opportunity to send his brother hurling to a bloody death.
With Mufasa dead, and Simba too young to defend the kingdom, Scar and the hyenas rise to power. Pride Rock is soon reduced to a desolate wasteland as its newest rulers ravage the landscape, while Simba is forced into exile. Fleeing to a faraway land free of predators, Simba grows up and befriends Pumbaa and Timon, two animals who live a carefree life feasting on grubs and insects.
But as time passes, a chance encounter reunites Simba with his childhood love Nala. Falling in love with each other, Nala tells Simba about the sad state of affairs in Pride Rock. She urges him to return, but it takes the return of Mufasa in the form of a ghostly cloud in order to convince Simba of his true destiny...
With the help of Nala and the other lionesses of Pride Rock, Simba returns to stake his claim as the rightful heir to the kingdom and to exact justice on Scar for his father's cold-blooded murder. Together, Simba and the lionesses defeat Scar and hyenas, and Pride Rock once again becomes the utopian paradise it once was under Mufasa's philosopher king rule. As the movie ends, the animal kingdom is presented with Simba's newborn son - and the circle of life continues unabated...
Widely considered the best animated film in Disney's arsenal, and certainly the best of the computer-generated era, The Lion King is a cinematic masterpiece in any medium. If you tend to shy away from animated films as childlike or simply just not your cup of tea, you would be well advised to make an exception and check out The Lion King DVD. It is quite simply an extraordinary epic, replete with dazzling choreography, well-blended musical scores, and characters the audience loves to root for. In one particular scene, the Disney animators' use of Leni Riefenstahl's patented camera angles to capture the hyenas marching in lock-step under the singular review of Scar creates an abundance of subconscious images reminiscent of Hitler and the Third Reich. This illusion plants a manifestation of evil in the mind of the viewer that is instantly connected to Scar and his evil intentions... That's the type of symbolic and all-engrossing power Disney utilizes in this wonderful masterpiece - loved by children, but a deep and breathtaking film for the adult viewer nonetheless...
The DVD Report
5 Scary and regressive
I may be the only person on the planet with this opinion, but I did not like the message of this movie. The story is paternalistic in the extreme, displaying an overt and highly conservative agenda. I couldn't believe it. The Lions are a dictatorship supported by the animals in the jungle with a Nazi-ish zeal. A male child is born and seen as a savior? Where's the mom in all this? Where are the females at all except to giggle and bat their eyes, and to create male heirs?
6 The Best Animated Film Ever Released...
'The Lion King' is in my opinion the best Disney and animated film to ever be released. Its just so magical and shows that animals have feelings and shows things from there point of view. The films about Simba's journey threw the Circle Of Life and how he goes about dealing with everything. This movie is no question a classic and I don't think one person would not like it. Its just so grand. The DVD is also a work of art. If you haven't already then you have to put this in your DVD collection now!
7 It's Greeeeeeeeeeeeat!!!
I thought this was a great movie! It had me on my toes but in my seat but on my toes but in my seat but me on my toes but in my seat but on my toes but in my seat but me on my toes but in my seat but on my toes but in my seat but me on my toes but in my seat but on my toes but in my seat but me on my toes but in my seat but on my toes but in my seat but me on my toes but in my seat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My mommy told me if I watch this movie everyday I will become a very great person!!!!!:) yep and it is happining right now cause I am telling you a great review that will help every little fishy in the hole wide see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8 Awesome
I love this movie sooooo much. I've seen it a lot and I saw it this morning. It is really sad and I had to buy it on DVD after seeing it again. These movies are like collectables. Disney is great. The songs are great. I love when Simba and Nala reunite. It's a great movie and everyone should see it since it's so sad. One of my favorite parts is at the end when Simba goes back to pride rock. I don't want to spoil it for people who haven't seen it and all but it's great.
9 the best movie of all time
if you think this movie overrated than your way off this
movie is great
10 The Morning Report
The Morning Report is the new song in this wonderful musical full of laughter nad love. It is the first of the three magnificent films. I used to love this movie as a little kid, and, now growing up, it still isn't a bad movie.
11 Why is it a "masterpiece"?
I know I'm going to be picked on for saying this, but why is Lion King said to be a masterpiece and one of Disney's greatest? To be honest with you, I didn't really enjoy it that much. I didn't have a problem with the animation or the sound, it's just the story. The story is the most important element, here. But, Disney plaigerized the idea for this movie from another source, and didn't do a good job, to be honest with you. This movie was so boring and sappy that it sickened me. I found movies like Aladdin, Mulan, Lilo and Stich, and Home on the Range to be much more enjoyable than this.
12 Simba vs. Kimba (Platinum wins by a longshot)!
OK, maybe Disney copied "Kimba, the White Lion", but so what? I still believe that "Lion King" is much better..."Kimba" doesn't even come close to this masterpiece! You can't even compare them...seriously. Let's not forget that the original was Japanese and some people HATE anime and cant stand watching those big eyed characters jumping around everywhere! I honestly love Japanese cartoons and I hated Kimba to death, it was just so stupid and boring and the animation was crap ( i know that it was much older). I never liked Kimba. When i saw it the first time before i even knew about the whole "Disney stole our ideas" thing i thought it was a very dumb show and when someone told me that Disney was accused of stealing some other company's idea i got a DVD of Kimba and i thought the same thing. I do believe that Disney copied Kimba since there are some scenes in the movie that are exactly the same (character etc) but come on, people our snakes everyone does these things one way or the other... We live on Earth (aka Greedyland) not Candyland! (mmm candy)! I cant say that i agree with Disney's (BAD) deed... i mean the least that they could have done is give those other guys some credit. Meybe the two companies hated each other, maybe they had a "pizza hut - domino pizza", "Britney-Christina", "McD's -White Castle" thing going on, but if they said something like Thanks to: The "Whatever it's called company" creators of Kimba the white lion: Our inspiration, they would look like the good guys and not the scoundrels they look like now... Anyway this movie is Great buy it before Disney stops releasing it (31 of this month? What month is it anyway?). The platinum edition is great. "Morning Report" sucks...BIG time...The DVD is Fun and will keep any fan of the movie busy for a while... The story (you know), the characters (you know), the voice actors (you know)...you know everything don't you? Buy it while you can...or don't buy it and give your $22.49 to people who need it... judgment day is coming people...just kiddin'!
13 Greatest AnimatedMovie Ever!!!!!
I bought the DVD collection for all the sequesls a few days ago and am not regretting it. The best animated movie among all animated movies displaying the beauty of the African animals and plains. The opening is just great and the sound tracks are so wonderful. Voices by the likes of James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg and many more are just superb. I wonder whether any other movie will be able to beat this one and ten years later it is still very popular... Get a home copy.
14 A True Disney Masterpiece!
The Lion King is probably on of the best animated movies of all time. Every since this movie first came out in 1994, Disney hasn't been able to make a movie as good as it. A lot of reviewers have said that this is the most unfunny movie of all time. I have to disagree. Timon and Pumbaa were hilarious and besides, not all movies are ment to be funny.
This Platinum addition is loaded with bonus features and extras. From Deleted Scenes to Timon & Pumbaa's Vitual Safari, there is so much to see, hear, and do. Did I mention that there is an all-new song called "Morning Report". It is a pretty good song, but not as good as some of the other songs of course!
For those of you that have not seen the Lion King before, I will give a quick summary of the movie. A young, feisty lion cub named Simba is eager to grow up and become king. But Scar, Mufasa's evil brother and Simba's uncle wants to become king. But when Simba was born, Scar is no longer first in line. After Mufasa's tragic death, Simba is banished from the pridelands by Scar, who blames him for Mufasa's death. Simba spends many months in the jungle with his newfound friends, Timon & Pumbaa. He has forgotten who he really is and it will take some help from his childhood friend, Nala, to help him reclame his spot in the "Circle of Life".
If you don't have a chance to pick up the whole Lion King trilogy before they all go back in the Disney vault on January 31, be sure to pick up this wonderful movie. DON'T MISS OUT!!!!
