Search - Lion King [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Child Classic, Watch With Your Kids, Scary Moments Movie Release: 1994 DVD Release: 10/07/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 1 hrs 30 mins Studio: Walt Disney Video Members Wishing: 262 Genres: Adventure, Children's/Family, Children's Fantasy, Animated Musical See Also: The Lion King [Collector's Gift Set], Lion King [Spanish Special Edition]

One of the most popular Disney animated musicals, The Lion King presents the story of a lion cub's journey to adulthood and acceptance of his royal destiny. Simba (voiced first by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, then by Matthew Broderick) begins life as an honored prince, son of the powerful King Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones). The cub's happy childhood turns tragic when his evil uncle Scar (voiced by Jeremy Irons) murders Mufasa and drives Simba away from the kingdom. In exile, the young lion befriends the comically bumbling pair of Pumbaa the warthog (voiced by Ernie Sabella) and Timon the meerkat (voiced by Nathan Lane) and lives a carefree jungle life. As he approaches adulthood, however, he is visited by the spirit of his father, who instructs him to defeat the nefarious Scar and reclaim his rightful throne. Borrowing elements from Hamlet, classical mythology, and African folk tales, The Lion King tells its mythic coming-of-age tale with a combination of spectacular visuals and lively music, featuring light, rhythmic songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score by Hans Zimmer. Embraced by children and adults alike, the film also spawned hit songs ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "Circle of Life") and a hit Broadway musical. In late 2002, The Lion King was re-released in the large-screen IMAX format. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Matthew Broderick - Simba
Jeremy Irons - Scar
James Earl Jones - Mufasa
Moira Kelly - Nala
Nathan Lane - Timon
Ernie Sabella - Pumbaa

Certainly the most comprehensive, feature-packed presentation of one of the most popular animated films of all-time, Disney's =The Lion King: Special Edition offers just about every nugget of information a fan could need or want. First off, the film has been digitally restored and remastered to provide the best image quality possible for any television. The image is presented letterboxed in its original 1.66:1 ratio, and there is a new, THX-certified mix of the Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound audio in English and French. Two versions of the film are included: the original release, and a new cut incorporating a brand new song, "Morning Report." Audio commentary on the film is provided by directors Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers, as well as from producer Don Hahn. In terms of other special features, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "Circle of Life" get completely new music videos. "Timon and Pumbaa's Virtual Safari" gives viewers an at-home approximation of The Lion King theme park ride, and kids can play for hours with the interactive "Grab-a-Grub" and "Pumbaa's Sound Sensations" games.

Countless featurettes called "journeys" detail the making of the film. Among them: "Animal Journey," a look at the real animals that inspired characters in the film, narrated by Roy Disney; "Stage Journey," which describes the challenges faced by Julie Taymor and her award-winning Broadway adaptation of the film; "Music Journey," which talks to Elton John and Tim Rice about their inspirations for the film's soundtrack; and "Story Journey," a look at the timeless folk-tale inspirations for the script. Rounding out the package are still galleries, storyboard-to-film comparisons, and character development stills. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide