The Lion King (A Walt Disney Masterpiece)

It doesn't help that the feature-film disc opens with eight "sneak previews" and a live-action commercial for Disney World. What should be an event experience is cheapened before it begins: "The Lion King" -- a crown jewel of modern Disney animation -- unspools like any straight-to-video kiddie show.

It's a shame, because otherwise, "The Lion King" gets the royal treatment. Restored and remastered, "The Lion King" looks and sounds spectacular. Colors can be wildly saturated without loss in definition -- as in baby Simba's Busby Berkeley-inspired "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" -- or subtle and true to life.

The audio defaults to the theatrical surround mix, but anyone with decent gear should switch immediately to the so-called Enhanced Home Theatre Mix (both are Dolby Digital 5.1). "It will test your home system set-up," vows the proud rerecording engineer Terry Porter, who gets to explain his work in an unusual but quite welcome DVD extra. (It's on disc 2; dig deep to find it).

Most viewers will first view the new version of the film, which has an added song, by Elton John and Tim Rice, that's explained in a making-of featurette. Rice describes the music-hall-like "Morning Report" as "a lot of bad animal puns." The song, sung by Zazu, runs less than 90 seconds and comes early in the film. It's fun, but you'll probably prefer the original pacing.

Viewers not interested in chasing around the DVD set to get the lowdown on the film -- there's a swarm of quick-cut Disney docus -- will do just fine with the commentary by producer Don Hahn and directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. It's recycled from the laserdisc but not the least bit dated.

One of the best extras has old footage of Elton John at the piano, tentatively unveiling "The Circle of Life" for the Disney team. Must to avoid: An unfortunate music video has the current stars of the Disney Channel romping through "Circle of Life."


Absolutely Extrodinary   April 3, 2003
Brad (Alabama)
50 out of 62 found this review helpful

Wow. I'm still getting over this wonderful and breathtaking journey that is the Lion King. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie's music, story, and spiffy characters. I recommened it to anyone who likes movies period. Charcaters such as Timon & Pumba bring in comedic relief, while more serious and awesome characters such as Mufasa help bring depth and feel to the story. I dont care if your 2, 16, 28, 50, or even 90 years of age, you'll simply fall in love with this movie. If you ask me what the best part of the entire movie was, i would have to say the blending of the music and picture that is presented in such a way that is captavating and breathtaking. Buy the soundtrack now....also try the Broadway soundtrack. This is Disney at it's finest. This is one of the greatest animated pictures of all time if not one of the greatest movies ever.


Is this some sort of joke???!!   April 5, 2004
31 out of 57 found this review helpful

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.


Yes, buy it.   September 29, 2003
Gaijin (Hilo, HI United States)
30 out of 32 found this review helpful

Disney's The Lion King is finally available on DVD. Considered the cream of the crop of all the Disney animated features by many, it is definitely worth owning. I don't think I'll go into the story, which I'm sure most of you know. Chances are you've already seen the movie and are just waiting to own it on a piece of media that won't rot like your VHS tape that probably fell apart by now. Even if Disney released a sub par release of this movie, you'd buy it.
Luckily, this is one of the best releases ever.

Video and Audio is supreme in this release. Especially vibrant is the 5.1 sound. Of all the older Disney releases, this one benefits the most I think, with the powerful music and sound effects present in this release. Hearing James Earl Jones as Mufasa blaring in thunderous 5.1 sound is quite amazing. Likewise the excellent music, such as the opening Circle of Life. Present in this release is the original theatrical version as well as a version with new music/song. I actually didn't care for the new song, but some may. The extras are quite numerous, contained on a second DVD and are mentioned in Amazon's product details...I haven't had the time to go through them yet, so I cannot comment on the extras. I just watched the movie again. To be honest, the movie would be worth it as a single disc release so I'm happy as it is.

Some interesting trivia for some of the people who are not aware of it is that The Lion King seemed to be heavily "influenced" by an old Japanese anime, Kimba The White Lion. Those wishing to see the "similarities" would do well to check out that series as it has also been released on DVD. Carbon copying aside, I do love the Lion King. It still manages to grab you whether you are 4 years old or 40. Two thumbs up!!


Not just a Bambi ripoff   August 6, 2000
Kellyannl (Bronx, NY USA)
28 out of 32 found this review helpful

Although it might be accused of plot similarities to "Bambi", The Lion King stands on it's own as the best animated film of Disney's silver age save for "Beauty and the Beast".

It starts off with the greatest opening sequence in animation history, which already must rank within the top ten moments in all animation, period. Disney has since tried to match it in "Dinosaurs", but it remains unequalled. The inimitable "Circle of Life" has no rival except "When you wish upon a star" as Disney mood-setting music.

The animals of the African plains pay homage to the new lion prince, Simba, at his birth. Already he has one strike against him in his father Mufasa's brother Scar, bitter because Simba is now the heir to the throne of the pridelands. While Simba and his friend Nala grow, Scar plots with hyena henchmen to dethrone Mufasa. Scar's moment comes in one devestating blow, managing to make the young cub stricken with guilt in the process.

Simba runs off and is saved from death by exposure to the elements by Pumbaa, a kind warthog, and Timon, his meerkat best friend. As an adult, he has forgotten his legacy until a now-grown Nala and Rafiki, his father's baboon best friend, remind him. He goes to face the hour of reckoning with Scar, his friends by his side.

The movie includes some of the best voicing work and dialogue in the Disney cannon, especially that of Scar - so evil as portrayed by Jeremy Irons that he actually drew a gasp from my jaded father - and Nathan Lane's Timon, who I feel will eventually take his place as Disney's greatest second banana (and no, I'm not forgeting the Seven Dwarves or Cinderella's mice). His now famous luau scene is Disney's supreme howler moment.