The Lion King | | Cast : | Matthew Broderick, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones | | Director : | Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff | | Studio : | Walt Disney Home Video | | Format : | Animated, Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | June 24, 1994 | | DVD Released Date : | October 07, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | G (General Audience) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 07, 2005 | | Summary | High craftsmanship, low storytelling. | Content
 | There is no denying that money can buy craftsmanship. The Lion King contains some of the most beautiful animation ever seen on the big screen. From the single aspect of making animated drawings, there are some lovely things to watch in this film. Until you get to the lions' faces. Most recent Disney films are done in the style of past Disney films, as if the corporation decided to hedge their bets--'we'll do it like we did it back then, because we know it worked'. The Lion King's character designs are based on Disney's Jungle Book, which had some of the most un-cat-like cat faces ever drawn. So, after all the talk about realism in the making of this movie, I just cannot get into the way the characters look. There seems to be a touch of "Cabaret"-style makeup on their faces, and I have avoided seeing "Cabaret" because the makeup style creeps me out.
So, is there a good story to save this film? Ummmm.... no. Oh, I know things happen, but why do they happen? How does Simba manage the turnaround that allows him to save the day? There is no character development for the main character of this movie!
In typical Disney fashion, we get more insight into the villain's character. The villain also gets plenty of juicy screen time, and gets the most intense images, both in his character design (greater contrast in the visual elements = greater impact) and in his environment and supporting characters. This movie is really about evil, and how powerful evil is. Simba's overthrow of the evil elements is confusing and inexplicable in the universe of this movie.
No wonder I hear so many reports of small children waking up screaming in the middle of the night after watching The Lion King.
I will always consider The Lion King as a must-to-avoid when it comes to picking a movie to show to children. For someone old enough to view it as an example of high craftsmanship in the physical art of animation, it is fine. As entertainment... no, there is no merit in the storytelling in this film.
As is all the rage of late, the movie on this DVD has been altered in several places from its original theatrical version. Why? Don't ask me. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 06, 2005 | | Summary | The Classic Story Of A Cub Who "Just Can't Wait To Be King" Gets A Well-Deserved Treatment On Special Platinum Edition DVD. | Content
| Walt Disney's epic film "The Lion King" gets a well-deserved treatment on Special Platinum Edition DVD after a successful re-release in IMAX and other giant-screen theaters, just like its equally successful predecessor, "Beauty And The Beast," (see my review on it), in 2001. Having seen this movie when it was first released in 1994, I was eager to own the DVD, not having been able to see it while it was in IMAX. I won't say much more, except that the all-star voice cast includes James Earl Jones (better known as Darth Vader to "STAR WARS" fans; see my reviews on those movies, except "Episode I," which is partially reviewed in my review of "Episode II"; I enjoy the "STAR WARS" saga, but "The Lion King" is the movie which introduced me to him, I would see the "STAR WARS" movies about 10 years later), Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons ("Reversal Of Fortune"; is that movie good?), stage/screen actor Matthew Broderick ("Inspector Gadget," the Disney remake of the classic Robert Preston-Shirley Jones pairing, "Meredith Wilson's The Music Man"; see my review on it, etc), Rowan Atkinson (better known as "Black Adder" and "Mr. Bean" to those who like the show), Whoopi Goldberg ("The Color Purple," etc), Matthew Broderick's stage partner Nathan Lane and comic Cheech Marin, among others. The only character I do not like is Rafiki (don't ask me why I don't like him, because I'm not even sure why I despise him). Fortunately, he has limited screen time.
Disc 1 includes 2 versions of the classic film: the original edition that audiences around the world know and love and the Special Edition, which includes a song from the Broadway show (which is AWESOME-words can't describe it and I'd go over the 1,000 word limit if I tried telling you what I thought of it; no, this time, I'm not telling you what song that is), deleted scenes and other cool bonus features. Sound options include an all-new Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, which works very well. The movie itself is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio: 2:35:1-enhanced for 16:9 TV's. The picture is very sharp. Film composer Hans Zimmer ("The Rock," "Pearl Harbor," "M:I-2," etc), South African composer Lebo M., Sir Elton John, Tim Rice (known for his collaborations with Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber) and Alan Menken (who had previously worked with Mr. Rice on "Beauty And The Beast") combine all their respective vocal/musical talents to create a score which haunting, tragic, beautiful, dramatic and romantic, all in one. The best scene, (for me, at least), among others, is the stirring Elton-John, Hans Zimmer/Lebo M. collaboration "Circle Of Life," which never fails to move me, even to this day (I'm 19 now, at this writing anyway). Classic movie. Great songs. Digitally mastered by THX for the ultimate in sound/picture quality. Excellent bonus features. "More To Be Seen Than Can Ever Be Seen, More To Do, Than Could Ever Be Done."
Disc 2 opens up a whole new treasure trove of riches that has "Everything you could wish for" (the slogan that describes the features on "Aladdin: Special Platinum Edition"; no pun intended), with an introduction by Jeremy Irons, the voice of the villainous Scar. Find out the connection between William Shakespeare and the origins of "The Lion King," and MUCH MORE. PERFECT for the whole family. Rated G.
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| Rating | | | Date | August 05, 2005 | | Summary | The Best Animated Feature Of The 1990s' Has Finally Arrived On DVD | Content
| Considered by many to be the best Disney movie ever, the 1994 animated masterpiece "The Lion King" has finally hit dvd. The last truly great animated Disney feature before the studio reinvented itself as computer animated heaven with "Toy Story", "The Lion King" has been given one of the best treatments of any dvd.
I will not bore you with plot details. Since this is Disney's highest grossing movie (last time I checked), odds you all have seen this movie. I will tell you that the film has gotten the respect it deserves. This dvd is loaded to the hilt with extras. There is a brand new song in the movie ("Morning Report"), music videos for the Elton John penned classics "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" (performed by Sir Elton himslef) and "Circle Of Life" (performed by the Disney Channell "Circle Of Stars"), making of documenatries and much more. The sound and picture quality are virtually flawless. It looks and sounds better than in a movie theater.
This Special Edition boxed set of the movie comes with a book chronicling the making of the movies as well as sketches of all of the movie's principal characters. While interesting to look at, all you really need is the movie, a Disney classic.
(And for all you conspiracy theorists looking for subliminal messages in Disney movies, I have one for you. In the scene where Simba looks below the mountain where Mufasa has been killed, a cloud of smoke rises. Pause it at the right moment and if you look closely enough, you can see the word sex spelled out in the smoke). |
| Rating | | | Date | August 04, 2005 | | Summary | I love Disney | Content
| The DVD has great quality, no choppiness at all. Once again Disney has created a masterpiece by re-mastering one of their best! The Lion King is a great movie for all ages and i will own it forever! |
| Rating | | | Date | August 02, 2005 | | Summary | 3 yr. old not very interested in it... | Content
| I purchased this movie for my son who is 3. For some reason he is not that interested in it.. I don't know if it's because there is more singing than in his other movies or what. He loves The Land Before Time and Finding Nemo but this one falls flat. Maybe he just needs to be a little older... hopefully that is the case because this is a good movie. Might need an older audience though.. |
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