The Lion King (1994) Review

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Disney's The Lion King is finally available on DVD. Considered the cream of the crop of all the Disney animated features by many, it is definitely worth owning. I don't think I'll go into the story, which I'm sure most of you know. Chances are you've already seen the movie and are just waiting to own it on a piece of media that won't rot like your VHS tape that probably fell apart by now. Even if Disney released a sub par release of this movie, you'd buy it.

Luckily, this is one of the best releases ever.

Video and Audio is supreme in this release. Especially vibrant is the 5.1 sound. Of all the older Disney releases, this one benefits the most I think, with the powerful music and sound effects present in this release. Hearing James Earl Jones as Mufasa blaring in thunderous 5.1 sound is quite amazing. Likewise the excellent music, such as the opening Circle of Life. Present in this release is the original theatrical version as well as a version with new music/song. I actually didn't care for the new song, but some may. The extras are quite numerous, contained on a second DVD and are mentioned in Amazon's product details...I haven't had the time to go through them yet, so I cannot comment on the extras. I just watched the movie again. To be honest, the movie would be worth it as a single disc release so I'm happy as it is.

Some interesting trivia for some of the people who are not aware of it is that The Lion King seemed to be heavily "influenced" by an old Japanese anime, Kimba The White Lion. Those wishing to see the "similarities" would do well to check out that series as it has also been released on DVD. Carbon copying aside, I do love the Lion King. It still manages to grab you whether you are 4 years old or 40. Two thumbs up!!

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I own a quite a few 3D movies, so perhaps my expectations were too high, but despite some stellar reviews on the 3D on this product by some other reviewers, I have to tell you the quality is FAR less than made-for-3D movies such as Despicable Me.

Do you remember those "3D" games/cartoons where the "3D" effect as you were supposedly either walking, or in a car, going along the road was the part closest to you moved slow, then there was a part in the middle that moved a bit faster, and then the part near the top of the screen moved the fastest? This is only a step above that. It is more like layered 2D images than true 3D. Yes, there are a few parts where true 3D is apparent, but those are few and far between.

Sorry, I can't help but think that some of the people have either let their love of the movie color their perception of what good 3D looks like, or they simply do not have many 3D movies to compare to.

I actually found the 2D blu-ray disc, or even the regular dvd more appealing, or at least less distracting. One thing I noticed in all three versions that I didn't notice before was that the grass in the movie doesn't move when the animals walk through it. Although I didn't pick up on this when I saw the movie when it first came out, it was one of the things that was painfully apparent in the 3D, and far less apparent in the 2D versions.

And, yes, I know there are people that will disagree with me and mark my review as "not helpful", but I have to call it as I see it.

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I never thought that a simple Disney movie could make me cry, but actually, this one did. Don't ask me how, but it really happened, and the worst part is it happened again, and again and again.

This movie is probably better than all the other Disney movies. It is wonderfully drawn, better then any Disney animation. I never liked the fairy-tale Disneys, but this one... There are no words for its absolute great class...

Honest reviews on The Lion King (1994)

Wow. I'm still getting over this wonderful and breathtaking journey that is the Lion King. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie's music, story, and spiffy characters. I recommened it to anyone who likes movies period. Charcaters such as Timon & Pumba bring in comedic relief, while more serious and awesome characters such as Mufasa help bring depth and feel to the story. I dont care if your 2, 16, 28, 50, or even 90 years of age, you'll simply fall in love with this movie. If you ask me what the best part of the entire movie was, i would have to say the blending of the music and picture that is presented in such a way that is captavating and breathtaking. Buy the soundtrack now....also try the Broadway soundtrack. This is Disney at it's finest. This is one of the greatest animated pictures of all time if not one of the greatest movies ever.

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Although it might be accused of plot similarities to "Bambi", The Lion King stands on it's own as the best animated film of Disney's silver age save for "Beauty and the Beast".

It starts off with the greatest opening sequence in animation history, which already must rank within the top ten moments in all animation, period. Disney has since tried to match it in "Dinosaurs", but it remains unequalled. The inimitable "Circle of Life" has no rival except "When you wish upon a star" as Disney mood-setting music.

