8.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.7 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.7 |
A young lion cub named Simba just can't wait to be king. But the sudden death of his father, Mufasa, and the treacherous actions of his Uncle Scar lead Simba into exile and ultimately on a hero's journey of self-discovery. Adopting the "hakuna matata" philosophy of his comical jungle guardians — a warthog and a meerkat (Pumbaa and Timon) — Simba eventually comes to terms with his destiny and returns home to Pride Rock to help put things right.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira KellyFamily | 100% |
Adventure | 90% |
Animation | 83% |
Comedy | 41% |
Musical | 39% |
Epic | 22% |
Coming of age | 8% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (2 BDs, 2 DVDs)
Digital copy (on disc)
DVD copy
BD-Live
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Set aside the circle of life for a moment. Let's talk shelf life. Not every Disney animated film is made equal; for every beloved timeless classic there's at least one forgettable misfire prowling the tree line at the edge of the clearing. Nostalgia plays a crucial role in keeping so many "Disney Classics" classic, and the Disney Vault -- brace for impact, naive Mouse Housers -- is a regulatory agency, not a preservation paradise. But The Lion King has had a long, illustrious shelf life, despite the many years it's spent in the Vault. Special editions, direct to video sequels, a wildly successful Broadway adaptation (the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history), merchandising, merchandising, merchandising and, now, a theatrical 3D reissue and a highly anticipated high definition release. Just what is it about The Lion King that resonates? Its proud kings of the plains? Its endearing sidekicks? Its sinister villain? Elton John and Tim Rice's songs? Hans Zimmer's score? The film's iconic coronation sequence? The tragic death of a noble father and king? The rise of a scorned son? The story's dark overtones? Its Biblical and Shakespearean roots? Simba's heartbreak? His conflict? His triumph? Perhaps a better question would be, what about The Lion King doesn't resonate?
There's a reason 'The Lion King 3D' is currently making a killing at the box office, and it isn't just the film itself...
The Lion King's 2D video transfer is stunning. There's no two ways about it. And I'm happy to report Disney's 1080p/MVC-encoded 3D presentation is almost, almost as impressive as its 2D counterpart. But we'll get to the few oddities that appear in a moment. First, let's focus on all the things the 3D presentation gets right. There are those who have suggested hand-drawn animated films shouldn't be converted to 3D; that the post-conversion process can't possibly inject new life into something like a seventeen-year-old Walt Disney classic. I'm curious to see where those principled naysayers stand after watching The Lion King 3D. There are those who assume 2D movies stand to gain little from a 3D conversion. The Lion King, though, seems as if it was developed with 3D in mind. Simba sings and dances his way through a procession of animals that trail into the background, wildebeest pour down the side of a cliff and charge the audience, Mufasa leaps toward the screen to save his son, Timon and Pumbaa press in and mug for the camera (so to speak), Simba hugs the ground and peers through the high grass, Mufasa pounces and all but looms over the viewer, the painted Pride Land vistas stretch into the distance, Rafiki stands high above an assembly of Mufasa's loyal subjects, the clouds part to reveal the spirit of a murdered king, Scar and his shadow tower over an endless parade of hyenas... if you didn't know any better, it would be easy to assume The Lion King has been in 3D all along. The transition from 2D to 3D is just that natural, just that seamless, just that beautifully done.
On the technical front, Disney's 3D transfer rarely falters. Ghosting is kept to an absolute minimum and doesn't draw attention to itself when a rock, grub or tree trunk doesn't quite come together as perfectly as it should. Even then, instances of crosstalk are brief and, ultimately, negligible. Depth is dramatic, enveloping and free of distracting hitches or anomalies. The plains extend to the horizon with far more convincing realism than I expected, Simba's walks with his father are as visually engrossing as they are evocative and emotional, the song sequences explode off the screen and retreat into the jungles, the film's iconic opening has never looked so magnificent, and the wildebeest stampede is as startling as it astonishing, stealing the entire show in one fell 3D swoop. The slightest hint of aliasing is present in select shots, as are some limited bouts of almost imperceptible banding. Thankfully, neither amounts to much of an issue as the tiny mishaps that occur don't detract from the power, polish and proficiency of the presentation. In fact, the transfer is so crisp and colorful that it's difficult to feel any disappointment whatsoever. (If that sounds like hyperbole, just wait until you experience The Lion King 3D firsthand. I'm actually doing my best to tone down the high praise currently consuming my brain.) Primaries are bold and brilliant, black levels are rich and inky, contrast is impeccable and when the sun peeks over the horizon... I'm still in awe; so much so that it pains me to deduct even half-a-point for the exceedingly minor problems that pop up, ever so briefly, from time to time.