15 Disney's Lamest Platinum Release
Yep, it's finally on DVD as part of Disney's Platinum Series. "The Lion King" is finally on DVD for a limited time only. If I were reviewing the film, I'd give it at least 4 stars. Unfortunately, as Amazon is selling the DVD instead of a film reel, I've got to review the DVD instead of the actual film. "The Lion King" is easily Disney's lamest Platinum Edition so far ("Bambi", "Cinderella", "The Little Mermaid" and others have yet to come). In case you don't understand me, I'll run through the iffy points;
*I'm sure we all loved the version that we saw as six year olds back in 1994. Sadly, we don't get that film. Instead, we get a special edition replacing one scene with a new number, easily trying to cash in on the Human Again success of "Beauty and the Beast". On the back, it says that there's also the original theatrical cut, but this is a lie. Disney released "The Lion King" to IMAX cinemas and had to reformat some scenes with new animation to look good on a really big screen, meaning we're not seeing the true version at all.
*There's too many kiddy features. Disney DVDs have many special features geared towards kids, but this just goes over the top. Despite being a collector's edition, there's probably more child fluff than anything else. Does a film nerd like me really wants to go on a virtual safarri with Timon and Pumba? And I think kids know what a lion is. Didn't they just watch a movie about one?
*The Disc 2 special features apart from the kiddy ones are fairly fluffy. I learnt some interesting stuff, but most of the features are promotional (advertising the theme parks) or just praise the film. I understand that "The Lion King" was a huge hit but save the promotion and praise for the Disney Store.
*Disc 2's navigational system is silly. The Journey concept repeats several bonus features and made me feel dizzy.
So is this DVD worth it? Despite my ramblings, I say yes. It's flawed in terms of its actual release, but the movie itself is a great movie and is one of the best Disney movies. Plus, the film itself is going to go out of print soon and for that reason, I recommend that you pick up a copy now. Yet if Disney releases a better copy in a few years time, I urge you to pick up that copy and replace this lesser release.
16 Slammin' animal adventure movie!
With just the right amount of comedy, tragedy, betrayal, animals, lovable characters and excellent music, the Lion King is the best Disney movie ever created, along with Pochahontas.
When future king Simba, a young lion cub, is tricked by his evil uncle Scar--a classic Disney villain--into thinking that he was the cause of his father Mufasa's death, he flees from his home, the African Pridelands, thinking that it is the only solution. He goes to the jungle and meets the hilariously overconfident meerkat Timon and the adorable eating-machine warthog Pumbaa. It is there that he grows up--not knowing that Scar has taken over the throne and is messing up the once-beautiful Pridelands drastically. It is only with the help of his childhood friend Nala, a wise yet funny baboon called Rafiki, and, most of all, his father's spirit, that he makes the choice to--with Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, and the hornbill Zazu's help--go back and fight Scar for his rightful place as ruler of the Pridelands.
A rather sad part in the movie is the powerful scene when Simba discovers that his father is dead. Not everyone will want to watch this scene--they'll probably want to skip over it. Otherwise, this is a great film for all ages and my personal favorite.
17 a bilingual
Having seen Kimba in Japanese long before I saw Lion King, I must say that Lion King is DEFINATELY a ripoff. To be fair though, there are some unique quirks to the Lion King story and it has very charming characters. I think that this is truly a masterpiece that is worth seeing, but bear in mind that Disney shamelessly stole the story and refused to acknowledge it.
18 Superior Sound Quality
Great movie - typical Disney film for all ages. This edition has a superior Disney Enhanced Soundtrack. Want to give your surround sound system a workout? Play this film. Bose uses it in their stores as a demo because it's so good.
19 Doesn't deserve good feedback
This "original" movie is a fake! A cheat! A scam almost! Disney was in competition with the company creating Kimba: The White Lion. Kimba...Simba...wow. It really took a long time to come up with that. -_- Also, some shots of the show, Kimba, and the movie, Lion King, proved that it was rip. Even the thorns part of the movie was taken from Kimba! Lion Fink was a Disney Ripoff. They don't deserve your money. Save it for something better. MUCH better. Not Lion King 2 either. Believe me, listen to this review, and you've made the right choice. My advice: Don't Buy Any Lion King Movies. Whether it's 1, 2, 1-and-a-half, don't buy. 1 star. I could actually go on, but this is just brief.
20 THE GREATEST MOVIE.
Disney did it...for the last time, excluding PIXAR movies, before they turned to cheesy live-action movies such as FLUBBER and SPY KIDS. The MOVIE is fantastic. I must admit that it would be a bit flimsy without the score, but is REALLY good otherwise. The messages are clear (even if mixed)and the animation and scenery, especially with the new edition, is amazing. If you are looking for a completely "hand"-animated film however, computer effects have been added. Which isn't bad for me--might be for Disney "purists". It IS ONE EXCELLENT MOVIE! The violence does seem extreme, so be on guard, but don't pass this up.
THE DVD is a mixed blessing. The games (excluding the Safari) are REALLY bad. The extras for collectors such as commentary and insider's peeks at animation, set design, and more are cool. BE WARNED: the "SNEAK PEEKS" are just a big marketing push for the Disney movies AND it contains a few cruddy off-the-TV ads for Disneyland. Won't Disney stop its worthless marketing push? P.S THE MORNING REPORT is horrible.
21 It's Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!
The Lion King is a great story that manages to show courage, leadership, responsibility, life, death, vengeance, pride, and envy - so much of the range of human strengths and weaknesses. And it does this without being preachy and without boring the kids. It's funny and serious. The animation is amazing, and so are the songs. It's no wonder they could make a successful Broadway stage musical out of it.
22 The best Lively movie in All The Times!
I saw it In cinema when taenia like 11 years, the whole people were crazy was super I fill that day the Cinema, I remember so much that she went with my cousin, and to the entrance they gave us the Sound band of the movie, which is also the best in all the times, good this movie has everything to pass the time never left you boring neither a single instant, I believe that we all should have this movie at home.
23 The best movie ever
This movie, is by far my favourite movie ever...this movie, i feel goes beyond entertaining,its enjoyable, colourful, and is reslly good for the whole family
24 Fantastic
This movie is one of the best movies ever made by Disney! It contains love, friendship, action, adventure, and even a little bit of comedy. The characters are entertaining, as well as being easy to relate to, and easy to love. The story was charming and fun, and the artwork was bright and colorful. The story had fairly exciting parts, simple parts, and sad parts.
This movie was my absolute favorite when I was little, and is still a favorite of mine now. I recommend it to parents looking for a good movie for their children, kids looking for a nice movie to watch, and anyone wanting to see what kind of movies Disney used to make.
25 The 5 stars is for the video itself, not the DVD extras
I remember watching this back in the 90's. It kicked ass then and it kicks ass now. It sure as hell beats the living hell out of The Lion King 1.5. Hell, The Lion King 2 beats the living hell out of TLK 1.5, and that is a sad thing considering TLK2 sucked.
Animation 10/10 - Back in the days, this was some of the best. The way the camera moves, the way expressions were made, and the little details most of us fail to catch was drawn. This was an indication of high quality back then and an indication of a lot of money now.
Story 10/10 - The story is nothing new, of course, but the presentation is unbelievable. The story had class. It did not rush things, but it did not draw things out either. Things were done just right. It knew when to speed things up and when to slow things down. An ability rarely seen nowadays. I believe everybody knows the story, and if not, then you should be ashamed of yourself. I've met homeless hobos who haven't watch TV for ten years who knows the story to this movie.
Music 10/10 - I loved EVERY piece in this movie. There was not a single song I did not like. In the beginning, the songs were snappy, happy, and represented a carefree childhood. Later on, the songs become darker, but hopeful to represent a new life for the pride. Either way, each song was composed masterfully.
DVD extras 8/10 - The extras are not bad, but I was hoping more for the new song "Morning Report". Instead, it was crappy.
Value 10/10 - This is a timeless classic no one should miss. Of course, if you rather watch Lilo & Stitch, I'd understand.......that you have crappy taste. This movie is one of the best of its era and it shines through.
