The Lion King Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 2, 2017

Disney has re-released the classic animated film 'The Lion King' to Blu-ray as part of the studio's 'Signature Collection,' following 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,' 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Pinocchio,' and 'Bambi.' This release adds a few new supplements but takes a few away. Video and audio presentations remain unchanged from the previous release.

For a full film review, please see the original Blu-ray.com listing here.

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a full video review, please click here.

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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The Lion King Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Signature Collection Blu-ray release of The Lion King contains several new supplements, carries over many from the previous release, removes a few, and includes many on the digital version included with purchase. In addition to the DVD copy of the film, this release also includes a collectible three-frame film strip. Below is a breakdown of what's gone, what carries over, what's new, and what can be found digitally.

The following supplements were included in the original Diamond Edition release but are not included on disc:

• Disney Second Screen
• Pride of The Lion King
• The Lion King: A Memoir - Don Hahn
• Interactive Art Gallery
• Disney's Virtual Vault: Note that some of the smaller pieces that comprised the supplement on the original disc are included digitally, but not all of them.

Carryover on-disc supplements from the Diamond Edition release:

• Audio Commentary: Co-Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff and Producer Don Hahn.
• Deleted & Alternate Scenes: With Introductions by Co-Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. Scenes include Zazu Flatters Mufasa, 'King of the Wild', Scar Wants Nala As His Queen, Simba and Nala Reunited and Zazu Flatters Scar.
• The Morning Report: Extended Scene
• Bloopers & Outtakes
• Song Selection: Karaoke versions of "Circle of Life," "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "Be Prepared," "Hakuna Matata," and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."
• Sing-Along Mode

Supplements new to this release, included on the Blu-ray disc:

• Visualizing a Villain (1080p, 2:53): Part Music video, part performance art, part painting, and framed as a trailer for the Blu-ray, this piece offers an innovative look at Scar as the movie's villain to the music of "Be Prepared."
• The Recording Sessions (1080p, 4:46): Co-Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff discuss how the voice actors record dialogue prior to animation. It also offers a picture-in-picture juxtaposition of various scenes showing the actors recording dialogue against scenes from the film.
• Inside the Story Room (1080p, 23:42 total runtime): A peak inside storyboard pitches for five scenes from the movie with introductions by Co-Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. Scenes included are Circle of Life, Simba and Nala, Simba Takes Nala Out to Play, Hakuna Matata, and Rafiki and the Reflecting Pool.
• Nathan and Matthew: The Extended Lion King Conversation (1080p, 7:08): A longer piece of the conversation between Producer Tom Schumacher, Nathan Lane, and Matthew Broderick that was filmed for the documentary Pride of 'The Lion King'. Nathan and Matthew discuss their childhood memories of Disney films, getting cast in their iconic roles, the original plot of the film, the recording process, and their friendship that developed afterwards.

The following supplements are included on the digital version. All of the new supplements on the Blu-ray are included, as are many of the extras from previous Blu-ray releases. Below, the extras are grouped by section and listed by supplement.

• Beyond the Story: Visualizing a Villain (2:53).
• Behind the Scenes: Computer Animation (4:28), The Lion King: A Memoir - Don Hahn (19:32), Circle of Life (6:01), Simba & Nala (3:42), The Making of the Morning Report (3:08), The Recording Sessions (4:45), Hakuna Matata (5:45), Simba Takes Nala Out to Play (2:25), Rafiki and the Reflecting Pool (5:55).
• Bonus Scenes: Bug Football (0:51), Bloopers & Outtakes (3:44), Simba and Nala Reunited (3:43), Zazu Flatters Mufasa (0:41), Zazu Flatters Scar (1:06), "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" (1:44), "Hakuna Matata" (Timon's Verse) (2:24), Scar Wants Nala as His Queen (5:45), "King of the Wild" (2:42).
• Cast & Crew: Nathan and Matthew: The Extended Lion King Conversation (7:08), Digital Premiere: The Animators Reunion (7:56).
• Music & More: Landmark Song Writing (3:13), Musical Inspiration (3:49), "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" Music Video with Sir Elton John (4:00), Full Circle (1:46), "Hakuna Matata" Multi-Language Reel (4:10), "Circle of Life" Music Video with Sir Elton John (4:52), Scoring Emotion (2:57), Orchestral Color (4:27), The Morning Report: Extended Scene (2:30), Music: African Influence (3:48).

The Lion King Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Disney continues to put out a good, quality product with its "Signature Collection" series of re-iusses. The presentations are more streamlined than older Diamond Edition releases. And while these discs don't carry over every single bonus, they do add in a few new ones. For The Lion King, all of that holds true. The disc is obviously a must-buy for those who missed out on the film the last time Disney released it, but with the same video and audio presentations and only a few new extras, those who already own the film on the high definition format would be wise to save the money, particularly since this does not contain the 3D version.