Usually the extras on the Disney DVDs are full of documentaries on the "animation process". Now these are great the first time you see them but when you've learned of the "process" a couple of hundred times it becomes a bit dull. And Disney DVDs, with 90% of their audience children, tend to lean towards basic descriptions of animation with menus flooded with cartoon characters.

The Lion King DVD has been developed a bit differently. They seem to have put most of the "children" extras on the main disc and the second disc is full of documentaries which children are going to find dull (the exception being the Virtual Safaris ... come to think of it they'd have been better on disc 1). And the documentaries don't recycle "animation process" stuff but delve into the development of the storyline, songs and phenomenon that is The Lion King.

You do get two versions of the film (the original and special edition) but they're hidden under the Set Up menu (change the soundtrack and you change the film you watch). You can even watch the film in Hebrew (complete with Hebrew vocals to the songs but always Lebo M's memorably yell at the beginning of the film).

There are ways that the DVD could have been made better but with 2 hours of extras (not including the audio commentary) and a top picture and sound on the film (which, let's face it, is the main thing) this deserves to be a roaring success (...sorry)


Finally, the King has returned...!   November 4, 2003
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

For the past decade, ‘The Lion King’ has forever remained my most treasured Disney movie in my life...and for many other children and grown ups too...

‘The Lion King’ is a really cool and beautiful story about the love between a proud lion ruler named Mufusa and his son, Simba. As a cub, Simba is very excited at the thought of one day growing up to be a brave and strong lion King and following in his father’s paw-prints to rule the Pridelands. However, Simba’s Uncle Scar (who’s the younger brother to Mufusa, Simba’s father) is a jealous and very evil lion who feels that he should be King and decides to kill both Simba and Mufusa in order to claim the throne. Although he’s successful in killing Mufusa, Simba survives and runs away into exile believing that he is the cause of his father’s death.

I don’t wish to reveal anymore of the story to you since by doing so I’d only be ruining the excitement for you. However, I would like to say to everyone that if you do decide to buy this DVD you would absolutely NOT regret it, EVER! ‘The Lion King’ has been so greatly improved on DVD compared to last century VHS. It’s a crystal-clear screen, it’s full of beautiful colours, no grainy bits, the sound never distorts and best of all you never have to worry about setting the tracking. The sound & picture have been so digitally re-mastered and very well done that you actually feel like you’re back in the cinema room all over again watching it for the first time. Apart from English (obviously), you get one language selection as well as an audio commentary. You get to play fun games with Timon & Pumbaa, a ‘Lion King’ personality profile game, making of the movie, deleted scenes, etc. My favourite game on the disc is Timon & Pumbaa’s ‘Lion King’ Virtual Safaris. I’m tellin’ yu, you just get completely hooked on it!

Oh, one last thing...’The Lion King’ Special Edition is so very impressive because unlike the old VHS version, the movie is in wide-screen and therefore you can see so many things that you’ve never been able to see before. There’s even a brand new song that I really enjoy called ‘The Morning Report’ sung by Zazu & Simba during Mufusa’s pouncing lesson in the movie...(don’t worry, you get the original version on the disc too). That’s the whole fun of it. Instead of only having the one version to watch you now have two, isn’t that great?! Obviously it’s a different singer for young Simba since the original has probably grown up by now but that really doesn’t matter.
Simba's singing voice sounds no different whatsoever.

Give yourself the BEST Christmas present of all this year and buy ‘THE LION KING: SPECIAL EDITION’ as soon as you can...preferably on DVD. It doesn’t matter if you’re a child, teenager, young, middle-aged or old adult. ‘The Lion King’ is a wonderful story for everyone that once purchased can remain a most treasured movie for generations. I’m 19-years-old and I still love it, even to this very day...(*_*)


Problems accessing the Original 1994 Version on Special Edit   November 4, 2003
 25 out of 25 found this review helpful

In my option this is the Best Film that Disney have made, the DVD quality has just made the film more enjoyable to watch. The extras on Disc 1 & 2 make this a must have for any Disney Buff or any one with young children.

I did had problems accessing the Original 1994 Version on Special Edition DVD, the “play” icon on the main menu just seemed to play the New Version of the Lion King.

I called Buena Vista Home Entertainment, they informed me that you need to do the following;

Wait for the main film menu to appear, then go to set-up Icon, in set-up go to the Languages Icon and lastly in Language menu you will find Original Version, (just under Hebrew).

Thank you for reading my review and I hope it helps anyone who thinking about buying this DVD or anyone who had the same problem as me.