26 Good!
I like Disney cartoons and I think The Lion King is a good one, it's a wondeful story with great animation with vivid colors and delightful music and has the voice talents of some great actors, James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Moira Kelly, Ernie Sabella, Whoopi Golberg, Robert Guillaume, Rowan Atkinson, Madge Sinclair and Cheech Marin. The story of Simba is sweet, filled with moments of sadness and happiness and is highly recomended to people of all ages!
27 The King has Returned!!!!
The Lion King is the best movie of all time!!!! It has a powerful message and great music. I first saw this movie when I was little and I still watch it. I almost cry at the sceen with Mufasa and Simba playing under the stars. The music is so powerful and the vocies were cast perfectly. Two thumbs way up! So if you haven't gotten a copy of this movie get one today.
28 Best Disney DVD yet
Not only is it the best Disney DVD put together so far, but it's one of Disney's top three all time movies, in my opinion. It has to be right there w/Snow White as the best all time Disney animated cartoon movie.
This Disney movie truly has an all-star cast, probably the best cast of any Disney movie. James Earl Jones as the voice of Simba's father Mufasa, and there is no better voice in the business in my humble opinion.
Then you have as villains Jeremy Irons (Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Time Machine, and Dungeons and Dragons) as Scars voice (he has a great accent), Whoopi Goldburg and Cheech Marin (no credits needed for these two) play Scars trusty (or not) sidekick hyenas.
Then you have Mathew Broderick as the lead character (Simba), Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) as Simba and Mufasa sidekick bird (Zazu).
As a whole, this is a great, great animated movie that you should be ashamed if it is not included in your DVD collection. If you are going to have any Disney DVD's in your collection, this has to be one of them.
Grade: A
29 The Lion King
The Lion King: Be a King or a Queen
Do you like being chased by hyenas? Would you like to be eaten? I sure wouldn't! That would be so horrifying. In the movie "The Lion King" is a great movie for the family to watch. There is other great movie to that has all the cool characters in The Lion King. There is "Lion King 2 Simba's Pride and " Lion King 1 in a half". The best character in the movie in the Lion King is Simba. He takes an adventure with his friend Nala.
Simba's father tells them not to go to the elephant graveyard but they do any ways Anyways this is a very funny movie. I usually don't act like this but I still watch the movie. My brother relates to Simba. Simba gets into a fight with his uncle named Scar. Scar wants to take over Pride Rock. But Simba gets Pride Rock. And every one is happy!
This is a dramatic, funny movie. You might cry in this movie but you will laugh to. A lot of movies don't make you cry like this one will. You really need to go buy this movie! (...)
30 This is NOT a violent movie for kids
I'm sorry, but if you found this movie to be too violent for kids over the age of five, then you're robbing your children of a valuable experience. Yes, there is death. Yes, it is not a safe and simple death. But kids CAN handle it. An evil man killed a great man. It's not a theme that kids should enjoy, but it's one that is of particular resonance to us as Americans. This movie is simple, beautiful and moving- seemingly one of Disney's last treasures. While the Broadway show may be even more moving, this movie has the power to move us. I hope you'll see it if you haven't. I hope you'll let your kids watch it if you haven't. And I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have. Humbly submitted, -Matt Calcara, Overland Park, KS
31 What's in Store?
Along with Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, and the forthcoming Aladdin Disney's Platinum Editions are THE DVD essential. Here is a run down of the rest of the Platinum Editions as they are projected at the moment.
2005: Bambi
2006: The Jungle Book
2007: Cinderella
2008: The Little Mermaid
2009: Lady and the Tramp
2010: 101 Dalmatians (animated of course!)
Clearly, with Disney animation floundering at the moment, the studio are investing a lot in their back-catalogue. The Platinum Editions have all been 5 Star releases so far and there's no reason to suspect this will change. As Snow White proved several years ago - just because the film is older than ten years doesn't mean less or more limited extras. Disney have an unrivalled archive and are not afraid to use it!
32 Probably the best Disney of all time - on a good DVD edition
Seeing this film again after a few years, I remain convinced that this is the greatest American animated film of all time. The story, the music, the voice acting, the animation all combine to create an intricately woven, full-bodied legend that Disneys more recent efforts (e.g. Hunchback and Tarzan) don't come close to matching. Even the classic Disney's seem creaky and thin by comparison.
The story is very simple and is basically an aglomeration of familiar Western legends - Hamlet and Richard III from Shakespeare, Joseph and the Prodigal Son from the Bible, etc. Mufasa, the Lion King, is murdered by his jealous and imbalanced brother, who then frightens the king's son and rightful heir into exile. The exiled Simba grows up with a couple friends whose theme in life is "Hakuna Matata" (which roughly translates into "why worry?"). Meanwhile, the deranged brother has ruined the kingdom, so it's up to Simba to return to set things right and claim his rightful place as King.
Such a description does not do justice to the underlying structure of the film - there are several themes running through the story, punctuated by the Rice/John songs (the "Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata" are the most prominent) that give the film a depth and richness that allows it to rise above it genre to become a very satisfying repeat experience. That's not to say that kids will not enjoy the film - there are ample gross-out jokes, for example (Timone munching grubs and worms, Pumba's problem with flatulence, etc.). Mufasa's death scene is probably too intense for pre-schoolers, so be careful not to show it to really young children.
This DVD edition is quite good. As mentioned by others, the extras do contain a little too much Disney cheerleading, although generally they are quite interesting. The games are pretty lame - why do they include these things??? In addition, navigation is not straightforward, but it's not bad. The directors/producer commentary is well worth listening to. Finally, it's curious that not a single actor was invited to participate. With voices supplied by the likes of interesting and thoughtful actors (e.g., James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, and Robert Guillome), it's very disappointing that no interviews with them were included in the extras.
Because of the quality of the film, and the fantastic quality of the video (and apparently the sound, although my system can't appreciate it), this DVD is highly recommended.
33 Superb animation work
Undoubtly we are living a new golden age in this genre . Walt Disney Productions reveals an astonishing creative vitality.
The lion king is a film in which ensamble almost to a perfection level all the elements that bcome to the cinema to art category .
The film of deep shakesperian roots is apparently a film for kids but it is an adult story .
Julie Taymor was the director of this film and became the passport for her to make Titus in 2000 .
34 Best movie of all times
I really love this movie it was so cute and the songs were great I gave my neice this movie when she was born and she watches it all the time and she is 7 years old now Thanks to everyone who created it your the best
35 Wondrous and timeless
Adults as well as children will adore this spellbinding fairy tale and the now-classic soundtrack by Elton John. Hum along with "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" while you enjoy the voices of James Earl Jones and Whoopi Goldberg. Simba forever!
36 I guess I'm not a fan
I wish I had read the review here warning that this movie is not appropriate for young viewers. I just assumed that a modern Disney movie would not have this level of violence. I also just have to comment that I found the animation, the story, the script and especially the music to be far below the quality I would expect from Disney. I know most disagree but I really don't get it! The music is formulaic 1990's drivel without any creativity. Despite the violence, it was phenomenally slow and hard to care about any of the characters. My son was so bored he only made it through half the movie before wandering off to do something more exciting.
37 Wonderful DVD
I love the Lion King and am even more happy that it is now on DVD. It is funny, colorful, and has a message for myself and children. I am happy that Disney put it on DVD. The special features are an added bonus. Thanks Disney.
38 One Of The Last Great Disney Features (spoilers included)
The Lion King debuted in 1994 and at the time became the highest grossing animated movie of all-time. Why? Because it had everything a Disney animated feature should have: a hero, great songs, beautiful animation and most importantly, charm. It is the story of Simba, who is born to Mufasa and one day will become king of the pridelands. In the beginning we see the strong bond between father and son, as Mufasa teaches Simba the things he needs to know to survive. Mufasa has a brother, Scar, who is jealous of Simba and feels like he is the rightful heir to the throne. Scar sets up Mufasa to be killed and then convinces Simba to run away by persuading him that his father's death was his fault. Simba runs away and is befriended by Timon and Pumba who help to raise the cub. So all the while Simba is growing up, Scar is ruling the pridelands just the way it should not be ruled. The land has become dry and the herds of animals once plentiful have migrated elsewhere. The kingdom is in disarray and the lions, with the exception of Scar, are suffering. Once Simba is grown he comes to realize what is going on at home and he is faced with the decision of taking his place as king or not going back.
This Platinum dvd edition presents a fully loaded 2-disc set, wih some interesting commentaries, deleted scenes and art galleries which are always fun. In some ways I felt like the set was targeted at kids rather than the true Disney fans, due to the inclusion of the virual games and music videos. That is a silly complaint on my part though, as I am proud to own a dvd quality copy of the Lion King. It is so amazing to be able to see the best picture possible with all the bright colors, and to hear this on the surround system. You really couldn't ask for more in a dvd. The only one true complaint is the inclusion of the Morning Report song into the film. It does not fit and it was so hard finding the original version without the song. In fact the whole layout on here is difficult to navigate and can be aggravating. Once you figure it out though I am sure you will be completely satisfied with the dvd that Disney has given us.
Although I can't personally say The Lion King is my favorite Disney animated movie, it certainly is near the top of my list and I recommend seeing it if you have not. Chances are you have seen it, but there are those who haven't. Great songs, smooth animation, loveable characters make this movie a true Disney classic, and in my opinion one of the last great Disney features (Lilo and Stitch is also a good one), and it is a shame that Disney doesn't seem to want to put more heart and effort into their movies these days. But if you like the movie pick this one up as it will go out of print next year, and I also recommend the other titles in the Platinum line.
39 Love it. ;-)
When I was little (well littler) I didn't like this movie that much but now when I watch it I really love it. The older Disney movie are really good. *sniffles and hugs her collection of Disney movies*
40 Pale Shadow of BAMBI
THE LION KING is an updated version on the story line from Walt Disney's BAMBI. However, thematically THE LION KING lacks the warmth and sincerity of its predecessor. Our hero Simba, in THE LION KING does not seem to grow from his hard lessons learned in his upbringing, as was the case in BAMBI. He just seems to stumble onto them. When confrontation comes, Simba rises to the occasion not out of wisdom but out of happenstance. This film lacks inspiration because there is really no idealism presented in the drama. Only, Hans Zimmer's score helps the viewer get the film's would-be message across. I am glad this disc retained the original theatrical version of the film because the new edition included here is just a protracted version of what has already been presented. The audio remastering is just average, as are the extras.
41 Epic Animation at its Best
When I first saw this film, I was more impressed with the experimental animation, especially in some of the most violent scenes of the film. The movie is lush with eye-catching colors, realistic images, and detailed textures. It was not until I watched the film several times that I caught on to the depth and impressiveness of the story, as well. The Lion King is epic and Shakespearean. It borrows from one of Shakespeare's most famous, Hamlet. Scar is the jealous brother of the king, Mufasa. He plots the murder of the king and cleverly directs the blame upon young Simba, the king's son. It is not until many years later, after Simba is visited by his father's ghost, that he returns to the kingdom where Scar has taken Mufasa's place as king. Simba vows to avenge his father's death and with the help of two tiny but strong friends, succeeds in reclaiming the throne and defeating Scar.
Disney proves in this film that their films are not mere children's stories directed to young minds. Though they have released a few stinkers over the years, Lion King remains one of, if not the most impressive animated films of all time.
42 The Absolute Best Animated Film of All Time.
Disney's best film achievment, The Lion King truely is the king of all animated films. The movie is awe-inspiring and touching. It teaches valuable lessons that anyone can foreward into their own life. The movie itself is beautiful. Hans Zimmer's score is one of the most brilliant that I have heard. The animation is goregous, I do not see how anyone could have done it in just three years. Everything about it is awesome. It may be a little violent for kids, but it isn't overwhelming. I highly reccomend this film for anyone and everyone.
43 I got some good news and some bad news
The good news about The Lion King DVD is that it is the BEST DARN DISNEY MOVIE EVER MADE and it's getting the royal DVD treatment I've dreamed of.
Now here's my never ending string of bad news: the DVD is ripping off the film's most beloved fans such as myself.
1. THERE IS NO ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION! The OTV is actually the reanimated version done for Imax release (the Morning Report was only made for the dvd release) So technically there is no version that you saw in the theaters back in 1994 of the VHS you bought in 1995. This has got to be the worst cheat that the Disney Company has ever placed upon its consumers and I regret not writing an angry letter (I hope you all did). I saw the Imax version and the reanimated sequences were done very poorly. I doubt that with the exception of the dust incident that none of the errors from the original LK were fixed
2. FEATURES ARE POOR! I definitely say this regarding the deleted scenes. There are only 3 and all of them star Timon and Pumbaa (pushing the release of LK 1.5 a bit?) I was very disappointed that they didn't have the good deleted version of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Honestly I'm sick of Timon and Pumbaa, though I did like the Lion King 1.5 If you go to www.lionking.org you will find tons more deleted scenes then what this dvd rip off provided
There are too many things for kids, and a stupid music video plus the organization of Disc 2 is done very poorly. I think they should've done something better than a round the world thing (if you go outside of Africa or North America you'll only get slideshows of posters in different languages) There are no original theatrical previews of the film either. I heard some good thing about a making of special that appeared on the LK Laser Disc but not on the DVD Then you get some stupid stuff about African animals that I wouldn't care less about. there needs to be more stuff for fans and less stuff for kids.
3. THE MORNING REPORT - Well this number was very very unneccessary compared to BatB's Human Again. It was never even a originally deleted sequence but the animation got in smoothly. The bad news is that Simba has no whiskers throughout the number and it's too obvious. If they did not add Simba's whiskers in the new sequence on purpose then I need to go find these animators and knock some sense into them!
4. Menu - DEAR GOD WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?! A CGI ZAZU! AND NOT EVEN A GOOD ONE! And a poorly done 2D drawn background! Does Disney really hate 2D that much?!!!
You know who's to blame for all of this his name is Michael Eisner!!! And until we get him out of Disney there's no hope for the future Plantinum Editions of Disney films. These people cant make up their minds on whether to call these Special Editions or Plantinum Editions. It sounds as though Plantinum Editions sound better but you only get Special Edition like stuff with a Plantinum Edition fear.
For the sake of being a true Lion King fan I got the Collector's Gift Set. WARNING: MY GIFT SET CAME THROUGH AMAZON AND GOT DAMAGED UPON SHIPPING. IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU THROW THE BIGGEST FIT AND GET YOUR MONEY BACK!!! I regretted not doing this cuz I wanted to see the new dvd. However I didn't know that stores like Best Buy were carrying the Gift Set for much cheaper than I paid here.
So here's my advice for people getting the Aladdin Collecters Gift Set in October: DO NOT PREORDER HERE! Check with Best Buy or other good stores and they might have it available for $5-10 less than you would pay here and you wont have to pay for shipping that might damage your precious gift set. Dont make the same mistakes I did!
44 Dumb and Overrrated
(...)We had seen the Toy Story movies and Chicken Run and were anxious to see this one, which is supposed to be one of the greatest cartoons of all time. Not so at all. It's a stinking musical! Every other second there is a song. The most annoying are 'Morning Report', ' Circus of Life', and 'Hakuna Matata'. The movie is quite obnoxious, with its vulgar characters and its violence.(...) I can't believe it received a G rating. Should be more like PG, I think. If you are looking for a good, wholesome cartoon for your children, pass this one up. Get the Toy story movies instead. Those are funny and entertaining, with good morals.
45 Best Disney Film
Disney can't make real life movies but they can sure do animated films well! I watched this movie since elementary and have recently watched it and, its so good that I am still extremely satisfied with it even till now. All of the films I watch as a good isn't good anymore when I rewatch them now. Higher taste. I watched this movie 30+ times. You'll watch it as much if you have a babysitter who lives in a bad neighborhood with no cable and nothing to do.
The music is fantastic and very well placed. The scenary is awesome. They don't abuse graphics or go for something too over there head which turns out horrible later on. This is the type of film you can watch over and over again without it losing much meaning and sense.
I mean, it really doesn't get much better than this. IN MY OPINION.
