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Film Title: The Lion King

 Best for ages: 3 and up.

Movie Website: Click Here

Year Released: 1994 (2011-Blu-ray)

Rated: G (US)

The Review

   In the summer of 1994 The Lion King made its debut in theaters.  It was such a big hit for Disney that they even re-released in theaters again later that year. My first experience with the film was on home video. I used to baby sit my then four year old godchild almost every day after high school.  I must have seen the film over one hundred times that year. Now, nearly sixteen years later, I get to experience The Lion King for the first time on Blu-ray with my four year old daughter.

   The Lion King is about a young lion cub named Simba. He is fooled by his uncle Scar into believing that he was the cause of his father, The King of the Pride lands, death. Simba then goes into hiding with Timon and Pumba, a meerkat-warthog duo who adopt and raise the cub. When Simba has grown into an adult he is discovered by  his childhood friend Nala, a female lioness the same age as Simba. The two begin to develop a relationship and Nala makes Simba aware of how bad the Pride lands have become under his uncle's rule. After witnessing Scar strike his mother, Simba makes his presence known again in the Pride lands, and along with his friends they will take back the kingdom of the Pride Lands from Scar and restore it to the glory of the days when Simba’s father ruled.

   If you have never seen The Lion King before then you are really missing out on one of the best Disney films ever made. It is still, to this date considered one of the best animated films of all time by many critics and is still the best selling home video of all time. It is also one of only three Disney movies to win a Golden Globe Award for best picture.

   The film is really unique in both its characters and its plot. The storyline is great and the animation is out of this world. The films score and soundtrack are what really give the film its push of excellence. You have songs written and performed by the likes of Elton John and Tim Rice, and composed by Hans Zimmer. Many well know actors also leased their voices talents to the characters in this film. Talent such as James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick,   Nathan Lane, Jeremy Irons, Robert Guillaume, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Cheech Marin and Whoopi Goldberg all lent their voices to make this film the masterpiece it is today.

   The Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack comes with many special features. The DVD has new enhanced picture and sound and includes a Memoir by Producer Don Hahn which is also on the Blu-ray disc.  The Blu-ray disc also includes features such as Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes, Never-Before-Seen Bloopers, Deleted Songs, and The Morning Report: Extended Scene. There is also a feature titled Pride of the Lion King. The Blu-ray disc also includes some interactive features such as Disney Sing Along Mode, an Interactive Blu-ray Gallery and all the features included on the classic Lion King DVD powered by BDisney Live. There is also the Disney second Screen feature which allows you to view the disc on your Laptop or iPad.

    It has been a long time since I have seen The Lion King. When it was first announced that it was going to be made available on Blu-ray at the beginning of this year; I was really excited about it. I showed my daughter all the press material for the film as I received it and it really peeked her interest. Unfortunately, the VHS copy I had of the film was no longer working and I never had a copy of the DVD. However, now that it is here on Blu-ray and part of our Disney collection, I feel it almost completes it on my behalf of all the Disney films I grew up watching.  I feel like I went back in time to the days of watching it with my godchild with my daughter sitting next to me. The Lion King is the perfect family film. It does have some mild violence and the death scene with Simba father is very sad, but overall it is by far one of the best animated films I have ever seen and it will always hold a special place in my heart. This is one of those Disney films that is a MUST have for not only children and parents, but for everyone. It is truly a magical film. 

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