Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Taylor Thomas Directed by: Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers Binding: VHS Tape Published: 1995-03-03 ISBN: 6303314015
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
Anybody who struts around with Simba's hard-won authority deserves this royal DVD read-along from Disney. Kids can recoil at Uncle Scar's dastardly deeds en español and discover that "hakuna matata" sounds pretty much the same in Spanish, French, Italian, or German. And should the dynamic storytelling fail to thrill your 4- to 12-year-old fan, a flurry of other interactive options await. Toggle to "Songs" for sing-along renditions of movie hits, including "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," and on to "Music Videos," where Elton John roars soundtrack favorites "Circle of Life" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and Jimmy Cliff and Lebo M groove to "Hakuna Matata." The "Vocabulary" feature allows for see-and-say mastery of a list of wildlife, while the "Game" section allows players to match paw and hoof prints to the proper beast and reassemble the scattered skeletal remains of an elephant. Original cast voices are featured, and grownups will be pleased by the package's reading component. --Tammy La Gorce
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
The Lion King Special Edition DVD:
Got it in perfect condition, incredibly quick and my grand daughters were thrilled; can't get any better than that!
Not the Classic:
Ok I feel sorry for the generation that grows up thinking "Morning Report" is a Lion King song. How dare they throw an extra song in the best movie of all time. There is no way you can trick the true Lion King fans. But I must say, watching The Lion King on the flat screen is SWEET.
Disappointing!:
I am an avid Disney fan, gave this as a gift to the children of a friend. The friend called my attention to the "sun bleached coverart" and the made in mexico quality of the video. I was appauled and mortified,took the dvd back, threw it away, and gave a gift card, from then on.
Disney's finest:
Like most kids, I grew up watching Disney movies. Then, as I got older, I grew out of some of them. But for some reason, I never grew out of The Lion King. It was-- and remains still-- not only my favorite Disney movie, but my favorite movie PERIOD. I could never watch it too many times! (In fact, I've watched it so many times, I have the entire movie completely memorized! How's that for obsession?) ;) Whether it's the fun, upbeat music that draws me in or the relatable and funny characters or the powerful... more info
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