Lion King - Blu-ray Review

4.8 Stars (out of 5)

Synopsis

An unforgettable story, breathtaking animation, beloved characters and award-winning music sets thestage for “The Lion King”, a Disney classic that follows the adventures of Simba, the feisty lion cub who “just can't wait to be king.” But his envious Uncle Scar has plans for his own ascent to the throne, and he forces Simba's exile from the kingdom. Alone and adrift, Simba soon joins the escapades of a hilarious meerkat named Timon and his warmhearted warthog pal, Pumbaa. Adopting their carefree lifestyle of “Hakuna Matata,” Simba ignores his real responsibilities until he realizes his destiny and returns to the Pride Lands to claim his place in the “Circle of Life.” Buy Now $21.00

Starring:

Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Robert Guillaume, Rowan Atkinson, Niketa Calame, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, Madge Sinclair, Jim Cummings

Director:

Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Blu-ray Release Date:

October 4, 2011

Subtitles:

English, English SDH, French, Spanish

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:
Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 4.8 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison
●    Subwoofer - 4.5 Stars
●    Dialog - 5.0 Stars
●    Surround Effects - 5.0 Stars
●    Dynamic Range - 4.5 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1

James Earl Jones has one of the best voices in the world. His deep resonating voice sounds impressive in the DTS-HD mix. Lots of other events also bring the subwoofer to life, like waterfalls, heavy elephant footsteps, lion roars, and most of all the wildebeest stampede. When all those heavy sounding hooves trample down the canyon, it could easily be mistaken for an earthquake. Everything the animals say and sing can be heard without any hindrances. Rear channels are also used often to fill the room with sounds of birds, rumbling thunder, and roaring fire.

Video  5.0 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison
●   Color Accuracy  - 5.0 Stars
●   Shadow detail - 5.0 Stars
●   Clarity - 5.0 Stars
●   Skin tones - 5.0 Stars
●   Compression - 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1, Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

The Lion King is filled with beautiful lush colors, that turn the Disney drawings into works of art. The golden pride lands look rich, the dense green forest looks lush, and of course the red and orange sunsets looks spectacular. Every brush stroke and pencil line can easily been seen do to the clarity of this Blu-ray. The conversion of this 17 year old film is handle with delicate hands and it worthy of Disney's Diamond Edition label.

Bonus Features 4.5 Stars (out of 5)

• Disney Second Screen (HD): Sync The Lion King and your computer or iPad to enjoy extra content.
• Audio Commentary: With producer Don Hahn and co-directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff .
• Pride of The Lion King (HD, 38 minutes): A entertaining and informative retrospective of The Lion King.
• The Lion King: A Memoir - Don Hahn (HD, 20 minutes)
• Disney's Virtual Vault (SD, 109 minutes): Accesses Disney's online "Virtual Vault." to deliver even more specail features.
• Deleted & Alternate Scenes (HD, 15 minutes): Allers and Minkoff introduce five deleted and alternate scenes.
• The Morning Report (HD, 3 minutes): An extended scene
• Bloopers & Outtakes (HD, 4 minutes)
• Interactive Art Gallery (HD)
• Sing-Along Mode (HD)
• Sneak Peeks (HD, 12:15): About 13 trailers of other Disney films.

Movie - 4.5 Stars (out of 5)

Review

When my daughter was 2 years old, she watched The Lion King on VHS every day for about a year, and I grew extremely tired of it. Needless to say, I did not look forward to reviewing this movie. However, as soon as the sun started raising and that famous African soundtrack kicks in, I knew I would enjoy myself. Before I knew it, everyone started to join me on the couch, and we all were enchanted by the magic of Disney.

The Lion King is a remarkable movie. The story is an old one, with familiar themes hidden in animal characters. Its was influenced by the Bible and has touches of Hamlet. It has loads of comedic moments, and yet is able to handle the heavy theme of losing a parent. It's written well enough for children to fully understand, and yet it's entertaining and meaningful enough for adults to enjoy.