The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition) Review
Probably the greatest animated movie ever made, "The Lion King" became the highest money maker at the boxoffice in 1994 and went on to win two Academy Awards for its music written by Sir Elton John and Tim Rice. The story focuses on a young lion cub who is recued by his father after nearly being tramled to death by wild animals. The father, a King over his land, dies, and the cub Simba, runs away thinking he is to blame for his dad's death. In actuality it is Simba's evil uncle Scar who is responsible for this untimely death as he himself wants to be the heir over the land. A tearjerker in every sense, "The Lion King" was the first animated film to ever tackle the issue of death with children, and it is highly regarded for its sensitive approach in dramatizing this rare subject matter, especially to preschoolers. I love "The Lion King" and it is one of those rare films you can watch in numerous showings. The actors doing the voices of the characters are a who's who in Hollywood featuring James Earl Jones, Madge Sinclair, Jeremy Irons, Whoppi Goldberg, and Matthew Broderick. The DVD itself is long out-of-print as Disney shoved the film back into its archives several years ago, the same way it did with many of its titles, but there are many here on Amazon to buy from individual sellers. Talk is the Blue-Ray version of "The Lion King" may have a 2010 release so there is every reason to speculate that another DVD edition is in the works. Since its 1994 release "The Lion King" has grossed nearly 0,000,000 worldwide.
The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition) Overview
Disney's THE LION KING SPECIAL EDITION features an all-new song, "Morning Report," and never-before-seen animation, giving you even more of this award-winning masterpiece -- the greatest animated adventure of all time. An unforgettable story, breathtaking animation, beloved characters, and Academy Award(R)-winning music (Best Original Score, 1994; Best Song, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight") set the stage for the adventures of Simba, the feisty lion cub who "just can't wait to be king." But his envious Uncle Scar has plans for his own ascent to the throne, and he forces Simba's exile from the kingdom. Alone and adrift, Simba soon joins the escapades of a hilarious meerkat named Timon and his warmhearted warthog pal, Pumbaa. Adopting their carefree lifestyle of "Hakuna Matata," Simba ignores his real responsibilities until he realizes his destiny and returns to the Pride Lands to claim his place in the "Circle of Life." Now extensively restored and remastered -- experience THE LION KING like never before, from its magnificent musical opening over breathtaking African vistas to its emotional climax. The all-star vocal talents -- including Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, and Ernie Sabella -- rip-roaring comedy, and uplifting messages of courage, loyalty, and hope make this timeless tale entertainment for all ages.
The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition) Specifications
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
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jan 13, 2010 06:23:35