The playful palette of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," the terrifying earthtones kicked up in a stampede, Simba's misadventures with Timon and Pumbaa beneath the lush and lovely canopy of the jungle, Simba and Nala's evening walk, his heavenly vision of his father, even the bleak, smoky depths of the Elephant Graveyard and the sickly greens and yellows that accompany Scar's rise to power; it all looks marvelous. The lovely greens, vibrant golds, savory reds, high-noon blues and midnight purples... simply marvelous. Detail and clarity are exceptional as well, be it by way of the animators' crisp, fluid lineart, the background painters' brush-stroked skies and plains, the CG artisan's perfectly rendered contributions, or the slightest imperfection in the hand-drawn animation. To top it all off, the print is nearly spotless. (Eagle-eyed videophiles will spot a few specks of dirt/specks scattered throughout, but every instance was a cinch to overlook and a part of the original source.) Kudos to Disney. The studio continues to put out the best animated transfers on the market, and its 3D presentations are proving to be every bit as noteworthy.
It isn't very often that an animated film's lossless mix gives me chills, but The Lion King's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track did just that, and did so more than I care to admit. Simba's presentation to an ecstatic kingdom, the thunder-rumble of Mufasa's voice (not to mention his hair-raising roar), the choir of insects buzzing across the plains, the energy of the film's songs, the terrifying chaos of the wildebeest stampede, the chanting voices that accompany Hans Zimmer's score, the acoustics of Scar's cave, Simba's struggles and battles... I can't imagine a single second sounding any better than it does here. Dialogue is clean, clear and weighty, roars ripple across the soundfield, rear speaker activity is aggressive, directional effects are oh-so-convincing, pans are extraordinary, and dynamics are pitch-perfect. Just close your eyes and listen as the wildebeest careen through the canyon, as the hyenas cackle in the caverns, as Simba's paws crish crush through the underbrush, as Mufasa claws his way up the cliff face toward his treacherous brother, as Zimmer's music rises and soars over the Pride Lands. I thought Disney's transfer was breathtaking, but its lossless track requires an entirely different grading scale. As catalog animation AV presentations go, The Lion King just can't wait to be king.
In addition to 3D and 2D presentations of the film itself, the 4-disc Lion King Combo Pack let's out a mighty supplemental roar, despite the fact that many of the previously released DVD edition's extras are only available by way of a BD-Live virtual vault. The disc itself serves up an audio commentary, two new high definition documentaries, deleted and alternate scenes, interactive image galleries and more. And another two hours of featurettes and bonus materials can be viewed via an online stream.
Hoist up the Blu-ray edition of The Lion King, dear readers. Hoist it up high. Once again, Disney has treated one of its animated classics like royalty and the results are nothing short of spectacular. The 4-disc 3D edition boasts a breathtaking 3D presentation, a pair of gorgeous video transfers, a powerful, earth-shaking DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track and a host of special features (including a number of new extras produced specifically for this Diamond Edition release). Add The Lion King 3D to your collection post haste.
Diamond Edition
1994
Diamond Edition | DVD Packaging
1994
Diamond Edition | Lenticular Slipcover
1994
Diamond Edition | El Rey León | Spanish Edition
1994
Diamond Edition | El Rey León | Spanish Edition | DVD Packaging
1994
Empty Case
1994
Diamond Edition | 15-Month Calendar
1994
Combo Pack & Collectible Lunch Box
1994
Diamond Edition
1994
The Circle of Life Edition | The Signature Collection
1994
The Signature Collection / 32-Page Storybook
1994
The Signature Collection
1994
The Signature Collection
1994
The Signature Collection
1994
The Signature Collection
1994
Disney100
1994
Disney100
1994
Disney100 Edition with Collectible Pin
1994
2019
2004
1998
2008
2009
2006
50th Anniversary Edition
1963
2005
1990
1999
2014
2012
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2010
The Signature Collection
1961
2011
1970
DVD Packaging
2011
The Signature Collection | Ultimate Collector's Edition
1992
Collector's Edition
2013
Diamond Edition
1967