The animals of the African plains pay homage to the new lion prince, Simba, at his birth. Already he has one strike against him in his father Mufasa's brother Scar, bitter because Simba is now the heir to the throne of the pridelands. While Simba and his friend Nala grow, Scar plots with hyena henchmen to dethrone Mufasa. Scar's moment comes in one devestating blow, managing to make the young cub stricken with guilt in the process.

Simba runs off and is saved from death by exposure to the elements by Pumbaa, a kind warthog, and Timon, his meerkat best friend. As an adult, he has forgotten his legacy until a now-grown Nala and Rafiki, his father's baboon best friend, remind him. He goes to face the hour of reckoning with Scar, his friends by his side.

The movie includes some of the best voicing work and dialogue in the Disney cannon, especially that of Scar so evil as portrayed by Jeremy Irons that he actually drew a gasp from my jaded father and Nathan Lane's Timon, who I feel will eventually take his place as Disney's greatest second banana (and no, I'm not forgeting the Seven Dwarves or Cinderella's mice). His now famous luau scene is Disney's supreme howler moment.

Reviews of King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2005)

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The biggest problem most people had with King Kong was its length, so there's no surprise that reaction by the general public to the release of an extended edition of another 3 hour-plus Peter Jackson film was almost the equivalent of a collective groan.

The surprise is that everything added to the Extended Edition of King Kong should have never been cut. More dinosaurs and more creatures and more action on Skull Island only improves the film, and one wonders if these scenes were cut mostly for time and pacing, why wasn't a little bit of the 51 minutes of pre-Skull Island snipped or perhaps a few overly drawn scenes of Kong and Anna gazing into each other's eyes?

The more noticable scenes are that of a rampaging Ceratops and a fun scene of an underwater monster attacking Adrien Brody and Co. while they are rafting down a river. A bit more character development with some seedy behavior by Carl Denham (Jack Black) and heroic deeds by Jack Driscoll and the shipmates add a bit of flavor to the male characters literally overshadowed by Kong in the film. The spider pit sequence is also a bit lengthened with some more lines by Jack Black. Overall, a worthy 13 minutes of added material, but the film still feels too long in the last act.

The special features to this extended edition are the special features that were missing from the first release of the Kong movie, including a commentary from Peter Jackson and extensive behind the scenes features, describing the making of Kong from concept artwork to the screen a la the performance of Andy Serkis.

I enjoyed the extended cut, but I don't know that this lengthy movie is better served with added material. It's not like the LOTR films where the additions enhance your viewing and understanding of Tolkien's world. But hey, I am not going to complain about more dinosaurs and the raft sequence I was disappointed was missing from the original cut.

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Hello People,

well Peter Jackson's Opus, King Kong now comes in it's extended version only on DVD... This review basically gives you a guide as to what you might expect from the DVD release.. I have no breakdown of what scenes are make up the extra minutes, but from Perter Jackson's comments and Comic Con presentation, there have been indications of what might be make up the running time...

The dVd details -

Firstly this dvd presentation is brought to you in 3 discs. An additon of thirteen(13) minutes of footage has been added to the extended version of the film.

Extra scenes include :

* King Kong's capture at Skull Island and journey to New York.

* A river scene; where our heros are stuck on a log/raft, and

them being attacked by a large aligator. (Comic Con info)

More to be added soon...

King Kong Extended Edition: Disc 1

2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation

English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Track

Commentary with Director Peter Jackson & Producer Phillipa Boyens Part 1

Sixteen Deleted Scenes (Totalling around 40 Minutes)