46 Not as great as you might believe
With this so-called "classic," Disney totally ripped off Tezuka's "Jungle Emperor Leo" and when confronted about it, they had the gall to deny it. Shame on you Disney and pshaw to all your plausible deniability.
47 Best movie ever
The movie is awsome. It has perfect graphics and just the perfect songs for my children. My children ever sing the new song morning report on the way to school. Trust me! My wife and me both enjoy it and we watch it every month. Trust me! it is not a waste of your money!
48 Lion King Review
I first saw the Lion King in theatres when I was three years old. And now, turning 13, I still love this movie. I was so glad when they came out with the dvd version. The graphics and surround sound were stunning, which makes me want to watch it even more. I love the plotline of the Lion King, and I think it will always be one of my fav movies ever. What's neat is, even though it was made to me a kids movie, it has such an advanced-like plotline that keeps all ages interested. After watching this movie over and over for years, I still get the chills when Mufasa falls from the gorge into the stampede... lol. I think it is a very touching, and moving film.
49 Is this some sort of joke???!!
OK...Disney could have done a lot better here. For one, the layout of the DVD is a total disgrace. I had to sit for hours trying to find the "real" version of the film (without that silly Morning Report song) and finally found it under "Languages". Of course, I should have looked there first. How silly of me.
The animation has been completely changed - if you have the old VHS version you should compare them. The crocodiles with the birds in their mouths are completely different in I Just Cant Wait to be King, and the colors in the film have been changed to brighter, more bolder colors which make the scenery look totally unrealistic compared to the VHS. Seriously, is this some sort of joke? I grew up with this movie, and now that Im older I was excited to see it again after all those years, but I was just disappointed. I am hoping that disney are trying to trick us and will release something much better than this. This DVD was the biggest waste of money. EVER.
50 The best cartoon comes to DVD.
We have all seen The Lion King but let me tell you you haven't seen it like this before!
When the movie came out Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound was new and they did the surround like everyone was doing at the time, make it sound like there is an orchestra in front of you, center speaker for voices, rear speakers sparingly used here and there.
Now for the DVD they went back and completely re-did the surround sound in a special Disney Mix (the original 5.1 mix is still selectable), it now sounds like you are sitting in the middle of an orchestra, and all speakers are used in a way like never before. If you just got surround sound and want to test it out or have had a system for a while and want to put it to the ultimate test, this dvd is for you.
The music is larger than life, and if a tear doesn't come to your eye in the opening scene with the "Circle of Life" song, you are not human. Are you a robot? Do you have special powers? Please use them for good.
51 I wish I could give it five stars but....
When I first saw the Lion King it was with my sister and cousin at the theater. I thought it was the best. I still do but not this version of it. I would have given it five stars if it were not for the fact that there were changes made in the special edition version. Why did Disney add new songs to it and why isn't Elton John singing his songs. Instead it is some woman. This was really silly on Disney's part and doesn't make since.
52 A great movie for all!
The Lion King is an instant classic for all to enjoy. I have viewed this movie at least 10 times with my son and enjoy it every time. The digital remastering of this movie is also wonderful and I have friends who say the sound is amazing if you have a surround sound setup (which I dont have yet) If you are a Disney Collector or just looking for a great family movie, this is the one to get!
53 Movie is FANTASTIC! DVD features are...
ABOUT THE MOVIE: The movie is wonderful! The colors are bright and beautiful and the characters are wonderful. It is a wholesome adventure. Five stars! I think you all know what it is about so I won't linger on that. This is one of Disney's (company's) last great films.
ABOUT THE DVD: "The wonderful world of advertising" indeed! That review was right on.
54 Please note: the sketches are only copies of sketches
This is an excellent DVD with plenty of special features. I just wanted to point out that despite how the wording sounds on the Collector's DVD Gift Set, the NINE sketches that you get are only lithograph prints of sketches. I found this out months after getting my DVD the day it was released.
Still, the extra cost of this set did seem a tad low to have original sketches anyway. You get 9 wonderful prints that are 5x7" each, plus an excellent 160 page HARDBACK booklet. You get your money's worth, no doubt about it. I currently have the sketches in a landscape frame behind my desk in my bedroom/office and they look really nice.
55 Instant Classic Great Extras
THE LION KING was an instant classic. It's great to have it in widescreen on DVD with all the great extras. This is an outstanding DVD. The story, voices, animation and music are ecellent. I really love this edition. My whole family really loves this movie.
56 Royal Entertainment
"The Lion King" is a great animated film. It has a captivating story, a stellar cast of characters, and good songs. The animation is beautiful. The opening sequence is one of my favorites. It is a true modern masterpiece.
You probably know the story, so I'll skip the synopsis. One thing that does bother me is that the editorial review says that this flick is too violent for the little kiddies. What? A simple explanation can put an end to any confusion or fears that your child might have, unless your one of those parents who use the DVD players as a babysitter. My two year old understands that bad things happen in the world. She might not understand that Mufasa dies in this flick, but she knows that Simba is sad and angry about it. Don't let the PC police get in the way of letting your children see a modern classic.
The DVD is loaded with extras. Commentary on just about everything, music videos, and even short explanations on the animals in the movie. The "Circle of Life" video featuring kids from the Disney Channel is okay, but an obvious promo for the Disney Channel. As usual, there are a ton of trailers for flicks coming soon to a theater or DVD rack near you. The Safari game is one of the better games I've seen on a DVD. Granted, the menus may seem confusing to some folks in the crowd, but if you take just a little time to learn how to use them(I picked up the general mechanics on one try), you'll find that there are a lot of extras worth looking into.
The voice talents in this movie are great. Matthew Broderick and Jonathan Taylor Thomas are perfect as Simba(young and old). James Earl Jones was born to play Mufasa, albeit for a brief time in this movie. Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and the gentleman who plays "Ed" are great as the sniveling sidekicks to "Scar." Ah yes, "Scar" is a perfect villain in "The Lion King." Jeremy Irons is downright vile as the jealous uncle. His performance is flawless. Of course, Nathan Lane stole the show as "Timone," and Rowan Atkinson, as "Zazu," had the driest of wits in this film. The voice talents of the rest of the cast were good as well.
Overall, a grand movie worth owning. Its a modern Disney flick in the classical vein, and that's rare today.
57 The Lion King
THE FOLLOWING REFERS ONLY TO THE ACTUAL MOVIE: Wow. I had the same thoughts of this movie being Hamlet-esque. This movie is wildly wonderful, though it can't compare to BAMBI...my favorite of all time! There is a mix of action, humor, and sentimentality (but not too much of the traditional Disney sap :)
THE LION KING is thrilling and appealing, although it tends to go by quickly at the end. The hand-done classical animation is beautiful and has a quality live action or computer animation doesn't! Some scenes can be stressful for little kids, but it is still great! The hyenas are funny and the voice talent is amazing, with a fresh story line...something different from a dog running away and magically finding its way home, or like movies.
NOW...THE FOLLOWING REFERS TO THIS PARTICULAR DVD SET: Awful! Thrown-together to make sales and appeal to future customers...nothing but a gaint cheesy advertising thing. see the review below
58 great
Its a great dvd set and an even better movie, i loved it ever since it first came out and now, its still great. the only dissapointment is, i think, that the jungle safari always makes you die! but its minor. the music and voices were great.
hope this was helpful
59 Boring. Don't fall for it, kids are bored with this
Yes, I admit, the new age "circle of life" stuff is horribly predictible and trite. But if the music were shorter, more enjoyable, and the story paced faster, the new age junk wouldn't matter.
But in this movie, the circle-of-life stuff just keeps... circling right back to us, the audience, over and over and it gets old fast.
I know I'm in the minority here. I don't rate this as a classic. I typically give the benefit of the doubt to movies and I typically rate them higher than they deserve. Actually, I'm doing that here too by not giving it ONE star. But the animation is good enough to warrant the second star on its own, the story is worth 0.
60 New song is simply ghastly!
As a teenager, i can appreciate earlier Disney movies for their purity. When the Lion King Platinum Edition came out, i was excited. Everything was better except for one thing: the new song "Morning Report". While children may find this new addition entertaining, i find it hard to ignore the fact that they soiled this film by adding something to an already perfect film. It is a must buy anyways because it is a classic.
