BLU-RAY REVIEWS: The Lion King and Born in China

Courtesy of Disney

The Lion King
(Rated G.)

The other night, I popped Disney’s latest re-release of The Lion King (which the studio has dubbed The Walt Disney Signature Collection) into my Blu-ray player, planning to watch just a few minutes of it to evaluate the sound and picture quality. An hour and a half later, I realized such a task is impossible. There’s a reason critics and fans consistently rank it near the top of the studio’s pantheon of animated classics.

The story is so gripping, the music so perfectly suited and the animation (created right at the cusp of the medium’s transition from hand-drawn art to CGI) so beautiful that you immediately get swept up in the film. Of course, that’s because of the iconic opening sequence, arguably one of the greatest in cinema history; I get goosebumps every time I see it. (If you think I’m exaggerating, watch it again. It’s even more astonishing than you remember.)

Witnessing those elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, birds and other animals traveling to pay their respects to the newborn Simba, all while “The Circle of Life” blares on the soundtrack, is practically a religious experience. That’s especially true when the music punctuates Rafiki lifting the tiny cub high above Pride Rock so the kingdom can see him. I’ve seen the movie dozens of times since I was a kid – as well as most of the ways it has been parodied in pop culture – but it still makes me want to stand up and cheer.

Those who have jokingly referred to the movie as Hamlet with big cats aren’t too far off the mark. There’s promising young prince Simba (voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a cub, Matthew Broderick as an adult), slain king Mufasa (James Earl Jones, in perhaps his second-most iconic role after Darth Vader), and scheming uncle/new king Scar (Jeremy Irons). Plus, you’ve got meerkat Timon (Nathan Lane) and warthog Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella) providing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern-style comic relief.

The Lion King is also split nearly perfectly into thirds – Simba’s childhood, his exile and his triumphant return – so there’s not really time for viewers to grow bored or complacent. It’s also yet another in a long line of Disney films that kills a beloved parental figure to establish emotional stakes and allow the main character to assume the mantle of leadership. (In case you’re wondering: yes, that tragic wildebeest stampede still packs a devastating wallop.)

The film has always boasted amazing visuals, but this gorgeous Blu-ray release really emphasizes the dazzling colors and meticulous details of the animation. The booming score also sounds fantastic when you crank up the volume. There’s not much in the way of bonus materials (it’s basically a rehash of previous releases), but the film itself is the greatest feature of all. If it has been a while since you’ve watched The Lion King, or if your kids/grandkids haven’t had the joy of experiencing it, do yourself a favor and pick up this version.

Special features: “The Recording Sessions,” a behind-the-scenes look at capturing voiceover for the film; “Inside the Story Room,” archival footage showing the creative of five classic scenes; “Visualizing a Villain,” in which performance artist David Garibaldi creates his own interpretation of Scar; a new sing-along version of the film.

Grade: A+


Born in China

Courtesy of Disney

(Rated G.)

The latest in DisneyNature’s series of documentaries the studio releases every Earth Day, Born in China is a marvel of cinematography that features stunning glimpses at animals rarely seen on camera. Narrated by John Krasinski (NBC’s The Office), the film takes viewers into parts of China that few people have ever visited.

It focuses on three animal families, all compelling in their own ways. First is a panda mother who struggles with the desire to protect her cub while also knowing she must allow her to grow up. Next is a young golden snub-nosed monkey who is shunned by his parents after the birth of his baby sister. Finally, there’s a mother snow leopard who must provide food for her two cubs in a landscape where prey grows scarcer by the day.

While all three subplots have their drama and charm, the most affecting – by far – is that of the snow leopards. Each new development in their story (which kicks off with a larger, stronger family of leopards forcing them out of their territory) adds depth to the narrative, even though the picture it eventually paints is a heartbreaking one.

I was not emotionally prepared for how quickly I became attached to these beautiful, determined animals. As a result, the conclusion to their story hit me like a punch to the stomach - especially considering the movie’s G rating. (I’m trying to avoid getting too spoilery, but I also want parents of young children to be prepared for a tough conversation after the movie.)

The panda and monkey subplots are substantially more lighthearted, although they still have moments that will have you wiping your eyes a time or two. Born in China isn’t a film I see myself revisiting often (days later, I still can’t shake it), but I highly recommend it for the astonishing images and the educational value. That’s especially true if you’re an animal lover.

Special features: behind-the-scenes featurettes focusing on the filmmakers’ process to capture rare footage of pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, snow leopards, and a newborn red-crowned crane; “Everything Everything” music video by American Authors.

Grade: B+