English SDH, Spanish, French Subtitles

King Kong Extended Edition: Disc 2

Commentary with Director Peter Jackson & Producer Phillipa Boyens Part 2

The Eighth Blunder of the World Featurette

The Present Featurette

A Night in Vaudeville Featurette

King Kong Homage

Weta Collectables

Selection of Trailers

King Kong Extended Edition: Disc 3

The King Kong Archives

Introduction by director Peter Jackson

The Origins of King Kong Documentary

Pre-Production Part 1: The Return of Kong

Pre-Production Part 2: Countdown to Filming

The Venture Journey Featurette

Return to Skull Island Featurette

New York, New Zealand Featurette

Bringing Kong to Life Part 1: Design and Research

Bringing Kong to Life Part 2: Performance and Animation

The 1996 King Kong Video Gallery

The Venture Video Gallery

Skull Island Video Gallery

New York Video Gallery

Kong Video Gallery

Arrival at Skull Island Pre-Viz Animatic

Bronto Stampede Pre-Viz Animatic

T-Rex Fight Pre-Viz Animatic

Kong's Capture Pre-Viz Animatic

Empire State Building Battle Pre-Viz Animatic

Ann Disarms Kong Motion-Capture/Animation Comparison

Kong's Capture Motion-Capture/Animation Comparison

Kong in New York Motion-Capture/Animation Comparison

DVD Credits and 1996 and 2005 Scripts (DVD-ROM)

----------------------------------------------------------------

One thing to note from this release there is no DTS soundtrack on this release, which has disappointed and even angered a lot of fans.... Benchmarking from the Lord of the Rings extented dvd releases, this is an ommission that trully expected... Be mindful.... Never the less, this is a strong release, from a director who understands what a dvd presentation should be. Place this 1 on your christmas wishlist!

** Also available in a limited edition giftset, complete with a beautifully crafted WETA King Kong figurine, which is released on the same day.

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I was one of those people who thought King Kong was a mistake for director Peter Jackson. Fresh from his monumental success and Academy Awards with his work on The Lord of the Rings, I wasn't confident that he would make an equally, much less surpassively, good film. I was proven wrong.

Running at a horrendously intimidating 187 minutes, I had my fears that there would be parts where cinematographic drags would consume my interest in the film, especially since there were several such moments in Fellowship of the Ring which Jackson also directed. However, I was pleased to find that dragging moments were limited and the whopping runtime was put to good use... so take care of your bladders prior to watching.

I have heard many complaints regarding the first third of the film which takes place in depression-era New York city. It is in this third where the titular beast is nowhere to be seen, but we are introduced to all the other main characters. I have argued many times that a film is not without it's characters and so far in his blockbuster career, Peter Jackson has not disappointed in characterization. It keeps the audience in the hearts and minds of everything that happens onscreen and therefore maintains an engaging atmosphere. All in all, you care about all the fuss and you watch and wait, with interest, for the next scene to unfold. Therefore, in spite of the gargantuan runtime, I was riveted to the screen.

Carl Denham (Jack Black... yes, Jack Black) is a struggling filmmaker whose career has been so far almost successful. When he learns his latest film is about to be scrapped, he escapes with his film and crew to continue production. He then learns his lead actress has quit and runs into an out-of-luck vaudeville entertainer, Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), who he manages to recruit. He convinces his cast and ship crew that they will be heading for Singapore to film. In reality, he is heading for the mysterious Skull Island whose location he had acquired just as mysteriously. However, his production woes continue as his script is unfinished. He then takes popular theater writer Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody) to continue the script while the ship sails for Skull Island. Upon reaching the island, they encounter murderous natives who wish to offer Ann to the gigantic beast they worship, Kong.

George Lucas once said that special effects are there to aid the telling of a story and should not be the emphasis of a film. Whether or not Lucas himself adheres to this philosophy is debatable, but it is clear that Jackson does. There is not one scene, real or digitally created, in this movie that does not have meaning. There is the scene of a shared sunset between Ann and Kong with volumes of depth. It is this scene, to this reviewer, that escalated the film from ordinary blockbuster to movie greatness.

Yes, there have been previous King Kong films. But where they fail is where Peter Jackson's take shines. There is an actual relationship between Kong and Ann, we actually understand why Ann cares so much for him. While Kong would try to impress her with roars and beating his chest, Ann would perform her vaudeville antics (to Kong's.. and ultimately the audience's delight). It is their shared moments of joy that solidify an unusual bond of friendship between Ann and Kong. Ann perhaps realizes that she is Kong's only friend, and hence his entire world.

