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The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition)
- Animated
- Color
- Closed-captioned
- Widescreen
- Dolby
The Editors Desk:
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
Avg. Customer Review: 
 Well worth your hard earned money
This new two disc set for the Lion King is yet another masterful DVD production job by the Disney folks. The video and audio quality are top notch, with plenty of choices how to see the film (both original and extended). There are an amazing amount of extras included on disc two, it will take some hunting to find them all, and quite a bit of extra time to view the entire contents. A few are overly self promotional, but there is so much stuff here, just skip to the next item if that bothers you. Some of the games are actually fun too.With both Lion King and Sleeping Beauty being newly released on DVD right now, if you can only get one of them, there is no question this is by far the better choice. The impressive animation, the story, the fantastic sound, the extras are all superior in this Lion King package. This still isn't my favorite Disney release (Roger Rabbit will always have that honor), but maybe top 5--certainly top 8. Lion King Platinum is well worth the investment for your DVD collection. Your family will get many years of enjoyment from it.
A True Work of Art and a Top Notch DVD
The Lion King Platinum Edition DVD was announced over three years ago. Folks, it is well worth the wait. Shame on Disney for putting this work of art on moratorium for all these years. Disney is batting 1.000 on its Platinum Edition Movies. The Lion King is a wonderful story of how the young cub, Simba is deceived and betrayed by his uncle. Simba runs away from the kingdom to start a new life. He returns as an adult to challenge his uncle for the throne. The animation is both stunning and original. You quickly forget you are watching an animated movie. The characters are well developed and the film moves along at a fast pace. The picture quality on this THX certified DVD is nothing short of remarkable. I would say the best animated DVD I have seen to date. The color is so vibrant it leaps of the screen. The images are crystal clear. The picture will blow you away. The sound track is a very well balanced Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Exceptional voice clarity is noticeable right away. The soundtrack itself, is legendary. I cannot say enough good things about this movie and this DVD. I have my beefs with Disney sometimes, but this DVD takes my breath away. This is how ALL DVD's should be authored. Thank you Disney.....this was done right.
Royal Entertainment
"The Lion King" is a great animated film. It has a captivating story, a stellar cast of characters, and good songs. The animation is beautiful. The opening sequence is one of my favorites. It is a true modern masterpiece. You probably know the story, so I'll skip the synopsis. One thing that does bother me is that the editorial review says that this flick is too violent for the little kiddies. What? A simple explanation can put an end to any confusion or fears that your child might have, unless your one of those parents who use the DVD players as a babysitter. My two year old understands that bad things happen in the world. She might not understand that Mufasa dies in this flick, but she knows that Simba is sad and angry about it. Don't let the PC police get in the way of letting your children see a modern classic. The DVD is loaded with extras. Commentary on just about everything, music videos, and even short explanations on the animals in the movie. The "Circle of Life" video featuring kids from the Disney Channel is okay, but an obvious promo for the Disney Channel. As usual, there are a ton of trailers for flicks coming soon to a theater or DVD rack near you. The Safari game is one of the better games I've seen on a DVD. Granted, the menus may seem confusing to some folks in the crowd, but if you take just a little time to learn how to use them(I picked up the general mechanics on one try), you'll find that there are a lot of extras worth looking into. The voice talents in this movie are great. Matthew Broderick and Jonathan Taylor Thomas are perfect as Simba(young and old). James Earl Jones was born to play Mufasa, albeit for a brief time in this movie. Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and the gentleman who plays "Ed" are great as the sniveling sidekicks to "Scar." Ah yes, "Scar" is a perfect villain in "The Lion King." Jeremy Irons is downright vile as the jealous uncle. His performance is flawless. Of course, Nathan Lane stole the show as "Timone," and Rowan Atkinson, as "Zazu," had the driest of wits in this film. The voice talents of the rest of the cast were good as well. Overall, a grand movie worth owning. Its a modern Disney flick in the classical vein, and that's rare today.
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