LION KING, THE [Blu-ray]

This has to be the best Disney film going! I loved it so much, the animations are incredible, the story is brilliant and the twists in it are so heartbreaking. I won’t spoil it for anyone that hasn’t seen it but when the big moment happens you’re so invested in the characters that it’s genuinely so upsetting and I’m not sure I’m over it even now. The amount of big names voicing the characters is amazing but actually not long in to the film you forget who the ‘celebs’ are and you’re totally engrossed in and believe in the characters instead! The quality of the footage on Blu-ray is next level. Amazing film, one of the all time greats.

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

THE LION KING 3D [1994 / 2011] [Diamond Edition] [3D Blu-ray + 2D Blu-ray + Digital Copy] The Greatest Adventure Of All Time! ‘THE LION KING’ 3D is Disney’s 32nd Animated Classic! The wait is over! For the first time ever, experience the majesty of Disney’s epic animated masterpiece as it roars off the screen and into your living room on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D! With a spectacular digital picture, spine-tingling high definition sound and immersive bonus features, you will feel the love for this critically acclaimed and universally beloved classic like never before! Embark on an extraordinary coming-of age adventure as Simba, a lion cub who cannot wait to be king, searches for his destiny in the great “Circle of Life.” You will be thrilled by the breath-taking animation, unforgettable Academy Award® winning music with the 1994: Best Original Score; Best Original Song, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and timeless story. The king of all animated films reigns on Disney Blu-ray 3D — Magic In A New Dimension! FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 1994 Annie Awards: Win: Best Animated Film for Walt Disney Pictures. Win: Best Individual Achievement for Story Contribution in the Field of Animation for Brenda Chapman (head of story). Win: Best Achievement for Voice Acting for Jeremy Irons. Nominated: Best Individual Achievement for Artistic Excellence in the Field of Animation for Andy Gaskill (Art Director). Nominated: Best Individual Achievement for Artistic Excellence in the Field of Animation for Mark Henn (Supervising Animator for young Simba). Nominated: Best Individual Achievement for Artistic Excellence in the Field of Animation for Scott F. Johnston (Artistic Supervisor in Computer Graphics). 1995 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Music for an Original Song for Sir Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) for the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." Win: Best Music for an Original Score for Hans Zimmer. Nominated: Best Music for an Original Song for Sir Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) for the song "Circle of Life." Nominated: Best Music for an Original Song for Sir Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) for the song "Hakuna Matata." 1995 Golden Globes®: Win: Best Original Score in a Motion Picture for Hans Zimmer. Win: Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Sir Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) for the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." Win: Best Motion Picture for a Comedy or Musical. Nominated: Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Sir Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) for the song "The Circle of Life." 1995 BAFTA® Awards: Nominated: Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for Hans Zimmer. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award: Best Sound for David Hudson, Doc Kane, Mel Metcalfe and Terry Porter. 1995 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Nominated: Best Fantasy Film. Nominated: Best Performance by a Younger Actor for Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Voice Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Matthew Broderick, Niketa Calame, Jim Cummings, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Guillaume, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Zoe Leader, Cheech Marin, Ernie Sabella, Madge Sinclair, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Frank Welker, Cathy Cavadini, Judi M. Durand, Daamen J. Krall, David McCharen, Mary Linda Phillips, Phil Proctor, David Randolph, Jeff Bennett (singing voice) (uncredited), Sally Dworsky (singing voice) (uncredited), Evan Saucedo (singing voice) (uncredited), Brian Tochi (uncredited), Jason Weaver (singing voice) (uncredited), Joseph Williams (singing voice) (uncredited) and Laura Williams (singing voice) (uncredited) Directors: Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers Producers: Alice Dewey Goldstone, Don Hahn, Sarah McArthur and Thomas Schumacher Screenplay: Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton Songs: Sir Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) Composer: Hans Zimmer Video Resolution: 1080p [Technicolor] Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish: 5.1 DTS Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, Potuguês: 5.1 Disney Dolby Digital Surround Mixture, Dutch: 5.1 DTS Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, isiZulu: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo and English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish, Português and Dutch Running Time: 88 minutes Number of discs: 3 Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Andrew’s 3D Blu-ray Review: ‘THE LION KING’ 3D [1994] is the 32nd Walt Disney animated feature film, and the fourth animated film produced during a period known as the Disney Renaissance and gets an ultimate 3D makeover and with this re-release. The animated film was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, produced by Don Hahn, and has a screenplay credited to Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton and was influenced by the biblical tales of Moses, and the William Shakespeare play Hamlet and is a scrumptiously delightful movie going 3D experience. In June 1994, the Walt Disney organisation unveiled what would become one of its most beloved animated titles, ‘THE LION KING’ and the original 2D animated film was an early summer hit that year and went on to gross more than $950 million worldwide since its release. The biggest roar at the summer box office may well come from Buena Vista's magnificent animated feature ‘THE LION KING.’ It is graced with heart, humour and boundless energy; this Walt Disney presentation should cut a huge swathe through all age groups. Young children and adults alike warmed to its nourishing wise storyline and especially with a definite blockbuster that has gone onto a future classic and of course ‘THE LION KING’ is a totally scrumptiously delightful movie going experience. Part of the appeal could be the music: infusing African rhythms and vocals with the lyrics of Sir Elton John and Tim Rice, so making ‘THE LION KING’ 3D feature some of the most memorable and enjoyable music in any Disney animated film. The opening strains of “The Circle of Life” featuring a lone Zulu voice are immediately recognisable in the age of pop culture generation, but one shouldn’t forget the sheer power of this song and the images that accompany it and shows that this is Disney trying something a little different, yet somehow retaining the magic that makes the studio’s films appeal so much to all age groups. This may be a romanticised view of Africa or, more specifically, the Serengeti in Tanzania and Kenya, yet it is nigh on impossible not to be drawn in by the beauty of the music and animation. Yes, the animation truly is stunning, just look at the storks flying over the waterfall in the first song, or the gentle sway of the grass as Simba paces around, torn between past and present. The scene in which he returns to Pride Rock, a tiny figure running across a desert in a wide angle shot combined with the movement of his legs shown up close, gets much of its power simply from the evocative framing of the shot. Every cell bursts with life and beauty, the landscapes crammed with detail and the characters distinct and dramatic in their own ways. Yet the vivid colours of ‘Just Can’t Wait to Be King’ and the haunting, horror inspired imagery of fascism in ‘Be Prepared’ display a variety and experimentation that means The Lion King is also one of the most visually interesting films the House of Mouse has produced, as well as one of the most beautiful. However all the music and animation, as brilliant as they are all contribute to the one aspect of this ‘THE LION KING’ 3D animated film that makes it so popular: the story of course. People of all ages are so happy to return to it again and again because of the warmth of the characters, an investment in a gripping and universal story, and because one can experience a whole spectrum of emotions all over the course of an hour and half. There’s no animated film quite like it. Revisiting ‘THE LION KING’ 3D seventeen years after its original release, it is easy to see why it captured the imagination of audiences at the time. It is also a film with a deeply disturbing ideology where rule by birth right and might is presented as acceptable within the film’s odd Zen/Darwinist Circle of Life philosophy. From the stealthy array of talent selected to perform the voices, including such deep-tone stalwarts as James Earl Jones and Shakespearean actor Jeremy Irons, one almost expects a tragedy in the Shakespearean tradition. And, in certain aspects, ‘THE LION KING’ 3D does fit this bill. Instead of the house of Hanover or Stuart, the drama centres on the reign of the mighty lion Mufasa [James Earl Jones], the king of a perfectly balanced African kingdom of animals who thrive in stunning abundance. A beneficent monarch, Mufasa, raises his young male cub, Simba [Jonathan Taylor Thomas], then Matthew Broderick as an adult Simba, to know that "we are all connected in the great circle of life." But, even in this teeming ecosystem, there is rancour; Mufasa's avaricious younger brother, the dark lion Scar [Jeremy Irons], plots to become King and orchestrates a bloody internecine intrigue, killing Mufasa and sending the young Simba into exile in the wilderness. Essentially, ‘THE LION KING’ 3D is a coming-of-age story as the young Simba grows and matures to a point where he is ready to reclaim his birth right and, more importantly, carry on the harmonious work of his father. While weighty in theme, and propelled by several remarkable moral lessons. The screenplay for ‘THE LION KING’ 3D is by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton and bursts along at a spectacular dramatic gait, nourished with light humour, tending romance and frisky escapades. Directors Roger Allen and Rob Minkoff, respectful of both the story's epic grandeur and personal power, have fashioned a radiantly multidimensional film. The crowning glories of ‘THE LION KING’ 3D must be bestowed upon the legions of animators who contributed to its majestic, playful and glowing look. Composer Hans Zimmer's throbbing, percussive musical score also is a highlight, while the songs of Tim Rice and Sir Elton John not only propel the plot but add cheerful zest to the splendid terrain of ‘THE LION KING’ 3D and in my eyes this Disney's animated film is their greatest gem, and is also their most wonderful cinematic achievement. It has everything in you are seeking in a 3D animated film, as it has the perfect balance of the circle of life genre and the running time just seems to feel it flies well under the 88 minutes. THE LION KING MUSIC TRACK LIST CIRCLE OF LIFE [Performed by Carmen Twillie] I JUST CAN’T TO BE KING [Performed by Jason Weaver and Laura Williams with Rowan Atkinson] BE PREPARED [Performed by Jeremy Irons, with Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and Jim Cummings] HAKUMA MATATA [Performed by Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, and Joseph Williams] CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT [Performed by Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Sally Dworsky, Joseph Williams, and Kristle Edwards] THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT [Sung by Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella] (uncredited) I’VE GOT A LOVELY BUNCH OF COCONUTS [Sung by Rowan Atkinson and Jeremy Irons] (uncredited) IT’S A SMALL WORLD [Sung by Rowan Atkinson] (uncredited) HAWAIIAN WAR CHANT [Performed by Nathan