It is the relationship between Ann and Kong that Jackson decided to concentrate his full filmmaking abilities and rightfully so. Yes, there is another sort-of love story between Ann and Jack Driscoll but not one that would outshine the focus of the film.

As for the other actors, they were top-notch. I have heard others say Jack Black was frightfully miscast but I think otherwise. His over-the-top acting fits perfectly for Carl, a filmmaker with so much passion for his film that he continually tries to sell it to everyone just so they "get it".

King Kong, I would have to say, is one of the best films of the year. Entirely engaging and a delightful and sometimes frightening adventure, it is one with definite heart. From vaudeville opening to heart-wrenching denoument, Jackson has made a film that beats on it's chest and roars.

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This "action" picture has something different about it, it has a heart; and Naomi Watts.

As far as the length goes (3 hrs. 8 min.), it's pretty darn perfect. Sure, there could have been a few minutes edited out, but maybe those few minutes I want out, someone else just loves. So what do you do? Anyway, part of the strength is the length, giving time for character development. Woooooow! What a awe-inspiring idea. Alright, maybe they could have cut out the "Jimmy" guy, but who's to say for sure. There are simply too many wannabe critics out there with short attention spans, just because there's no "action" right away, they feel the movie drags on, or is way too long.

Now, on to more important things, Naomi Watts, she should have been given an Oscar nomination for her role as Ann Darrow. Doing so much with so little dialogue and she lit up the screen like no one I'd ever seen.

Finally, with this DVD you can stop the movie anytime, use the restroom, go to the kitchen, blow your nose or just take some deep breathes outside, or maybe do all four. Hey, the bonus features are wonderful too. I loved the Skull Island documentary.

This is a 21st century classic, no doubt about it.

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Jack Black delivers almost all of his lines wrong. Adrien Brody obviously is in love with himself. The Heart of Darkness references were ridiculous. I think they actually missed out on the darker, pitch-black undertones to the original. A lot of things are wrong with this film.

But Kong looks amazing. Seeing it in the theater was a thrill. And it was genuinely moving to an old movie fan. I don't know if we'll ever see anything quite like it again.

Having just watched nearly all of the 3-disc materials, I think I can safely say that the film has shown a lot of its strengths and weaknesses on DVD. The strengths are astounding: Weta has crafted the most impressive Special FX film to date, brought to life with an incredible amount of sincerity, and Peter Jackson his proven himself to be one of the great directors of all time. The weaknesses are also glaring: the boat ride to the island now seems amateurish and dull, deleted scenes reveal the at times godawful script, and despite being the greatest celebration of boyhood ever put to film -the film takes the "adult" undertones in all the wrong directions. Amazing enough, this is one part of the '76 Kong that is somewhat interesting.

Another telling aspect of the 3 DVD set is that very little attention is really paid to the actual story. You would think that after all of the FX featurettes that Jackson would really take the time on the audio commentary to talk about this material and what they were trying to say with it. No such luck. As soon as it starts, the writers seem to be grabbing at straws for things to say beyond the purely superficial. There is no argument that King Kong is a film with MAJOR cultural history. So, all this serves to reinforce the grating aspects of the script such as Jack Driscoll's literary "brilliance"... which makes little sense as they purposefully use his character as a pawn to wedge in cheesy dialogue from the old film (the boat ride scene), and then as a 1930s "rebel" writing screwball tripe. It seemed clever the first time around...

The deleted scenes are also very revealing. Most are lousy or superfluous, but two really caught my attention: one that is in the "director's cut" and one that is only a supplement. The former comes near the very end, where one of the army sargeants yells at his men "this is a city made for people! You want some dumb monkey running around?!!" blah blah blah... It completely detracts from the majesty and emotion of the scene and is a shameless villainization. I believe it shows the influence of the cloying Frank Darabont. Another scene, not in the film, is where Preston (the assistant) confronts Denham about taking the voyage to Skull Island upon finding the map. It makes Preston's character seem whiney and too earnest, whereas in the theatrical release he comes across as the quiet, understated conscience of the film. Unfortunately, once you have witnessed scenes like this it's harder to swallow some of the more egregious emotionalism of the original release.

