The Lion King - Diamond Edition (2011)

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The Lion King - Diamond Edition (2011)

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A large number of animals gather around Pride Rock in Africa witnessing the arrival of Simba, the newborn son of the lion king and queen, Mufasa and Sarabi. Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, is displeased with the birth of this heir. As a young cub, Mufasa teaches Simba about being king. While touring of the Pride Lands, Simba asks about a shadowy place; Mufasa tells him it is forbidden. The lesson is stopped when Zazu, Mufasa's Hornbill adviser, informs him that hyenas have entered the Pride Lands. Mufasa tells Zazu to take Simba home while he gets rid of the hyenas. Later that day, Scar tells Simba that the shadowy place is in fact an elephant graveyard. Simba's curiosity is piqued, and he convinces his best friend Nala, a female lion cub, to come with him. Sarabi sends Zazu to keep an eye on the two cubs, but they soon leave him behind. They finally reach the elephant graveyard, where they come upon three spotted hyenas, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. The hyenas chase after the cubs, but Mufasa rescues them. Mufasa sends Nala and Zazu back to Pride Rock, and admonishes Simba before teaching him about the stars. Simba learns that these stars represent the past kings who will always be there to guide him.

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The Lion King - Diamond Edition (2011)

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Meanwhile, Scar plots with the hyenas to take over the Pride Lands. On Scar's orders, the hyenas stampede a large pack of wildebeest into a gorge and Simba runs away. Mufasa learns of Simba's predicament, rescuing the cub. However, as Mufasa attempts to flee by climbing the gorge's walls, Scar throws him back down the gorge to his death. Scar tricks Simba into thinking that Mufasa's death resulted from the cub's carelessness. Ashamed, Simba flees the Pride Lands, intending to never return. In Simba's absence, Scar steps forward as Mufasa's rightful heir and becomes the new king.

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Simba collapses in the wasteland after his escape, but is found by Timon, a meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warthog. The duo nurse him back to health and take him in, teaching him their motto, "hakuna matata" (interpreted as "no worries"). Years later, as an adult, Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry lioness, discovering that the lioness is Nala. Simba learns from Nala that Scar's irresponsibility as King of the Pride Lands is leading to the suffering of its inhabitants. Still feeling guilt over his father's death, Simba refuses to return. The wise mandrill Rafiki tracks Simba down and summons Mufasa's ghost for Simba. The ghost informs Simba that he must return to the Pride Lands and become king; Simba refuses, but the ghost tells him to remember that he is his son and the true king.

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The Lion King Blu-ray, Video Quality
Hakuna matata indeed. Fans needn't bother with worrying about Disney's devotion to The Lion King; the studio's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer is nothing short of spectacular. Colors are bold and brilliant, black levels are deep and inky, contrast is impeccable and when the sun peeks over the horizon… well, you had better hold on to your breath. Even then, prepare to have it taken away. Again and again and again. The playful palette of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," the terrifying earthtones kicked up in a stampede, Simba's misadventures with Timon and Pumbaa beneath the lush and lovely canopy of the jungle, Simba and Nala's evening walk, his heavenly vision of his father, even the bleak, smoky depths of the Elephant Graveyard and the sickly greens and yellows that accompany Scar's rise to power; it all looks magnificent. Detail and clarity are exceptional as well, be it by way of the animators' crisp, fluid lineart, the background painters' brush-stroked skies and plains, the CG artisan's perfectly rendered contributions, or the slightest imperfection in the hand-drawn animation. Best of all, Disney's encode is immaculate. Artifacting and aliasing are nowhere to be found, banding is kept to the barest of minimums, and the print is nearly spotless. (Eagle-eyed videophiles will spot a few specks of dirt/specks scattered throughout, but every instance I noticed was negligible and appeared to be present in the original source.) Kudos to Disney. The studio continues to put out the best animated presentations on the market, even when it comes to seventeen-year-old catalog animation.

