Jeri Jacquin
This week on Bluray/DVD and Digital and directors Roger
Allers and Rob Minkoff is the Signature Walt Disney Collection and the Circle
of Life Edition of THE LION KING.
On Pride Rock a new prince is born to Mufasa (James Earl
Jones) and Sarabi (Madge Sinclair). Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) begins to
learn the ways of the pride under the watchful eye of Zazu (Rowan Atkinson).
Joined by Nala (Niketa Calame), the two young cubs explore their world.
Also watching the young prince is Scar (Jeremy Irons),
Simba’s angry and plotting uncle who wants what Mufasa has. In one afternoon
Scar, along with the help from hyenas Banzai (Cheech Marin) and Shenzi (Whoopie
Goldberg), rid the pride lands of their king and prince.
Simba makes his way across the plains meeting Timon (Nathan Lane ) and
Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) but always remembering home. Simba (Matthew Broderick)
has now grown to a full size lion enjoying his days until one day he meets Nala
(Moira Kelly) again. She is very upset thinking that he was dead but now needs
him to return to help the pride from his nasty uncle.
After a talk with Rafiki (Robert Guillaume), Simba knows he
must return and set things right for the memory of his father and the survival
of the pride!
Thomas as the young Simba has the voice filled with mischief
and fun. That’s what catches the kid in us all. His musical relationship with
Timon and Pumbaa gave us all a new phrase into the lexicon with ‘Hakuna Matata!’
Broderick as the older Simba brings the intensity to the young lion and a past
that he must face head on.
Irons as Scar is creepy, scary and awesome all rolled into
one. I just love his vocal portrayal that drips with distain and sugar
sprinkled on it. Jones as Mufasa could be the only one to speak for Mufasa.
Lane as Timon is hilarious along with Sabella as the
endearing Pumbaa. Together they are perfection in the film. Goldberg and Marin
as the very sarcastic and self-entertaining hyenas. They made me laugh because
of their laugh!
Guillaume as Rafiki is that crazy shaman who seems slightly
off until you realize that it’s just his way to capture your attention and the
truth about life. Atkinson as Zazu is equally endearing and quite different
than most physical roles he has played.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment began distributing
under its own label in 1980 and continues to bring quality programming to kids
and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW
WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families
coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own
family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com
for their At Home titles!
THE LION KING on Bluray has amazing Bonus Extras that
include The Recording Session – Enter
the recording booth and watch never-before-seen voice recording sessions, Inside The Story Room – Rare archival
footage shows the origins of five iconic scenes, Visualizing a Villain – Performance Artist David Garibaldi
creates his own unique interpretation of the iconic villain Scar, The Lion King: Song
Selection – All new sing-along version of the movie with ‘Circle of Life’, “I
Just Can’t Wait To Be King’, ‘Be Prepared’, ‘Hakuna Matata’ and ‘Can You Feel
The Love Tonight’.
What can be said about THE LION KING that hasn’t been said a
hundred times over? This is a fantastic film filled with so many themes of
love, family, togetherness, adversity, trials and redemption. This is one of
Disney’s most memorable films and it will continue to be for more generations.
It is hard to believe that THE LION KING graced theatres in
1994 and now, in 2017, twenty-three years later the film still holds firm with
audiences. The best part is that on Bluray it is absolutely stunning. The
picture is unbelievable and the color is so impressive! Watching the film with
my granddaughter I think we were both jaw dropped and enraptured at the same
time and I’d have it no other way.
The Circle of Life Edition of THE LION KING has something
even more exciting inside with a Limited Edition 35-mm film strip frame that
has been sourced from the film’s original digital files. Absolutely amazing!
In the end – the King has returned!
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