Techtite DVD Reviews

The Film: Disney thrilled fans worldwide when they started releasing their films on DVD. They truly astounded them, however, when releasing Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in a so-called "Platinum Edition" two-disc DVD last year. The extras on that two-disc set --not to mention the digital remastered film itself-- was exceptional, and more than worthy of Techtite.com's "Golden Otto" for best DVD of the year. This year, they offer the next Platinum Edition in the series, Disney's Beauty & the Beast. Is it as good as the first? You bet.

Everyone knows the basic story here: Beauty meets Beast, learns to love him regardless of his outside appearance, and breaks the spell, turning him back into a handsome prince. However, much like their other, older animated classics, Disney truly outdid themselves, with enhancements that make this story decidedly "Disney." For one thing, Beast was not the only cursed member of his castle; his palace staff is cursed into the furniture and kitchenware! Mrs. Potts is now a teapot, along with her "teacup" son, Chip. Lumiere the butler is a candelabra, while castle coordinator Cogsworth is a small clock. As you can see, this is a very magical fairy tale, all animated with a top-quality, classical animation style that, sadly, not even Disney seems to be doing anymore.

Some people (definitely not me!) have complained about Disney's need to put musical numbers in a film. However, I doubt even they would complain about the music here, leading to a musical so perfect, it was made into a live-action stage play which is still going on strong as of the release of this DVD. Even the stuffiest of music critics will find it hard not to like the broad scope of songs here, from the romantic title song "Beauty & the Beast" (as perfectly sung by Angela Lansbury), the introduction of "Belle" (as sung by passing-by patrons of her village), and my personal favorite, the song about the conceited, nefarious "Gaston," as sung by his pals at the local pub. Whenever I think of the lyrics of that song --how he uses antlers in all his wall decorating, and his chest full of hair, and eating eggs until he's as strong as a barge-- I have to laugh.

What makes this film worthy of the #2 spot in the Platinum Edition line-up, though --right after Snow White-- is how it revitalized the Disney animation genre...even if only for a short while. This film is proof that, when properly motivated, modern Disney animators still have what it takes to make classic, timeless fairy tales. This animated Disney film was the first to win an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Let's put it this way; ever since this film's release, Disney places Belle on all Disney Princess related items, right next to Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. Sure, in terms of semantics, she isn't a real princess, though so what? If you ask me, she more than deserves the honor...as does this film, when considered a Disney Classic. I consider it one of my all-time favorites. Having it on DVD only makes loving it even better.

The DVD: Not to try and sell you the most expensive "gift set" option, though I do have to give Disney credit. This is no oversized "gift set" that you have to find room for elsewhere; it is perfectly sized to fit right on your DVD shelf, "gifts" and all, in a very sturdy cardboard slipcover for both DVD-and-gifts. Said extras includes 5 character portrait drawings signed and sketched by the original animators, and best of all; hardcover "The Lion King" Special Edition book, pefectly sized to fit right alongside the DVD itself.

I really liked this hardcover book, although I promise to mention it only in this single paragraph, so I can get to the barrage of extras on the DVD itself. This book is 160 pages in length, and is printed in full color with glossy pages. What makes this book so unique is how it explains every fascet of the film, then midway through actually tells the complete story of the film, in storybook format, with both actual animated cels and conceptual art along the way. This is a nice book; every member of the family that loves this film will love this book as well.

Disc one includes a surprising number of extras all its own; surprising, because disc two is exclusively extra material. There's an audio commentary by the producer (Don Hahn) and directors (Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff), plus a featurette about the addition of "The Morning Report," a scene added exclusively for the film's IMAX re-release in 2002. Rest easy; the option to see the original film "untouched," and with the new scene, are both offered. Offered separately are three deleted scene concepts: "Bug Football" (where Simba, Timon, and Pumba enjoy a game of football, until Pumba eats the "ball"), plus an extended version of "Hakuna Matata" (where we hear the lament of Timon instead of Pumbaa!), and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" as sung (very badly!) by Timon and Pumbaa(!).

Other disc one extras are mostly for the kids. A personality profile game that asks them questions then compares them to an animal seen in the film. There's a music video of "The Circle of Life" as sung by Disney Channel's "Circle of Stars," the making of this music video (?), and a sing-along track. "Pumbas's Sound Sensations" asks kids to match the sound of an animal to the animal's picture. Timon's Grab-a-Grub is a surprisingly amusing DVD-playable version "Whack-a-Mole." Even better; it can be played by one or two players!

Why did they put all this on disc two? For one likely reason: disc two can be confusing; especially for kids. Oddly enough, all extras are divided by "country": Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. There are also sub menus beneath these menus, for story, film, stage, "virtual safari," music, and animals. The good news is that most extras are cross-referenced, so if the country menus are too confusing, just use the menus underneath them. However you should check the :country menus" just in case you missed anything...

Among all the extras, one of the penultimate subjects is music. In case you were wondering: yes, all three of the film's original music videos are offered, including "Hakuna Matata" (as sung by Jimmy Cliff and Lebo M), plus Elton John's renditions of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" and "Circle of Life." Preceding these music videos is just about every behind-the-scenes snippet you'd ever hope for about the music made for The Lion King; music which is irrefutably the biggest selling power of the entire film.

There's a lot of behind the scenes footage here; not just for the music. Storyboards are given their own featurette, as is the film's animation itself, including a look at the computer-enhanced scenes, like the stampede. In addition, there is a "stage" menu, showcasing all the work that went into making this film a broadway musical. I would've preferred it if at least one unedited musical number was shown from this stage play, and not just behind-the-scenes snippets, though I'll take what I can get. It would've been nice, though, to see the stage play's rendition of "Circle of Life" preserved on this disc as well. What an "extra" that would make!

Not that all disc two extras will go over kids' heads. An "animals" menu has a very Nation Geographic style look at every animal seen in the film, from Lions to Meerkats. This is in addition to a "virtual safari," which is sort of like Disneyland's Jungle Cruise ride, only you get to control the tour, either by boat or by jeep.

There are way too many specific extras on disc two to list here, in their entirety. However, I will point out a few of my favorites. One video clip offers a multi-language reel, of the film as it sounds in various versions overseas. "Early Concepts" include the initial storyboard ideas of both the opening "Simba's presentation," and how Timon and Pumbaa find Simba in the desert. In addition, an "early presentation reel" shows the rough draft of the opening sequence, as shown via storyboards, rough sketches, and actual live animal footage. If the deleted scenes on disc one weren't enough, an additional deleted scene is offered, called "Warthog Rhapsody" (which is described as an "ancestor" of Hakuna Matata).

This is an awful lot to include on one disc, and I've only scratched the surface. However, just to give you a taste of everything on disc two; there is even a few sneak peeks of the Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, plus the Animal Kingdom lodge they've built there. Granted, these two integrated commercials for Disney World have little to do with this film per se, though if your family loves the film and is thinking of choosing to stay at this lodge near this theme park, you can look at this 5-minutes worth of video clips and see if it's something you'd like to try or not.

Overall, this is another fine job by the Disney DVD staff. Personally I would've preferred it if the recently released Sleeping Beauty DVD was a "Platinum Edition" like this one, though it doesn't matter. Lion King is definitely one of the most widely touted, post-Walt-Disney animated features in the studio's recent career. Now that it's on the best DVD set imaginable, there's no reason not to add it to any family's DVD shelf.

	Final Rating : Deep Impact. One of the newest Disney Classics, sure to remain so, for many generations to come.
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Techtite's DVD Reviews!

Disney's

The Lion King

(Platinum Edition DVD)

A Techtite Review