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The Lion King Blu-ray, Audio Quality
It isn't very often that an animated film's lossless mix gives me chills, but The Lion King's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track did just that, and did so more than I care to admit. Simba's presentation to an ecstatic kingdom, the thunder-rumble of Mufasa's voice (not to mention his hair-raising roar), the choir of insects buzzing across the plains, the energy of the film's songs, the terrifying chaos of the wildebeest stampede, the chanting voices that accompany Hans Zimmer's score, the acoustics of Scar's cave, Simba's struggles and battles… I can't imagine a single second sounding any better than it does here. Dialogue is clean, clear and weighty, roars ripple across the soundfield, rear speaker activity is aggressive, directional effects are oh-so-convincing, pans are extraordinary, and dynamics are pitch-perfect. Just close your eyes and listen as the wildebeest careen through the canyon, as the hyenas cackle in the caverns, as Simba's paws crish crush through the underbrush, as Mufasa claws his way up the cliff face toward his treacherous brother, as Zimmer's music rises and soars over the Pride Lands. I thought Disney's transfer was breathtaking, but its lossless track requires an entirely different grading scale. As catalog animation AV presentations go, The Lion King just can't wait to be king.

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The Lion King Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras
The Blu-ray edition of The Lion King let's out a mighty supplemental roar, even if many of the previously released DVD edition's extras are only available by way of a BD-Live virtual vault. The disc itself serves up an audio commentary, two new high definition documentaries, deleted and alternate scenes, interactive image galleries and more. And another two hours of featurettes and bonus materials can be viewed via an online stream.

Disney Second Screen (HD): Sync The Lion King and your computer or iPad with this downloadable app to enjoy content including interactive games, storyboards and concept art from the film, animation tests and more.
Audio Commentary: Producer Don Hahn and co-directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff deliver a lively audio commentary sure to delight fans of the film. Don't look for it in the "Bonus Features" menu, though. It only appears as an option after selecting "Play Movie."
Pride of The Lion King (HD, 38 minutes): This excellent recently produced Lion King retrospective features executive producer Thomas Schumacher, former chairman of Walt Disney Studios Jeffrey Katzenberg, former president of Walt Disney Feature Animation Peter Schneider, co-directors Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers, producer Don Hahn, composer Hans Zimmer and other notable members of the cast and crew discussing the film, its production and its legacy.
The Lion King: A Memoir - Don Hahn (HD, 20 minutes): Don Hahn, circa 2011, takes a look back at Don Hahn, circa 1994, and charts the development, creation and release of The Lion King.
Disney's Virtual Vault (SD, 109 minutes): While a variety of extras from the previously releases of The Lion King aren't housed physically on the disc, they are available via Disney's online "Virtual Vault." Treat yourself to "The Making of The Morning Report" (3 minutes); additional deleted scenes including "Bug Football," "Hakuna Matata" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (5 minutes); six "Musical Journey" featurettes (20 minutes); a "Circle of Life" music video with Elton John (5 minutes); five "Stage Journey" featurettes (17 minutes); seven "Film Journey" featurettes (32 minutes); three "Story Journey" featurettes (12 minutes); a "Storyboard to Film Comparison" (4 minutes); two "Early Concepts," "Timon & Pumbaa Find Simba" and "Simba's Presentation" (7 minutes); and an abandoned scene, "Warthog Rhapsody" (4 minutes). It isn't as ideal as a second disc full of archive special features, but completists will appreciate its inclusion nonetheless.
Deleted & Alternate Scenes (HD, 15 minutes): Allers and Minkoff introduce five deleted and alternate scenes: "Zazu Flatters Mufasa," "King of the Wild," "Scar Wants Nala As His Queen," "Simba and Nala Reunited" and "Zazu Flatters Scar."
The Morning Report (HD, 3 minutes): This extended scene, created for the previously released Platinum Edition DVD, brings a song written for the musical stage to animated life.
Bloopers & Outtakes (HD, 4 minutes): Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, Mufasa, Scar and the rest of the Pride Lands gang flub lines, pull hamstrings and miss their marks in this animated gag reel.
Interactive Art Gallery (HD): Hundreds of images are spread across four galleries: "Character Design," "Visual Development," "Storyboards" and "Layouts and Backgrounds."
Sing-Along Mode (HD): Sing along with the film's songs, karaoke style.
Sneak Peeks (HD, 12:15): Trailers for Lady and the Tramp, The Muppets, Cars 2, African Cats, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games, The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, The Lion King 1½, Prep and Landing: Naughty vs. Nice, Broadway's The Lion King, Treasure Buddies and Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings top off the package.

