VHS : The Lion King [1994]

Rating: - Brilliant
The Lion King is truly disney's last good animated feature. Maybe because the Lion King was the last one before i sort of grew out of them but i just feel that Disney lost it's magic after it... they just could not top such a masterpiece! sadly i've had to knock a star off for Disney fiddling with it and putting that AWFUL "Morning Report" song in. It doesn't even sound like the same voices, just a poor impersonation... its short, rubbish and pointless as a song anyway... I'm not keen on disney songs anyway but that was the worst ever!!! Anyway aside from that it has been wonderfully restored and is perect in any DVD collection.

And for those people who keep going on about Pixar and Dreamworks titles as being better animated... they obviously do not understand that these are two diffeent techniques of animation and you can't sit there and say that hand rendered 2D animation is 'rubbish' you obviously have no idea of how difficult a technique it is! As an animation and design student i respect both techniques!! But it would be nice to see more 2D animation as everyone seems to be on the 3D bandwagon... anyway enough of my waffling... this is abrilliant, amazing film!

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Rating: - Disney genius
Not only is this the Best Disney film ever made, This is most definitely the greatest film ever made. I've adored this film since i saw it at the cinema when I was 4 and It's still my favourite film of all time now I've grown up. The songs are amazing and the characters are fantastic. This was the first animated movie ever to win 2 oscars.

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Rating: - Great film, but the DVD needs work
The Lion King is Disney's crowning achievement. It's the tale of the young lion cub prince Simba who must fight to find his place in the 'circle of life.' The animation is flawless, the storyline is uplifting and strong, and all the characters are memorable. The songs are brilliant, the best being 'Be Prepared,' a delightful treat sung by our favourite villain Scar. We also have a nice strong female character named Nala, who doesn't rely on Simba to save her (she's actually much stronger than he is). She will fight for what she believes in, and everyone will admire her. (maybe even more than Simba...)
It's more than just a mere 'kids film,' it's a work of art that can be appreciated by young and old. The Lion King was given the title as Greatest Animated Film, but lost it to Finding Nemo, and although Finding Nemo is entertaining, The Lion King is way better. It's not hard to see why this became a classic.
If I had one gripe with The Lion King, it would be that I hated the way hyenas are portrayed as 'slobbering mangy stupid poachers.' In reality, hyenas are actually much smarter than lions and are very beneficial to the African savannah by keeping prey populations healthy and clearing up rotting waste. It seems that nowadays nearly everyone hates hyenas and believes the stereotype that Disney portrays. But then again, one can't question a Disney movie for realism - after all, we're talking about singing meerkats and warthogs here.

Now, I'd have to agree with the previous reviewer in that the DVD needs more attention. Disney's claim that the DVD has the film 'exactly how it was in 1994' is a complete lie. There's two versions to the movie, the remastered version with the new song 'Morning Report' and the so-called 'original' version.
The 'original' version is exactly the same as the remastered version, except without the new song. In some scenes bits has been completely re-animated. In some places, it looks spectacular, (like the waterfalls in 'Can you Feel the Love Tonight') whilst it looks terrible in others (the crocodiles in 'I Just Can't Wait to be King). What's the point in reanimating the crocs? They looked fine in the original, now they look ugly. Also, the night scene when Simba stirs up some dust has also been reanimated, getting rid of the letters 'SFX' that appear in the sky.

Aside from all the re-edits, I also am rather ashamed about the animal facts section. It's incredibly inaccurate - animals belonging the wrong families and the wrong number of species. There's the problem with the hyenas that has already been mentioned - half the time you see African Wild Dogs. Whilst wild dogs are sometimes referred to Hyena Dogs, one must note that hyenas are not dogs but are more closely related to cats.

The games are one of the few good things you'll find on the disc. I actually had fun trying out 'Timon's Grab-a-Grub' and 'Pumbaa's Sound Sensations.' According to the 'Personality Profile,' game, I'm most like Rafiki! Many DVD games are low tech and boring, but these ones are definately worth checking out for the young and the young at heart. (like me!) There's also the amusing Virtual Safari that's also worth seeing.

There are several other good extras, but they are very difficult to find. In fact, the entire DVD is very hard to navigate. You'll find the option of watching the 'original' (not) version of The Lion King under the Languages menu. What the? Why on earth did Disney put it there? What wacko designed this layout?

So, this DVD will appeal to Lion King fans, but for anyone who wants to see the film how it was originally will very disappointed. I guess this Special Edition is alright on its own terms, but compared to the Special Edition of, let's say, Bambi, it's there that it ultimately fails.
Unless you really can stand those hideous crocodiles, if you want to see the film how it was originally, I'd try and get a rare widescreen videotape (they do exist) off eBay or something, and then convert it to a blank DVD with the right software. But if you really can't be bothered, then just pick this up now.

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Rating: - A movie made to make your heart soar
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.

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Rating: - maybe my best disney classic
I saw this classic disney when i was about 8 years old, and after all these years I still love it. This truly is my favourite disney animation film ever. I mean I like almost every disney films, but this one sticks in my mind more. From the plot, the "circle of life", to the characters (my favourite had always been timon and pumba) and of course the music. Everything in this film is, and will be to me, a classic. I would have given it more stars if I could (and boy would I!!!!). It captivates both children and adults alike. that's all I can say really.