Lane] (uncredited) NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN (Traditional Spiritual) [Sung by Rowan Atkinson] (uncredited) THE MORNING REPORT [Performed by Evan Saucedo and Jeff Bennett] 3D Blu-ray Video Quality – Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment brings you this stunning ‘THE LION KING’ 3D Blu-ray disc release in an awesome 1080p image presentation and also an equally impressive 1.78:1 aspect ratio that is framed perfectly. There is also brilliant sharpness throughout with every animated line solid and impressive, and the awesome colours are richly saturated and often mesmerising. Black levels, however, are impressively dark, and the many greens, reds, and oranges are rendered with pure clarity. As for the 3D effects, they are totally spectacular, and well suited perfectly if somewhat unexpectedly for the hand-drawn animation of the original film. It feels as if we could reach out and touch the birds flying across the screen, the gazelles galloping through the savannah, raindrops falling from the sky. We get some very good visual emotional impact when Simba and Scar battle for supremacy in a fight that now fills the screen with ferocity. There is certainly plenty of depth in the image, and when the camera goes high and we see vast expanses of land, the enormity of the landscapes can be truly impressive. So too, is the later scene when Simba is running through the wasted jungle brush which offers enormous pleasure especially watching it in stunning 3D. There is a terrific amount of multiple plane visual experience that definitely gives the 3D images some depth of field complexity. So all in all a totally brilliant effort all round, especially on the part of the Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. 3D Blu-ray Audio Quality – Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment present us with a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio that is an outstanding and impressive from the first moment of the film until the last moment. Hans Zimmer’s score soars all around us constantly, and the orchestrations have been laid out to permit multiple channels to complement the singing of the principals. Dialogue has been masterfully recorded and while mostly residing in the centre channel occasionally finds itself in other channels for an effective directional experience. The ambient effects, from crickets chirping in the high grass to the thundering hooves of the wildebeests, have been expertly placed around the sound field of your speakers for the utmost aural intensity for your audio enjoyment. All the channels certainly are kept busy in the sound mix as well as with lots of deep bass in the mix. So all in all this again is a brilliant effort on the part of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, especially now being able to be viewed in stunning 3D, which is a mind blowing visual enjoyment, that really brings the out the best in this 3D Blu-ray disc release. 2D Blu-ray Special Features and Extras: Special Feature: 2D Special Introduction by Producer Don Hahn [2011] [1080p] [1.78:1] [00:34] Here we get a nice personal introduction from producer Don Hahn, before the start of ‘THE LION KING’ 3D film. Here Don Hahn explains that when they made the original animate film of ‘THE LION KING’ way back in 1994, they really wanted to do one thing and that was to transport you back to Africa, but this time in Disney 3D, and to give you this experience, as well to make you feel you were really there in Africa. Well now the original animated film ‘THE LION KING’ is now presented in the stunning Disney 3D, and Don Hahn really feels they have done just that, and so literally you can now step into the world of Simba and all the other animal characters and again make you feel you are actually there, and living the story with them all. So to do that, it is pretty easy, because all you have to do is grab a pair of 3D glasses, pop them on and enjoy ‘THE LION KING’ in Disney 3D, and is hoping you enjoy the experience. Audio Commentary with Co-Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff and Producer Don Hahn: Here we are introduced first by Don Hahn. Who informs us that he was the producer of ‘THE LION KING,’ next up is Rob Minkoff who was the director of ‘THE LION KING,’ finally to introduce himself is Roger Allers who also was the director of the animated film and very tongue in cheek they say, “We are here to perform the Top 40 hits here.” But of course instead they inform us that they are here to comment on the making of the animated film ‘THE LION KING,’ and talk in-depth about the genesis of the film and its evolution into the final version of ‘THE LION KING.’ They also share some of their experiences with you, right here in your living room. They inform us that the original project started actually as ‘The King of the Jungle’ and the original concept was to be a picture about Africa and lions, because they did not know initially what the story would be about, and of course it eventually evolved over time from there, and especially an original story was very unique for them, as they like to do stories based on fairy stories, or novels, or bits of literature, but ‘THE LION KING’ was totally unique in that respect, in that it completely arrived out of thin air, even though it was partially based on a bit of Hamlet, a little bit of the Old Testament Bible Stories. Originally the opening of the picture they were going to have a dialogue scene to introduce baby Simba and a blessing from Rafiki [Robert Guillaume]. But what impressed them the most was the four minute of music at the start of the film that Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice had produced a beautiful anthem for the animated film that really defined the spirit of the film, and the theme of the film. When we first meet Scar, they all praise the actor Jeremy Irons, but at the time of asking Jeremy Irons and Rowan Atkinson to do the animated film, they were originally very reluctant to lend their voices to the animated characters, and especially who they are in their acting career, and felt it would be a backward step in their acting career, because at that time doing voices for cartoon characters was felt to be a slightly down market thing to do, but of course nowadays to be asked to do voice overs, especially for the Walt Disney Studio is a great honour. Anyway they were persuaded to a test voice recording and at the same time they did a short animated sequence to show them how there characters would look and after viewing the test footage were 100% seduced by what they saw on the screen and were extremely eager to work with this landmark animated film. They mention that the voice of the young Simba was done by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, but when the young Simba sings, it voiced by Jason Weaver who portrayed Michael Jackson (aged 9 – 14) in ‘The Jacksons: An American Dream.’ When Rowan Atkinson character gets sat upon by the rhino, well when in the recording studio they asked Rowan 17 times to say different statements while under the rhino like “Have we met before” or “I’ll never tango again” again of course the recording engineers fell about laughing. When Jeremy Irons as Scar talks and sings the song to the three hyenas, they tell us they did very long rehearsal sessions especially singing for the song and in the end it took over 8 hours to do and unfortunately at the end of the recording session Jeremy had no voice left. But as we go through the rest of the animated film, all three talk a lot about the technical side of the film, which some of it was too technical for my understanding, especially how each scene was designed and photographed, especially what they wanted to achieve from the sketches to the finished article and they mention that with all their hard work it turned out and that is what they call the magic of animation and that about sums up in giving us the circle of life. All of these three men are very informative and accessible so this is a very easy audio commentary track to listen to. But as the end credits come to an end, they thank us for letting us into our living room and that the popcorn was great and they hope you enjoyed the animated film ‘THE LION KING.’ Special Feature: THE LION KING: Bloopers and Outtakes [2011] [1080p] [1.78:1] [3:44] Here we get to view twenty individual Bloopers and Outtakes, that includes clips of Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, Mufasa, Scar and the rest of the Pride with the usual flub lines, pulled hamstring and miss their marks in this run of the mill animated gag reel. After PIXAR started doing it, now Disney seems to be doing these manufactured bloopers which don’t work as well as they did for PIXAR. Special Feature: BACKSTAGE DISNEY: DIAMOND EDITION: Here we get to view three individual special features, and they are as follows: 01. PRIDE OF ‘THE LION KING’ [2011] [1080i] [1.78:1] [38:06] This is a sort of remembrance of the project by the film’s two directors, its producer, actors Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, lyricist Tim Rice, composer Hans Zimmer, plus various other Disney mainstays both past and present, and director Julie Taymor who conceived and mounted the show on Broadway about both the screen and stage versions of ‘THE LION KING.’ We get to view some wonderful rare colourful sketches, but very interesting is we get to see some rare 1.33:1 aspect ratio video clips of the younger looking people involved with this animated film. In a small viewing theatre we get a gathering of all the original animators who worked on ‘THE LION KING.’ We get to view some wonderful clips from the Broadway version of the ‘THE LION KING,’ which has had worldwide box office receipts of over $4 Billion to date and ‘THE LION KING’ is one of the most successful productions in theatre history. We are also informed that ‘THE LION KING’ animated film, remains the highest grossing hand-drawn animated film of all time. Contributors include: Thomas Schumacher [Executive Producer, Film Producer and President of Disney Theatrical Group], Jeffrey Katzenberg [Former Chairman of Walt Disney Studios], Peter Schneider [Former President of Walt Disney Feature Animation], Rob Minkoff [Co-Director], Roger Allers [Co-Director], Don Hahn [Producer], Hans Zimmer [Original Score Composer], Matthew Broderick [Voice of Adult “Simba”], Nathan Lane [Voice of “Timon”], Michael Eisner [Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company], Tim Rice [Lyricist], Julie Taymor [Director of the Stage Musical “THE LION KING”], Andreas Deja [Supervising Animator for “Scar”], Tony Bancroft [Supervising Animator for “Pumbaa], Ruben Aquino [Supervising Animator for “Adult Simba”], Tony Fucile [Supervising Animator for “Mufasa”], Michael Surrey [Supervising Animator for “Timon”], James Baxter [Supervising Animator for “Rafiki] and Ellen Woobury [Supervising Animator for “Zazu”]. 02. THE LION KING: A Memoir: Don Hahn [2011] [1080i / 1080p] [1.78:1] [19:40] Here we take a look at this excellent recent documentary with Don Hahn, where we take a look back at Don Hahn, circa 1994, and charts the development, creation and the final release of ‘THE LION KING.’ Don Hahn also gives us retrospective thoughts on the animated film's development, production and lasting impact with the public worldwide. We also get to hear that the idea for the film came from Jeffrey Katzenberg [Former Chairman of Walt Disney Studios], Peter Schneider [Former President of Walt Disney Feature Animation] and Roy Disney [Former Senior Executive for The Walt Disney Company]. We also get to view some rare 1.33:1 aspect ratio video archive footage of lots of people involved with the animated film, especially with baby lion cub. Other people involved with the animated film were Linda Woolverton [Screenplay], George Scribner [Artist Director] and Roger Allers [Co-Director]. We also get to see some rare 1.33:1 aspect ratio video archive footage of the people from the Walt Disney Studio on a scouting trip to Africa, as well as some nice footage of Sir Tim Rice [Lyricist] and Sir Elton John [Composer] in the recording studio. But one of the most hilarious scenes was with Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella doing their recording session and the crew could not stop laughing. At one critical point as the animated film was being worked on, they had a massive earthquake and caused many logistic problems, but eventually got resolved. But one bright spark out of this documentary was to see highlights of ‘THE LION KING’ Premiere at the EL CAPATAN theatre in Holly wood on June 1994. But what was also gratifying to hear was that everyone enjoyed working on the animated film despite the long hours, but also finds working at the Walt Disney Studio did not feel it was work, instead the atmosphere was a very playful environment and they had no idea one could have so much fun and was totally magic. But most of all this retrospective look at the coming together of important industry artists and is presented in both 1080i and 1080p video resolution. 