61 Roaring good!
This was a favorite between me and all my friends when we were kids. I'd watch this constantly. And even today,it still retains it's excellence among Disney's great films.
Of course,you all know the story by now. So I won't bother summarizing it for you. But everything about this movie was excellent. Timon and Pumbaa naturally stole the show,of course.
Even though my interest in the film waned a lot(over-milking the franchise,ya know),this movie will still and always be one of my top faves.
62 A true classic
This DVD is really a true classic and a must-have for all Disney fans.
63 Don't mess with a classic
I really loved this movie. I can see where they polished it up. That's fine. As far as the extra song "the morning report", it really wasn't necessary to put it in the movie. I think it was the worst song in the movie and it takes away from the original story. Everything else was a.o.k.
64 Great movie, but way overloaded menu!
As much as i like The Lion King, the DVD somewhat dissapointed me. Not only looks the (cheap) 3D-Zazu extremely out of place, but the whole menu is much too long. So after skipping tons of Disney trailers at every start, about 5 minutes have passed until you can finally watch the main event.
Nevertheless, the movie is a classic!
Also worth to mention are the sites lionking.com (official) and Planet Lion King (www.planetlionking.com) which features many screenshots and much much more!
65 Don't miss this DVD!
I was from the original generation of kids who fell in love with "The Lion King" and I was fortunate enough to see it three times during its original theatrical run. I'm considerably older than I was in 1994, but I still love the film as much as I did back then. "The Lion King" has timeless elements that appeal to all age groups, and everyone from preschoolers to grandparents can find something to enjoy.
Despite the proliferation of CGI, "The Lion King" holds up as a perfect example of how traditional animation can look just as beautiful. The cleaned up "Special Edition" does not dissapoint. However, I found it somewhat misleading that the DVD case said that the "Original Theatrical Release" version of the film was included. It is not; it's only the cleaned-up IMAX print sans "Morning Report." (Is Disney starting to follow in George Lucas' footsteps?) But, hakuna matata! After a few viewings I was won over by the new version: you can't go wrong with enriched colors and a beautiful home theater sound mix!
The only worthwhile extra on the first disc is the audio commentary, which will please any diehard fan. The rest is nothing more than the Disney Channel bragging about itself. A dull music video showcases the singing "talents" of the channel's teen "stars" in a mediocre version of "Circle of Life." It even tacks on a pointless behind-the-scenes feature on the making of the video.
The second disc, however, is wonderful! It includes interviews, character designs, and many other things that I'll leave you to discover on your own. What's missing is the June 1994 "making of" TV special (hosted by Robert Guillame) in its entirety; only certain parts were used and were scattered throughout the various sections on the second disc.
Bottom line: "The Lion King" is a masterpiece that should NOT be left out of your DVD collection. A+
66 what a special movie this is
I would like to highly recommned tha any one who like the
first movie purchase a copy of it for yourself and
a its a terrfic gift.
67 Have you seen Kimba?
I have not seen Kimba... The Lion King Killed "Kimba the White Lion" and then ripped off his story and spit it out. Shame on Disney. Help me rediscover Kimba once again.
68 Fantastic and thrilling
This movie is great! It is full of action and charisma, with enough humor and realism to keep it from getting too overly sentimental, like many Disney movies. Although the emotions tend to get way too human and serious at times, this movie is great. After Simba is exiled, he finds his home with Timon and Pumba, a meerecat and a pig, also outcasts. It isn't until he's grown up that he goes back. A few strange twists follow, making it slightly unpredictable if you haven't seen the movie before, but I won't spoil it. The animation, the colors, the characters, and the jokes are all top notch and guaranteed to please! It shows the beauty and fragility of Nature also, especially with the main support of the film, the Circle of Life. Reason for four stars: the overly human emotions.
69 The Lion King ROARS!
This is an excellent DVD. Not only kids but also adults can enjoy this movie. It teaches values such as friendship, duty, honour, fighting for a just cause the circle of life, respect for all creatures I could go on and on. Good POSITIVE stuff.
The children will watch it over and over again. The bonus interactive animal games are really quite clever and give lots of fun as well. Additionally, the music video was done well.
All in all, this DVD gives crisp clean animation with superb sound!
And it comes with the original and "enhanced' versions of the Lion King. AT first I couldn't tell the difference. :) However, there is a difference. The option to have the words to the songs on screen is absolutely brilliant. Not only can the little ones read and sing along but the adults can too!
This is a classic DVD that well deserves its place in your DVD collection! Buy TWO and give one to a FRIEND.
70 Disney's animated masterpiece!
The Lion King is another of the movies which marked the triumphant return of Disney to center stage. Remember, that after Walt Disney's death, Disney as a company kind of sank into oblivion and did nothing remarkable. After 1989's excellent The Little Mermaid, Disney continued its return in a big way with The Lion King.
This is the story of Simba, (Jonathon Taylor Thomas as a youth, Matthew Broderick as an adult) a young cub, who "just can't wait to be king". He has a powerful father, the king Mufasa (a booming James Earl Jones) and an uncle, the conniving and evil Scar (the devilish Jeremy Irons) who wants the throne that Simba will one day inherit. Scar schemes up a way to kill Mufasa and dispose of Simba permenently, or so he thinks. Simba ends up banished from the Pridelands, where he takes on the newfound attitude of Hakuna Matata(no worries). This is the saying of Timon and Pumba, two new friends. Eventually, Simba must deal with his past, which he finds very difficult.
There are two reasons why I consider this to be the best Disney film. For one, the animation is absolutely superb. From the opening "Circle of Life" sequence, showing all the animals in the Pridelands gathering to celebrate the birth of Simba, to the final battle between Scar and Simba, the attention to detail and vivid color is breathtaking. Especially on this new DVD edition, this movie is a sight to see. The second reason I love this as the best Disney film is the villain, Scar. Unlike most other Disney villains, who are almost a joke (Ursula, Malevecent, Gaston, the evil stepmother), Scar is truly evil and he is a scary character. Jeremy Irons was the perfect choice for the voice.
For that reason, I would recommend you keep this movie away from the very young. This is an adult cartoon. There is much violence and adult material. A father dies, an uncle tries to kill his young nephew several times, and the evil elephant graveyard has an ominous appearance. Very small children would struggle with this film, so keep that in mind.
In all, the story, animation, characters, voices, and appearance make this DVD a must own. The extended feature is somwhat overrated- the song "Morning Report" is unnecessary and a waste of time. The second disc features several making of tours and some games that would be fun to play with children. I recommend making this film a part of your collection.
71 The Lion King
The first time I ever saw "The Lion King" was on September 14th 1995, the day it came out on video. Strangely, I went to all of Disney's releases from "The Little Mermaid" to "Aladdin" (including rereleases of their older classics) but missed out on "The Lion King". Silly me. "The Lion King" is a masterpiece. The film is visually amazing. Some scenes stand out in particular; such as the wild-beast stampede and the opening sequence. The movie wouldn't be completed without the powerful score and songs, composed by Hans Zimmer and Elton John, respectively. The Oscar-winning "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and the ever-popular "Circle Of Life" are all here. The characters in this movie have also become wildly popular, especially Timon and Pumbaa. The villain, Scar, is the ultimate villian: evil and deceitful, yet wit and sarcastic. In this 2-disc special edition, the film looks like a video-game, in terms of sharpness and clearity. You won't believe of how smooth the image can be. "The Lion King" is a movie that deserves all the praise and success that it had gotten.
72 This is A MUST HAVE!
This is an excellent Movie. This dvd is spectacular! Tons of extras. I think you should buy it right now. The animation, sound and music was fabulous. However, I do agree with the other reviewers.. "Morning Report" was just terrible. The only think I liked was watching Simba pounce around..
73 One of the greatest animated films ever
Words can't describe how much I love this movie. I first saw it in the movies when I was a kid, and I've adored it ever since. Beautiful animation, great music, amazing story. I'm glad they finally brought out the dvd because my video was so messed up. One complaint though, the Morning Report absolutely blew. I don't understand why they even out that in there. Other than that, excellent.
