Forced into exile by his evil Uncle Scar after the death of his father, young Simba hooks up with a meerkat named Timon and his warthog chum Pumbaa. Adopting their carefree lifestyle, Simba ignores his real responsibilities until he realizes his destiny and returns to the Pride Lands to stake his claim to the throne.

When The Lion King hit theaters in 1994, Disney had its third animation success in a row and solidified the fact that the studio had regained its hit-creating mojo. The voice cast is outstanding, the story is inspiring, and the soundtrack is just as fun today as it was last century. Looking to capitalize on the 3D craze hitting Hollywood, Disney converted the hand-drawn animated film into the new format with surprisingly good results. While it doesn't look quite as good as Beauty and the Beast, it fares much better than some live-action conversions I've seen.

If 3D isn't your thing, then you'll certainly be impressed with the 2D picture, which is absolutely stunning with vibrant colors and sharp detail, and the DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack will blow you away.

Circle of Life

• Chapter 1, 0:00:37
• Color saturation, dynamics, surround envelopment
• The opening of the film is an audio and video masterpiece. When the "Walt Disney Pictures Presents" graphic hits the screen, listen carefully for the sound of crickets and other creatures right before the soundstage explodes with the song "Circle of Life." Then at the 00:03:07 mark, check out the fabulous colors that highlight Rafiki's face.

Stampede

• Chapter 9 0:32:37
• Frequency response, surround envelopment
• Listen to Simba's roar as it echoes through the canyon and then feel the ground shake as the stampede of wildebeest race towards the future king.

Simba confronts Scar

• Chapter 21, 1:15:42
• Frequency response, surround envelopment
• When Simba confronts Scar, listen to the clarity of their voices and how the thunder rumbles in the background. At the 01:15:52 mark, feel the impact of the lightning bolt and listen to the crackle of the fire as the Pride Lands erupt into flames.

Release Date: October 4, 2011
Studio: Disney

Movie: 10/10
Picture: 10/10
3D Effect: 9/10
Sound: 10/10