03. Five Deleted and Alternate Scenes [2011] [1080p] [1.78:1] [15:33] Here we get introductions by Co-Directors Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers and explain why Deleted Scenes and Alternate Scenes were rejected and didn’t quite make it into the animated film ‘THE LION KING,’ we get to view some actual colour animated scenes, lots of rough black-and-white drawings with voice audio tracks. So what you get to actually view is the following: Zazu Flatter Mufasa; “King Of The Wild;” Scar Wants Nala As His Queen; Simba and Nala Reunited and Zazu Flatters Scar. As usual you can either watch each one separately or Play All. Special Feature: Music & More: Here you get to view two individual special features and they are as follows: 01. Play Movie with Sing-A-Long Mode: Here you get to view the whole film with subtitles at the bottom of the screen, so you can do a Sing-A-Long with the characters in the animated film in the usual karaoke style. You can also view the film with other subtitles in the following languages: Spanish, Português, Dutch and English. 02. The Morning Report: Extended Scene [2011] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:30] When ‘THE LION KING’ was adapted for the musical stage show, several new songs were specially written. “The Morning Report” is one of the new songs. For the DVD Platinum release of ‘THE LION KING,’ it was decided to have the original team of artists and filmmakers create an all-new animation for this sequence and insert it seamlessly into the animated film. They are pleased to be able to present that newly animated song in this special feature extra, and it looks totally spectacular, and what a shame it was not allowed to be inserted into the animated film ‘THE LION KING.’ Special Feature: INTERACTIVE ART GALLERY: Here we get a selection of art galleries, which consist of CHARACTER DESIGN; VISUAL DEVELOPMENT; STORYBOARDS and LAYOUTS AND BACKGROUNDS. When you choose a specific art gallery subject from the menu displayed, and when you view each Art Gallery, you use the arrow keys on your remote control, where you use them to either skip back or skip forward to view each image. Good luck, as I didn’t bother to view these items because of previous attempts with other Interactive Art Galleries on other Blu-ray discs, because once you are in, there is no EXIT facility, whereas instead you have to stop the disc and reload the Blu-ray disc again. Special Feature: Disney’s Virtual Vault: With this feature, you require a Broadband Internet Connection, if it is not then your Blu-ray Player will be unable to connect to the Disney BD-Live Network. Please ensure that your Blu-ray Player is connected to a Broadband Internet Connection that is active and working. If you want to know more information, then visit the DisneyBD Live web site. Special Feature: Discover Blu-ray 3D with Timon and Pumbaa [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [4:23] Here we take a look at the Blu-ray 3D Technology with the cartoon characters Timon and Pumbaa from 'THE LION KING' as your guides to this video promotion. It shows what you need to watch 3D Blu-ray and gives a preview of upcoming 3D Blu-ray titles. Despite the animated promo is all about 3D Blu-ray discs, sadly the item is only in 2D. SNEAK PEEKS: CARS 2 [3D + 2D] [2011] [1080p] [2.35:1] [1:29], LADY AND THE TRAMP [Diamond Edition] [2D] [2010] [1080p] [2.35:1] [1:15] and DISNEY NATURE: African Cats [2D] [2010] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:15] PLUS: DisneyFile Digital Copy is the Disney-branded Digital Copy experience, which enables buyers of DVD and Blu-ray to receive the standard definition digital version of the movie in their choice of iTunes or Windows Media format. The DisneyFile Digital Copy is located on a stand-alone disc and is Mac and PC compatible. The DisneyFile Digital Copy is a fast and easy way to enjoy your favourite Disney movies, anytime, anywhere on your PC, Mac, or compatible portable device. Disney fans can watch their DVD in the living room and enhance their mobile lifestyle by bringing a DisneyFile Digital Copy of their movies on the go! BONUS: Exclusive with this UK 3D Blu-ray Release, we have a specially designed 3D Slip Cover that is totally spectacular and is well worth the purchase. Finally, ‘THE LION KING’ 3D animated film gets 5 stars from me, because it is, without doubt, one of the finest animations ever produced and it’s brilliant to watch up on the big screen again, especially in the stunning 3D presentation, the upgrade to 3D was well worth the wait and visually, the passing of time really makes you appreciate the animation all the more. The famous wildebeest stampede may no longer stun with its technical accomplishment, but nor does it look dated and it still sucks you right into the action. By not slavishly attempting to replicate reality, the artists behind the film have instead created something that lasts. Something layered with beauty and depth. This time around we've got a whole extra dimension in glorious stunning animated film. ‘THE LION KING’ 3D remains a hugely enjoyable, exciting and compelling animation for the whole family. Even youngsters brought up on the CGI delights of the ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Shrek’ franchises will find this animated film extremely satisfying thanks to a very engaging, emotional rollercoaster of a story and a number of addictive song-and-dance numbers that will stay lodged within your head for weeks after viewing this stunning 3D Blu-ray disc. Very Highly Recommended! Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado Le Cinema Paradiso United Kingdom