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The Lion King Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation
Hoist up the Blu-ray edition of The Lion King, dear readers. Hoist it up high. Once again, Disney has treated one of its animated classics like royalty and the results are nothing short of spectacular. The Blu-ray edition boasts a gorgeous video transfer, a powerful, earth-shaking DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track and a host of special features (including a number of new extras produced specifically for this Diamond Edition release). Add The Lion King to your collection post haste.

..:: Italian Language ::..

Nella savana africana gli animali onorano la nascita del cucciolo di leone Simba, figlio di Re Mufasa e della compagna Sarabi. Solo Scar, fratello di Mufasa, non è soddisfatto del lieto evento, perché la nascita di Simba gli impedirà di salire al trono.

Simba e Nala, una leoncina sua coetanea e sua promessa sposa per l'età adulta, giocano e si divertono ignorando i rischi dell'ambiente circostante. Nonostante gli ammonimenti del bucero beccogiallo Zazu, i due si cacciano in grossi guai andando di nascosto alla ricerca del "Cimitero degli Elefanti", su consiglio del perfido Scar. L'agguato delle iene (Shenzi, Banzai e Ed) inviate da Scar fallisce grazie all'intervento di Mufasa che poi si arrabbia molto con il figlio.

Il malvagio zio escogita quindi un altro piano per eliminare l'erede al trono: con la scusa di insegnargli a ruggire, lascia il cucciolo in un dirupo dove sta per passare una mandria di gnu. Interviene nuovamente Mufasa che, nonostante venga travolto dagli animali, riesce a restare appeso al margine del burrone. Scar, invece di aiutare il fratello, lo lascia cadere nel vuoto; il re viene travolto dagli gnu e muore. Simba, al quale Scar lascia credere di essere il responsabile della morte del padre, fugge lontano in preda alla disperazione. Tolto di mezzo padre e figlio, Scar si insedia come nuovo dominatore delle Terre del Branco, aiutato dalle iene.

Simba, sforzatosi troppo durante la fuga, si addormenta ed al suo risveglio conosce il suricato Timon ed il facocero Pumbaa. Il cucciolo cresce assieme a questi due compagni che lo educano a godersi la vita senza preoccupazioni, attraverso il loro motto Hakuna matata. Simba diventa adulto, ignaro della sorte della sua famiglia, fino a quando un giorno ritrova Nala per caso, mentre questa stava cacciando Pumbaa. La leonessa, come le altre sue coetanee del branco, è stata costretta ad allargare il proprio territorio di caccia poiché il dissennato governo di Scar ha causato una terribile carestia, e il branco è condannato a morire di fame. Simba si pone il problema di quale sia il suo compito e destino, e Nala risponde che lui stesso era predestinato a diventare l'unico e vero re della Rupe dei Re. Le ultime resistenze morali sono dissolte dall'intervento del saggio Rafiki e dall'apparizione dello spirito del padre. Raggiunta la sua terra natale non può nascondersi e affronta il branco. Nala, Timon e Pumbaa si uniranno a lui.

Mentre Timon e Pumbaa tengono occupate alcune iene, Simba vede Scar che richiama Sarabi, la madre di Simba, che accusa Scar di aver causato guai peggiori, compresa la fame e la carestia. Ma quando Scar schiaffeggia Sarabi, Simba si fa avanti, ma a causa di una domanda di Scar, Simba, ormai inerme di fronte all'evidenza della verità, confessa di essere lui quello che ha causato la morte di Mufasa. Scar gli rinfaccia pubblicamente di essere la causa della morte di Mufasa, e lo fa indietreggiare fino a far quasi cadere Simba dalla rupe, a cui egli si appiglia. Sopraffatto ancora una volta dall'inganno del malvagio zio, Simba giunge vicino alla morte, ma a questo punto lo zio commette l'imprudenza di rivelargli che è lui stesso il vero artefice della morte del padre, e così, scoperto l'inganno, Simba reagisce come una furia, e costringe Scar a rivelare tutta la verità sulla morte di Mufasa con la forza. Alla confessione di Scar, le iene attaccano Simba, ma vengono a loro volta assalite dagli attacchi di Nala, di Sarabi, delle altre leonesse e del duo Timon e Pumbaa, a cui si aggiunge anche lo stregone-mandrillo Rafiki.

From BluRay.com

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