74 Astounding movie. "Morning Report" though is a joke!
I agree with almost everyone on here that "Morning Report" is really bad. It just clutters up the extended editon on the movie and really should not have been made.
The other extras though are amazing such as "Bug Football" and the "Virtual Safari" which is really more oriented for younger kids but even adults may enjoy some of these extras too.
The movie itself is a timeless classic about a lion cub named Simba whose father Mufasa is the king of Pride Rock but his traitorous uncle, brother of Mufasa, kills Mufasa by sending him down into a valley to his death, and Simba, believeing that he is responsible for Mufasa's death, flees into exile while his evil Uncle Scar takes over Pride rock and the lion pride goes into ruin.
Now as a fully grown lion, Simba has to face his past in order to restore Pride Rock back into glory and defeat his evil uncle Scar. He meets the excellent meerkat Timon and warthog Pumbaa and the unforgettable "Akuna Matata" song comes to mind.
This is a really excellent film and the DVD edition is really good but "Morning Report" is just atrocious and should not have been included on here.
A DVD worth owning.
75 Love it.
I've loved the Lion King since I was a little girl.
76 Excellent
What can I say? I am a huge Disney fan and especially have always loved this movie and music! My brother just purchased this for me and I love it!
This DVD has adorable extras including two version of the movie. It has the original released in the theater version along with the version that I saw in the IMAX theater which included a new song, "Morning Report". This is a song which was included also in the Broadway version of this story (which if you even just like the Lion King, or love seeing brilliant productions...YOU MUST SEE THE BROADWAY SHOW) And this DVD gives the behind the scenes, broadway preview to wet everyone's appetite.
Also, on the DVD are games like What Character Are you? which is cute.
The story of the Lion King is one that you may have to tell little ones about before they see. There is a scary part where Simba's father is killed. When I first saw it in the theaters, my little cousin came with me, she was about 5. Her mom had talked to her beforehand about what happened and when the music got intense she leaned up and asked, "Did he died yet?". She did get scared and I had to put her on my lap for a few minutes, but as the next scene included "Hakuna Matata", she turned to me and said, "I can go back to my seat now." With some warning, it is a movie that the young ones will enjoy too.
I can't wait to someday share this DVD with my children and this special edition is a great keepsake.
77 A little rough for young kids
This is a great movie worthy of 5 stars. But if you're not familiar with it, beware before having young kids see it -- for instance there's a scene of rather cruelly killing the "king" and the anguish of his son.
78 Best Movie Ever!!!
I loved this movie. The new song is great! I loved the safari. There were lots of extras. I love this movie. I am a big fan and I have always been. I hope they make more Lion King movies. It made more of a bond between animals and us. The best movie just got better!
79 FIVE STARS for the EXTRAS; FOUR for the FILM ITSELF!
The second disc of this special edition gives the viewer everthing and more that one wants to know about the hit film. Each bonus segment is short enough to captivate the "small fry" and detailed enough to satisfy the more mature fan of Disney's landmark film.
The only complaint that I have is the same one that I had about the film upon its initial release: it, like most animated films from Disney and most American studios, perpetuates stereotypes and subtle biases that are so easily recognized through the actors hired to supply the voices.
How could the offspring of characters voiced by James Earl Jones ("Mufasa") and Madge Sinclair ("Sarabi") come out sounding like Matthew Broderick ("Simba")?
Why did the villain ("Scar", voiced by Jeremy Irons) have to possesses a BLACK mane? Doesn't this contribute to the notion that the color has some evil connotation?
Why were Scar's henchmen so easily recognized by the ethnicity in the voices of Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin?
Why did the all-knowing sage ("Rafiki", the baboon) have to be voiced by a black man, Robert Guilliame?
Why did the "comic relief" pair have to come across as two New Yorker deli owners (Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella as "Timba" and Pumbaa, respectively)?
Maybe that's why this film, for all its financial success, did not get an Academy Award nomination for BEST PICTURE as did "Beauty and the Beast".
There were too many unintented "slurs", of sorts.
80 It's Alright
I like the movie & think it is very exciting but the remake dvd edition I don't really care for the added songs & stuff. I like the original version better. the new song sound like a totally different person which it is. For the movie 5 stars for the remake 3 stars
81 Breathtaking Digital Masterpiece
I was around 7 o 8 when this movie came out, It was one of my favoright movies back then, but then I grew out of it and now at age 17, I buy the digital version off it and I love it again.
This truly is a great Digital version off the movie, the 2 disc Platinum set does not take at all away from the Lion King was - it just makes it even more bigger.
I watched this the other night and had forogt about what happens in the movie and watching it again it still makes me sad and happy, this movie truly gets to you.
The digital remake includes Elton Johns 2 songs from the movie and a horible disney all stars song with the wannabe pop star Hillary Duff. But with that being the only bad thing in the set. It also comes in an immaculate cover presentation and the disc set contains an african safari with timon and paumba.
The soind on this movie is great - it was like being at the cinema again watching it.
Overall I rate it 5 stars.
82 This is definately 5 Stars
This is simply the best Disney film - and probably the best film EVER. If you watch the 2nd DVD in the making of this film, and you realize how much heart and soul went into every second of this picture it will touch you even more. The music that isn't written by Elton John (beautiful, incredible work by him) is authentic African music, and you can hear it throughout the entire movie - even sometimes just as distant background music. The message of the movie, and the characters are magical. I saw this movie in the theatre, and was very touched, but to have it at home - and now see it thru my daughter's eyes makes me realize it is quite possibly the best movie ever
83 See him roar like never before!
You've haven't seen "The Lion King"until you've seen it on DVD!I love because of the enhanced sound and picture-James Earl Jones'voice will make your TV vibrate!The music and songs have never sounded better.I also love the behind-the-scenes info and the "Circle of Life"video featuring Hillary Duff,Raven Simone and other stars of Disney Channel series.Of course I love the great story!If you like Disney animation,a good plot and great music stop lion around and buy this 2-disc set!
84 Great movie
If you love disney's "Lion King", I think you would like to visit the original, Tezuka Osamu's "Kimba the White Lion".
If you can not get satisfaction with disney's "Lion King", I recommend Tezuka Osamu's "Kimba the White Lion", the original of disney's "Lion King".
85 The Moose Hole - "The King has returned!"
"The time is out of joint; O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right!"
William Shakespeare's most famous and most highly regarded play, Hamlet, is extremely difficult to pull off, not only on stage but on the big screen as well. Some have tried with success (Kenneth Branagh, 1996) while others are just completely disastrous in their attempts and miss the total meaning of the tragedy (Mel Gibson, 1991). Education is of high importance and, as adults, we try virtuously to teach our children the classics at a younger age then we learned them. But in the case of Hamlet, could such a film, aimed at children, pull it off without overwhelming its core audience with too much emotion and violence? In a way, The Lion King succeeds but where it fails in this attempt, it scores bonus points for its originality and sheer escapism. It is quite amazing the film even made it to completion considering the numerous re-writes and complications but, some how, this small animated film has been able to pounce its way into our hearts for more reasons then ever thought possible.
The story centers on a young lion cub as he journeys to find himself on his way to becoming king. Simba has it made easy. His father, Mufasa, is king of the Pride lands and he is next in line to the throne. Everyone gives him plenty of attention, maybe a little too much for his taste, but, in general, the royal subjects feel he will follow in his father's footsteps. But not everyone is happy about this including Mufasa's shady brother, Scar, who believes he should be king. Scar soon sets out on a plan to kill Mufasa, frame Simba for the murder and take control of Pride Rock. Everything goes according to plan until Simba returns years later to dethrone him and take his place as the rightful king. The story for The Lion King is amazingly well done and borrows several memorable scenes from William Shakespeare's Hamlet including the ghost of Hamlet's father saying "Remember". And despite, in the end, being significantly different from the famous tragedy, The Lion King manages to be extremely entertaining by making us laugh and cry; both at the same time in some instances.