Great film as everyone knows but I wanted it for the 3D and I wasn't disappointed

'The Lion King' tells the story of Simba, a lion cub growing up on the African savannah. His father, Mufasa, is the wise king of the Pridelands, and teaches Simba about 'the circle of life' and the responsibilities he will have as the future king. However, Mufasa's covetous brother Scar is plotting to usurp the throne, and with the help of some hyenas, he engineers Mufasa's death. The hyenas chase Simba from the Pridelands, and he is left to grow up in exile with only Timon, a fast-talking meerkat, and Pumbaa, a slow-witted warthog, for company. But one day he must return and reclaim his kingdom ... By turns heart-warming, tear-jerking and hilarious, 'The Lion King' is, in my opinion, the greatest Disney film of all time. The animation is wonderful for the most part, the songs are catchy, and the story is engaging for children and adults alike, though young children may find some scenes, such as Mufasa's death, upsetting. I would have given the film by itself five stars, but was forced to knock a star off for the complete mess that was made of this special edition. Firstly, though it contains both the original theatrical release and a new version with an added song, the original theatrical version is hidden away in the Languages menu (even then it is not exactly the original, since the crocodiles in the song 'I Just Can't Wait To Be King' have been inexplicably changed). There is no information given on how to find it, and it is the new version, featuring the extra song 'The Morning Report', that plays by default. Since this song was added several years after the others were recorded, a new voice artist for the character of Simba had to be used, and the difference is glaringly obvious. Not only is the song awful, it completely disrupts a touching and amusing scene - I cannot imagine what the Disney executives were thinking when they decided to tamper with a near-perfect film in this manner. Secondly, the 'factual' section of extras, which claims to give information about the various animals featured in the film, is rife with inaccuracy. During the segment on hyenas, for example, half the time the animals on screen are not hyenas but African wild dogs! (The narrator also states that there are two species of hyena, when there are actually three, or four if you count the aardwolf). Similarly, when the aardvark is mentioned in the segment on warthogs, a picture of a tamandua is shown. In the segment on meerkats we are told that they belong to 'the weasel or mongoose family' - they do belong to the mongoose family (Herpestidae), but this is a completely separate family from the weasel family (Mustelidae). I can see little point in adding a section that claims to be informative and educational if no effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the facts it contains. The rest of the extras, however, are more satisfying. There are games and sing-along options that children will find entertaining, and much information on the background of the film, including how the film-makers came up with the story, early character designs, the origins of the music, and how the film was adapted for the stage. In conclusion, a wonderful film - it's just a shame Disney didn't put a bit more thought and research into the special edition DVD release.

