The Lion King [VHS] [1994] | ![The Lion King [VHS] [1994]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/214ERWJZWRL._SL160_.jpg) | Directors: Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers
Actors: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
Category: Video
List Price: £16.99
Buy Collectible: £0.99
as of 12/3/2010 07:08 UTC details
You Save: £16.00 (94%)
New (8) Used (50) Collectible (6) from £0.99
Seller: skippyrach
Rating:  80 reviews
Sales Rank: 6
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, PAL
Languages: English (Original Language), Swahili (Original Language), Xhosa (Original Language), Zulu (Original Language)
Rating: Universal, suitable for all
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 84 Minutes
EAN: 5024165469156
ASIN: B00004RR65
Theatrical Release Date: June 24, 1994
Release Date: September 20, 1995
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Disney's 1994 animated feature, The Lion King, was a huge smash in cinemas and continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed stage production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is deposed by a jealous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the "circle of life" with some new friends and eventually comes back to reclaim his proper place. Characters are very strong, vocal performances by the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg are terrific, the jokes are aimed as much (if not more) at adults than kids, the animation is sometimes breathtaking and the songs from Tim Rice and Elton John, accompanied by a colourful score, are more palatable than in many recent Disney features. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 80
 Excellent gift for young family March 1, 2010
Chuck Wilberry (Scotland)
This was bought as a gift for daughter's family - especially to keep a 2.5 year old toddler amused after the arrival of a baby sister. All reports from users have been very favourable from the quality of the DVD's to the film being amongst the better offerings of this type from Disney. Have not had time to view the whole disc set myself yet so can't really add to this comment other than both my grand-daughter and the rest of the family are only prepared to watch and re-watch good quality material and there have been no complaints about this package at all. Have not done a lot of research but it seems that the Amazon price is very competitive.
 DVD Lion KIng January 17, 2010
Leo (Portsmouth , UK)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm not sure that this is genuine - the booklets inside dvd are not printed correctly . However DVD works and it pleased my son for Xmas
Lacking some originality, and generally mixed November 27, 2009
Tom Cat (Earth)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Reviewing the modern (Post 1989) Disney films has always been extremely difficult. For a start, what do we compare these films to? Highlight the golden age of the 40's and 50's for Disney, and people will always say;
"Yeah, but thats not fair - you can't compare them!"
Fair point - the Disney studio has moved on considerably over the past 50 years. However, the ethos and goals of the animations have remained the same, despite the quality of the output, so I see no reason to compare the efforts of the past with those of now. Whether we prefer the substance or style is another matter, but the perfect Disney film has managed to acquire both (Pinocchio, Beauty and The Beast etc).
On this notion of which I'm basing my review, I believe The Lion King to be a bit of a mixed bag. Yet, as odd as it may sound, I totally approve of its success with children.
Personally, I would start by saying the film lacks the patience and sincerity of classics before it. A lot of the relief in the plot is taken over by a variety of slap-stick jokes and gags that are more suited to the Cartoon Network than a $48 million film. Of course every DIsney film has jokes - but films like The Lion King had signalled to shift to wackier, faster, more zany affairs. Timon and Pumbaa - a meerkat and a warthog - provide most of the comic output and despite the wackiness that, often, gets a bit over-whelming, they are certainly memorable characters both visually and for their great voice acting.
The identities of the lions also poses a problem. Whereas Simba (in his adult years) and father Mufassa have unique visual traits, Simba's mother and the other female lions of the pride are completely identical in their form and colour, rendering the script at times as the only way of setting them apart. Although its credit Disney used lifelike animal forms, their is no distinction between the female characters because they have been shifted into the background.
Given Simba is the main character, I was surprised that the studio gave him such an Americanised dialogue and manner of speaking. The whole "Aww mannn" and "Ohh jeeeez" (which is, basically, 'Jesus' - hardly Disney-talk for small animal) references are cringing and just another reminder that Disney films must now have some kind of U.S slur to make it appealing to a wider audience. As if the world isn't influenced by these guys enough...
Scar is possibly the best character of the film as he represents the common coward; a character full of his own self esteem and lacking the physical force to match. His role is important and the voice acting is reminiscent of Sheer-Kahn from The Jungle Book (possibly used as a model?). Whats more, he is the most believable character of the film. Many of the others, from Timon and Pumbaa to the Hyenas just don't seem to make their animal role believable through the voice acting (Whoopi Goldberg? Hmm) or in rare cases, the animation itself. I personally believe that from 'Beauty and the Beast' onwards, the DIsney characters seem to have acquired a more universal look and style of movement that cramps the individuality of the characters originality.
But being a mixed bag, their are many a positive to come out of the film. The most obvious one as highlighted so often is the wonderful soundtrack - a real ride of emotions that perfectly captures the African plains and the perceived joy of being at the centre of nature and the circle of life (the latter being the name of the greatest song). Much of the music captures both classic elements of their repetition of rhyming whilst improvising through newer stylistic components that were rarely, if at all, heard in previous Disney films. Even The Jungle Book never sounded as naturalistic as this!
The artwork is also impressive and consists computer aided design for painting the characters, while the backgrounds have been painted in person. The important thing is the backgrounds benefit this as they appear considerably lush and give the impression of a vast landscape. Their are some really beautiful effects, particular in the song-cut scenes that continue the tradition of innovation not just through technological achievement, but creativity. With such being the case, The Lion King is not just vibrant and colourful, but done so in a way that only Disney could achieve.
You'll note I said that I can understand why its been such a success. Aside from The Jungle Book, their have been few Disney films that capture the idea of pecking order and naturalism, so it comes as welcome break that a film like The Lion is a fresh addition to the standard fairy tale line-up. But taking a more academic or at least logical approach, I just don't think The Lion King holds the magic or dazzling approach that earlier Disney films have had. It is just too similar in its nature to most modern Disney films and doesn't stand out as having a memorable plot or set of events. Indeed, their are a variety of good key-frames (the image of Simba being held to the sky on top of the cliff etc), but its not enough to warrant this worthy of a "Diamond Edition", which is arriving before 2013 according to Disney.
But given its wonderful soundtrack and certainly, visually at least, memorable characters, this definitely appeals to a young audience. Some of the scenes are a little heavy/intense side for a strictly very young audience, but this only adds to my confusion with it containing such slapstick and then rough moments. Feel free to disagree though - I can only base these thoughts on my interpretation of Disney films past and current.
Disapointment October 28, 2009
Lottie Symmans (London)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Quite disapointed in purchasing your lion king dvd, its okay quality as there are a few scrathes which seemed to ruin the experience in watching the film. Abit disapointed.
GRANDCHILDRENS CHOICE September 29, 2009
Maeve Binchy (SOMERSET UK)
We were unable to buy this new anywhere but the quality is excellent as usual and it was delivered promtly as is normal for amazon. Very good service.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 80
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