Still, I remember seeing this in the theater and being swept off my feet. Maybe it's a great thing that people still make films that really have to be experienced rather than dissected.

Reviews of The Lion King Trilogy (Eight-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD

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So I recently watched the Lion King in the theatres, and it was still as magical as I remember it was growing up. After reading some of the reviews on here, there seems to be a little mix-up as to what you get, so I would just like to clarify in case someone is interested in this amazing trilogy, which by the way has a beautiful outer wood box.

The Lion King comes with the 3D blu-ray, the standard blu-ray, the standard DVD, and digital copy.

The Lion King 1.5 comes with the standard blu-ray and the standard DVD.

The Lion King 2 comes with the standard blu-ray and the standard DVD.

As you can tell, only the original Lion King comes with 3D and digital copy, so it is basically the same thing as the regular 4 disc 3D pack you can get. The other 2 movies only have the standards of each format, so you can treat them as basic combo packs. I hope this helps clarify a few matters and whatever you do, definately pick this movie up.

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(This review is for the films only.)

Yes, I said trilogy. This set includes the Disney classic The Lion King and its two sequels,The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The Lion King 1 1/2. All three are great films, which is surprising, due to Disney's history with doing sequels.

The Lion King is the classic story of a young lion club named Simba who is next in line to become king of the Pride Lands. As he gets older, his uncle Scar begins to despise him and Mufasa, Simba's father and Scar's older brother. Mufasa is king, which makes Scar furious, and he makes a plot to kill them both. The plot is proven to be a success. Mufasa is killed and Simba, believing it to be his fault, runs off. He leaves the Pridelands and meets Timon and Pumbaa, a meekat and warthog who eats bugs. Simba soon joins the two and adopts their "Hakuna Matata"(it means no worries)lifestyle. Soon, Simba grows up and one day comes across his old friend Nala, who tells him that Scar is destroying their home. Simba at first disagrees about doing something about it, but after meeting with a old friend of his father named Rafiki, a wise mystic baboon, Simba gets back on track and decides to challenge Scar and become......The Lion King.

This movie is truly one of the best animated movies ever made. With some amazing voice-overs(including James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Whoppi Goldberg, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and a engaging story, The Lion King is truly a classic to behold. Five Stars.

While probably the least interesting of the set, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is still one amazing sequel. The story revolves around Simba's and Nala's daughter named Kiara. Kiara one days ventures into the territory of the lioness named Zira. Zira is the wife of Scar and she wants revenge on Simba. Zira has a young lion club named Kovu and while Kiara is in Zira's territory, she and Kovu get to know each other. Soon, the two parents show up and Simba takes Kiara home. At her home, Zira comes with a plan: she will train Kovu to kill Simba by getting to Kiara. Years later, they are now grown up and while Kiara is on her first hunt, a fire, set off by Zira's other children, is burning the pridelands. Kiara barely makes to high ground and Kovu arrives just in time to save her. Simba sees him and Kovu tells him to give him a chance, while truly trying to kill him. Meanwhile, Rafiki is trying to get Kiara and Kovu together, beliving it could stop the feud between the two families. It proves to be a success as Kiara and Kovu fall for each other. Soon Simba tries to get to know Kovu better and finds out the truth about Kovu plans for Simba, which Kovu now doesn't want to go through with, due to his feelings for Kiara. Kovu gets banished and Kiara runs off to find him. Zira now decides to take on Simba's pride by force and kill Simba by herself. Now, Kovu and Kiara must stop this before the worst happens.

Better than most sequels, Simba's Pride brings back all the characters from the original and introduces fascinating new characters. The story, while less interesting than the first, still works for this film and the voice-overs are good as well.

Four Stars.

