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Lion cub and future king Simba searches for his identity. His eagerness to please others and penchant for testing his boundaries sometimes gets him into trouble.
Everyone knows the lyrics of “The Circle of Life” from the classic Disney animated film, “The Lion King,” and now you can sing along with your children as you watch Simba on his journey to be king. Originally released in 1994, this film won its way into the hearts of American homes. Babysitting back in the ’90s was much easier with a copy on VHS. Now you can upgrade to Blu-ray and watch all the added features including recording sessions, inside the story room, visualizing a villain, sing-alongs (I will be enjoying this one the most, off key), and more.
Simba (Matthew Broderick) is the new cub in town, born a prince to his followers in the paw steps of his father Mufasa (with the bold voice of James Earl Jones). When Simba’s evil uncle plots to remove Mufasa from the throne of the Pride Lands, he convinces the young cub he was responsible for his father’s death. Simba leaves the only home he has never known to find his identity in exile. He makes a couple of friends along the way, Timon and Pumbaa, who bring a lot of humor and some fantastic songs to the script (Hakuna Matata ain’t no passing craze) as they watch Simba grow from a guilty cub into a handsome lion, ready to take his kingdom back from his evil uncle.
Old childhood chum Nala shows up to give Simba some much-needed perspective and a push in the right direction along with shaman Rafiki, the shaman full of wisdom and a touch of magic. The baboon gives Simba the much-needed confidence he needs to fight his inner demons and tyrant Scar (This Jafar but with a tale). With his friends in tow, Simba returns to the Pride Lands to deal with the hyenas, playing as bodyguards to Scar, and to overthrow his uncle, now that he is ready to take his rightful place on the palace rock with a new queen.
If you have not seen this quintessential movie, now is the time to see it digitally remastered. Pop some popcorn and be ready to sing along with the phenomenal soundtrack. I probably still know all the words of “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.” Now all three of those songs and (Hakuna Matata) are all stuck in my head again. Don’t forget all the funny moments the warmed our hearts with the side characters Pumbaa and Timon, as well as Scar’s feathered sidekick Zazu, which will teach your kiddos some valuable lessons along the way.
The 1990s were a wonderful time for Disney with “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” “Mulan,” “Hercules,” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” along with the beginning of Pixar films’ “Toy Story.” The singing love story about a lion prince is the pinnacle of what made Disney such a success for Disney during the decade. The remaining question is, will Disney make a new “Lion King” like they did with “Beauty and the Beast” and “Cinderella?” With the power of technology, now would be a great time for Simba and Nala to return to the big screen in an entirely new fashion. The Narnia movies showed the ability for a powerful lion on the set and the beauty of these majestic creatures. Hakuna Matata!
“The Lion King: Walt Disney Signature Collection” will be available on Blu-ray & DVD Tuesday, August 29th
