Editor Reviews:

Amazon.com essential video:
Not an ideal choice for younger kids, this hip and violent animated feature from Disney was nevertheless a huge smash in theaters and on video, and it continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed Broadway production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is sabotaged by a rivalrous 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 music is more palatable than in many Disney features. But be cautious: this is too intense for the Rugrat crowd. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.com:
Anybody who struts around with Simba's hard-won authority deserves this royal DVD read-along from Disney. Kids can recoil at Uncle Scar's dastardly deeds en español and discover that "hakuna matata" sounds pretty much the same in Spanish, French, Italian, or German. And should the dynamic storytelling fail to thrill your 4- to 12-year-old fan, a flurry of other interactive options await. Toggle to "Songs" for sing-along renditions of movie hits, including "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," and on to "Music Videos," where Elton John roars soundtrack favorites "Circle of Life" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and Jimmy Cliff and Lebo M groove to "Hakuna Matata." The "Vocabulary" feature allows for see-and-say mastery of a list of wildlife, while the "Game" section allows players to match paw and hoof prints to the proper beast and reassemble the scattered skeletal remains of an elephant. Original cast voices are featured, and grownups will be pleased by the package's reading component. --Tammy La Gorce

Rating : - The Lion King: The Greatest Disney Film Ever!
Every day when I wake up in the morning and I see the sun shining so beautifully and so brightly in the sky, I begin singing to myself "Hakuna Matata" and I know that my day will go well and somehow I'll find a way to make the world a better place and I owe it all to this film. You see, this is a wonderful movie about bringing animals together. Simba is going to be king, only his nasty uncle, Scar, has other ideas and concocts a plan to kill Simba and his father, Mufasa. Fortunately, only Mufasa dies and Simba is scared off into the desert and told never to return. Now, this is where the movie gets oh so incredibly good because Simba meets my two favorite characters in the film: Timon and Pumbaa, a weasel and a warthog. Nathan Lane does the voice of Timon and every time I hear him, it makes me smile. This is where we get to hear the song "Hakuna Matata," which means no worries. This is such an important lesson for everyone, especially with the troubles in the Middle East right now with all the people who hate freedom. See, if you have no worries then you don't have any problems. Of course, Simba takes this a little too far because he ignores his responsibilities. This is where the wonderful song "Circle of Life" comes in. Later, when Nala shows up, we get to hear "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." I know I could! Really, when you think about it, this film teaches us how music can heal the world because every time you hear a song, you learn an important lesson. The greatest parts of the film, I think, are that we get to see monkeys and lions living in peace and harmony and when Mufasa comes to Simba in a vision, it's like Obi Wan Kenobi from "Star Wars" and whenever I think of "Star Wars" I get a big smile on my face. You'll feel kingly watching "The Lion King"!