The Lion King is one of my all time favorite Disney films and I am very pleased to have this special edition in my collection the story tells of young Lion cub prince Simba who is destined to take his father Mufasa’s place as the future king of the Pridelands but his evil uncle Scar plans take the throne for himself with the help from his Hyena henchmen he kills his brother and makes Simba believe he is responsible for his father’s death and Simba runs away from his home and meets Timon and Pumbaa who teach him their care free life and he decides to lives with his new friends but soon Simba’s past catches up to him and he must return to face his uncle and reclaim his kingdom this dvd includes fun games, behind the scenes features and includes a new song the morning report overall I highly recommend this to anyone Disney fans

It was good but maybe a bit scary for very young children

The Lion King was the first film I saw at the cinema -I was only 6 years old at the time so all I can say that I remember about it that first time for sure is the stampede. More years than I care to remember we got a DVD player and started replacing those videos we still wanted to watch on DVD. But for some reason we couldn't get The Lion King -and as a result the only reason we have a VHS player is to watch the old Lion King copy that is all scratched and sticks because we've watched it too many times. When it came out again at the cinema me and my 23 year old friends all went to see it opening night-and were way more excited than we had any reason to be. The Lion King is a film for all ages, even if you don't love it because you're it's target age or because you've loved it for 17 years I guarantee you will enjoy this film. It has amazing songs, fantastic characters-brilliant actors, come on Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeremy Irons, Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones? All together in a film with music by Elton John? What more could you want? Shakespeare? Because we essentially have that Basically, if you don't love this film...well there's certainly nothing wrong with the film, so that just leaves you..

Love it! Love it! It's my favorite steelbook in my collection and I even have Snow White.

Sound - 9/10 Picture - 9/10 Movie - 10/10 A must buy for all movie buffs. Classic film, great sound and picture transmission.

The dvd is great as well as the prompt delivery service.

One of the greatest animated films of all time. Came even better than expected, I had no clue it was the circle of life edition & came with a case cover which is pretty neat. Not sure if it was new or like new but only the cover had a little wear in the corner, everything else was in order.

Bajo cualquier estándar que pueda aplicarse a películas animadas, 'The Lion King' es una hermosa y concisa obra maestra que estimula la imaginación. Todo el mundo, niños, jóvenes y adultos, encontrará algo que apreciar en este cuento de Disney. Tiene algunas canciones memorables y ha engendrado una producción escénica muy popular.