Who ever thought a more wonderful cast could be put together without ever seeing the actions and reactions of the actors themselves? Or maybe, looking at the well illustrated animals up on the screen, we are. James Earl Jones's booming voice feels all too natural with the character of Mufasa and brings much dramatic emphasis to the character during the scene where he talks to Simba as a ghost. Jeremy Irons is decisively chilling as the villain, Scar, and gives a voice performance of an accomplished veteran actor. Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella are a magnificent duo as the comic relief of the film, Timon and Pumbaa. Quite amazingly the two are able to work off each other so well that the comic talent is seamless. Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick take on the same role but obviously in different periods in the character's life. But despite that fact, they both do an amazing job with each showcasing plenty of emotion in their voices.
Overall, The Lion King is Disney's and traditional animation's most magnificent triumph that has yet to be surpassed in quality and overall satisfaction. The wonderful work completed in The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, and Aladdin has all led to the spectacular and beautiful art work of this film. The hand drawn animals are just absolutely amazing and Disney Animation's best work that, unfortunately, will never be surpassed. There are few things to pick at about Disney's The Lion King but they are evident in certain areas of the film. Such would include the, at times, all too cuteness of the characters as well as the short time length. Based on what was showcased in the film, it felt like there could have been a lot more but that is actually more of a complement then a complaint. With traditional animation on the way out, as it would appear, The Lion King is a saddening example of what this genre had achieved and how high it could have gone had computer animation not become the new medium.
86 Fantastic
This film is obviously fantastic, there's no doubt about that. The voice acting is brillant, and the music is outstanding, definatly the best disney soundtrack.
I just had a great laugh when I read a couple of the reviews going on about how violent it is for young children.
And how many times the word "kill" is used.
I can't imagine the word "kill" effecting any young child. And if it does, they need serious help.
Who wants a film to be all happy, and no sense of adventure, no sense of a will for the good guy to win over the bad guy. What do you want the lions to do, go and sit round a table and have an adult discussion.
So the people who are going on about the movie being too violent, get a life, life's too short to go around complaining about stupid things like that.
87 The Lion King still rules
I guess I don't have to mention that the movie itself is great. The animation, the story line, the characters, everything is first class. With the Lion King Disney has set high standards for their movies to come.
However, this DVD is really great, too. The main menu is so wonderfully done. It's amazing how much stuff they can put on a dvd. There are tons of behind the scene interviews, although they're seperated into various clips, which requires real interest in the matter to watch them all. The DVD also contains many other extras I truly enjoyed such a movie posters from all over the world, a language reel, information on the background of the story, and so on.
However, I do not just want to praise it. There are things they could have made better. For example, there are 2 versions of the movie on the disc, the new special edition movie featuring a new scene, and the original release. It took me quite some time to figure out how to chose which one to take. For those who still don't know it, you need to go to the language menu to select the language AND the movie (Special Edition of Original Release). That's not quite logical, the best thing would have been to put that option into the Set Up menu.
Whether the new scene, morning report was good, remains on your own taste. Personally, I liked it better when Zazu was kind of confused at being the pray for target practice, instead of having him singing when suddenly Simba catches him. The song Morning Report is really short, but not bad I guess. It's hard for me to say if it's good or not, because I need to listen to songs more often to really like or dislike them, but let's put it that way, if they had used that scene right from the beginning back in 1994 I wouldn't complain. It fits in perfectly well, from an animators point of view.
Another point is, the character resembling game and Timon's catch the bug game are pretty silly. Even little kids get tired of them after some minutes. The safari on Disc two is quite funny, though.
To sum it up, the DVD is great, there are just small things I may complain about, but they're no big deal. This is still the best way to enjoy The Lion King in perfect quality at home.
I can only recommend this item.
88 Simply Superb
Straight-forward story line with excellent voice-overs.. i'm glad i bought it
89 Hey, here's a morning report for you... that sequence SUCKED
I hate that stupid new song! Why would they even THINK of destroying the movie like that? The song is boring, the animation is average and doesn't match the old animation...
Disney needs to get a clue.
90 Extraordinarily imaginative!
Incredible! This is one of my fave. movies! A beautiful story yet still heart breaking. It always makes me cry! The story line works well with animals rather than people, with great comedy from the sidekicks! Amazing animation. This tale sets an example of respect you should give to others no matter how powerful you may be.
I remember seeing this film in the cinema when i was about 5-ish and getting traumatized with all the action during the middle of the film, but the ending gives an incredible feel-good and emotional finish. Most children will also be enchanted with this tale of truth, courage, and strong-minded-will-power.
91 Literally an Insult to Animation.
4 words. KIMBA THE WHITE LION. You figure it out.
92 Must have Disney movie
With almost every word memorized, this movie still has the power to move me. Disney really did it right when they made The Lion King! The story can easily be related to in everyday life. I enjoyed everything about this movie. The character personalities, along with the music, along with the beautiful animation...everything! :)
93 The best Disney movie of all time; defineately a classic.
I first saw The Lion King in the theater when I was 6 years old, in 1995. And since then, it has always been my favorite Disney movie. And yes, I have seen Finding Nemo, which is also a good Disney movie. And some say Finding Nemo is better then TLK. In my opinion, it's not. I mean, you just don't get that classic feel that makes you sort of "fall in love" with the characters. Anyway, the Collector's Gift Set is well worth the extra []bucks. Even with the detailed sketches of the characters ALONE are worth it. And in 50 years, I can see them being worth a pretty penny. Though, I should hope there's not one youthful mind who hasn't seen this classic 9 years ago. ;) And to that concerned parent: The word 'kill' was only mentioned two times that I can think of. And I've watched this movie well over two hundred times. It's rated G because there is no harsh language, and there is not really any blood. I am slightly agrivated when "concerned parents" try to make a good thing bad. I sincerely hope you will let your daughter play great First Person Shooter games, without putting up a fit that it influences violence..
94 Disney's best animated feature
The Lion King is another of the movies which marked the triumphant return of Disney to center stage. Remember, that after Walt Disney's death, Disney as a company kind of sank into oblivion and did nothing remarkable. After 1989's excellent The Little Mermaid, Disney continued its return in a big way with The Lion King.
This is the story of Simba, (Jonathon Taylor Thomas as a youth, Matthew Broderick as an adult) a young cub, who "just can't wait to be king". He has a powerful father, the king Mufasa (a booming James Earl Jones) and an uncle, the conniving and evil Scar (the devilish Jeremy Irons) who wants the throne that Simba will one day inherit. Scar schemes up a way to kill Mufasa and dispose of Simba permenently, or so he thinks. Simba ends up banished from the Pridelands, where he takes on the newfound attitude of Hakuna Matata(no worries). This is the saying of Timon and Pumba, two new friends. Eventually, Simba must deal with his past, which he finds very difficult.
There are two reasons why I consider this to be the best Disney film. For one, the animation is absolutely superb. From the opening "Circle of Life" sequence, showing all the animals in the Pridelands gathering to celebrate the birth of Simba, to the final battle between Scar and Simba, the attention to detail and vivid color is breathtaking. Especially on this new DVD edition, this movie is a sight to see. The second reason I love this as the best Disney film is the villain, Scar. Unlike most other Disney villains, who are almost a joke (Ursula, Malevecent, Gaston, the evil stepmother), Scar is truly evil and he is a scary character. Jeremy Irons was the perfect choice for the voice.
For that reason, I would recommend you keep this movie away from the very young. This is an adult cartoon. There is much violence and adult material. A father dies, an uncle tries to kill his young nephew several times, and the evil elephant graveyard has an ominous appearance. Very small children would struggle with this film, so keep that in mind.
In all, the story, animation, characters, voices, and appearance make this DVD a must own. The extended feature is somwhat overrated- the song "Morning Report" is unnecessary and a waste of time. The second disc features several making of tours and some games that would be fun to play with children. I recommend making this film a part of your collection.
95 These People are Retarded
OK... the extended version sucked... but duh that's why they cut the extra stuff... the platinum version is remastered in dolby 5.1 that should be in itself worth the extra bucks... and the special features... there's all these "adults telling you that they're boring and dumb... the movies from Disney... he was a communist what do you expect?... Lion King still is king of the Plains... so you better recognize!!
