Archive from 09.11.03 to 09.30.2003
 

Thiago Medeiros writes to note that the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Special Edition DVD will be hitting stores tomorrow, 10/01. Also...

Ah one last thing; All disny dvd (until now) released in brazil are all encoded for the region 1 too! (i know it because i have an american playstation 2 and it runs all dvds of disney, but all another it shows a mensage of wrong region)

This is apparently something special Disney's doing in Brazil because the VHS version of TLK was the best-selling movie ever in the country

Simba B. says:

FYI, there will be a Worldwide DVD Debut of Walt Disney Pictures' THE LION KING Friday, October 3 at Hollywood's Historic El Capitan Theater

Here's a copy of the offical press release http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030929/lam092_1.html

If we're lucky, Yahoo and some other news sites should post some pictures of the event.

The reviews of the TLK Special Edition DVD (and attendant materials) have been coming in hard and fast. Thanks to the many readers who have sent me the links.

• DVD Town
• The Digital Bits
• Home Theater Forum (the video quality gets a 6 out of 5!)
• IGN.com (get a load of the quote about the "mini-storybook for The Lion King 1 1/2")
• The Man Room
• DVD Toons
• LaughingPlace.com (soundtrack review)

On Wal-Mart's online catalog page for the DVD Gift Set, there's the following blurb:

Visit your local Wal-Mart Photo Center on October 11th to get a complimentary photo taken with a life-size cutout of characters from The Lion King.

Thanks to Simba B.

The Action Performance site dedicated to the TLK-themed NASCAR team with Bill Elliott and Jeremy Mayfield has been updated with a more in-depth biographical look at the team.

Sent by Simba B.

In case anyone's worried about the TLKoB production in Toronto shutting down, never fear-- it's coming to other places. Zentina notes that it's been playing in St. Louis, Missouri since August 22 (and will continue through October 12) a the Fabulous Fox Theater

09.26.2003  Special Edition Soundtrack Samples Available at Buy.com

Simba B. spotted some audio samples of the Special Edition Soundtrack at Buy.com.
 

09.25.2003 Toronto TLKoB Run Extended

Raymond Lee reports:

I have just been informed that The Lion King on Broadway in Toronto, Canada has been extended one final time until Jan 04 2004 The Lion King must close to make way for new productions. This is your FINAL opportunity to see The Lion King on Broadway at the Princess of Wales Theatre. For tickets and reservations call (416)-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333 long distance toll free or order online at www.mirvish.com . THIS IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY!!! TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!!!!
 

Courtesy of a representative of Buena Vista Home Entertainment, we now have available several pieces of promo material for the DVD release-- photos of the DVD box and gift set, banners (in JPEG and Flash format), and an official title treatment to be used as the movie logo. There's also a PDF of Lion King activity-type games and puzzles.

I'll be adding these materials to other parts of the site in the next few days; for now, the official promo pictures of the DVD set (and the high-res look at the CD box art) might be of interest to readers. Release day is almost upon us!

Jess Walzak and Simba B. point out this review , which is a little more distressing to hear about:

"Disney has not restored the original theatrical version, per se; you can watch the film either with or without the new tune, but it is still the animation is still of the IMAX'd variety only."

"...where are the real trailers?" Apparently, both the Region 1 and UK DVD set don't have trailers.

Remember back on 3/10/03 when we learned that Enesco would be making TLK-themed seasonal ornaments and giftware in time for the 2003 Christmas season? Well, Caara writes with the following:

I thought I would let you know I was in Target tonight and there is a complete set of Lion King Christmas ornaments on the shelves by Enesco. I found four individually boxed "regular size" ornaments which include one mini ornament in the box. Price on the "regular" ornament with mini is $6.99. They also have a boxed set of all the mini ornaments and the minis can be purchased separately as well. Boxed set of minis is $5.99 and the individual minis were $1.99.

There is also a large water globe which plays "Circle of Life" priced at $15.99.

Via Simba B:

Hasbro's Disney Portal page has been updated with all the new TLK merchandise.
 

Simba B. notes:

FYI: Amazon.co.uk is running a new promotion: order the Lion King Special Edition and recieve a FREE "Simba" soft toy.*

Fine Print:
*Offer for a limited time only and subject to availability. Information correct at time of posting. A limit of one soft toy per customer order. This offer is only available to customers who order The Lion King Special Edition on DVD (ASIN B0000AOWLW) or video (ASIN B0000AOWLX).

( new picture , product information page )
 

Lindsay Mayer noticed this at UltimateDisney.com :

Looks much better than previous shots; the character sketches are indeed originals, and there seem to be at least eight of them. This is looking better and better.

Reinald Snel alerted me to this offer at MovieGuide, a Netherlands movie site:

MovieGuide.nl biedt de echte DVD-liefhebber de unieke kans om de speciale uitvoering van Disney's bekroonde "The Lion King" op DVD nu al online te bestellen met een aantrekkelijke korting.

Voor slechts € 14,- (excl. €3,95 handlingverzendkosten) wordt de DVD op uiterlijk woensdagochtend 15 oktober bij jou thuis bezorgd worden.

In other words, you send them the e-mail addresses of your friends, and if they sign up, they get the DVD for about half-price. The downside? You're giving the site e-mail addresses for mass-marketing purposes. But it could be worth it to you if you...