The newest addition to the series is The Lion King 1 1/2. This is the first film's story, told from Timon's and Pumbaa's point of view. The story begins with Timon and his life before he took on his Hakuna Matata lifestyle. He makes tunnels for a living, but always screws them up. While Timon's mom beleves he just hasn't found his place yet in the clan, Timon, along with his Uncle Max and the other meekats, believe he is just a klutz and he isn't gonna get better anytime soon. Timon decides it's time to find the home of his dreams and sets off with his mother's permission. While on his quest, he meets Pumbaa and the two form a "aquaintship", which soon becomes a friendship. They soon find their dream home and everything seems perfect until one day they find Simba and decide to raise him until that fateday when Nala arrived. When they hear Simba has gone back to the Pridelands to become king, Timon and Pumbaa must now help Simba regain his right to become the rightful king of the Pridelands.

This one is incredibly funny and also, very clever. The idea of seeing the story from Timon and Pumbaa's point of view is delightful and the laughs are plenty. Overall, a new addition to the series that is fresh and fun. I give the Lion King 1 1/2 five stars.

I hope this review was helpful. I hope you enjoy this set of movies as much as I did.

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This three movie, six disc collection is definitely worth the price paid. This collection contains Disney's The Lion King, Lion King 1 ½ and Lion King 2: Simba's Pride. The Lion King is a much beloved Disney classic. And while the Lion King 1 ½ and 2 are not nearly as good as the original they are funny and enjoyable in their own right.

The special features, frankly, are not that good. There's some games on them and some short montages on the characters. But mostly, I just watched the movies.

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I love The Lion King trilogy, I have no complaints about the movies. This review is reviewing the box set it comes in.

The outside of the box is very lovely, with wood-like carving imagery on the outside. But once you open the case it comes in, you are in for a disappointment. The discs are in thin cardboard! There are no cases to hold the discs. You just slide them out of their "file" type thin cardbard. I can see this set getting very scratched in the near future if you watch these a lot. I only bought this set because I wanted all 3 movies. I suggest everyone wait and buy each separately in a appropriate blu ray case release. I would have rather had all three movies in actual blu ray cases inside this nice box, than this cheap, crappy drum. I expected much more, Disney...

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The Lion King is one of Disney's animated "golden age" films (along with little mermaid, alladin, etc.), and it really is a timeless classic.

for the pre-order price of about $75, it's a great value considering the 4 disc blue-ray set alone is going to run you at least $30, Lion King 2 around $20 and 2 1/2 maybe $15. Shell out a few more bucks and you get a nifty box to keep everything in and you know that you have the complete collection, special features and all.

The great thing about the 4 disc blu ray combo pack for the ORIGINAL Lion King, is that it includes:

the regular 2D movie dvd & blu-ray disc, a 3D blu-ray disc, (this ensures that whatever technology you are currently using, you will be able to watch the movie, regardless. and if you are using DVD now, you will have blu-ray for later when you upgrade. or you can always give away whichever one you don't want/need.)

and the digital copy which I always love as an option. Digital copies allow you to upload to mobile devices (especially easy for itune users although it might restrict usage to apple devices), such as your phone, tables (great for keeping you or maybe your kids entertained on trips or when waiting for stuff), and of course, your laptops and computers.

for the other 2 movies, Lion King 2 and Lion King 1 1/2, there is a DVD & Blu-ray copy for each.

The set also includes all the bonus discs for all three movies, which of course has all the bonus features: deleted scenes, commentary, shorts, new songs, etc etc.

It's a great value and would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys Disney Animated Movies.

(if you dont need/want all the bells and whistles or the other movies, then another version might be better for you. the 2disc DVD/blu-ray also has the special features, just not the 3D or the digital copy)

Dino King Reviews

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In recent years, Korea is starting to attract new audiences internationally to its animation, manwa (Korean comics) and its pop culture, may it be music, film or dramas continue to have a large following worldwide.

But one area that Korea is typically not known for worldwide is its own all-CG animated films. In 2012, Dream Search C&C, Inc., EBS and Olive Studio, Inc.announced their animated film "Speckles the Tarbosaurus" which opened in theaters in Korea in January 2006. Originally based on a three-part documentary series that aired back in 2008, the series received high ratings for Korea's EBS (Educational Broadcasting System) and so, a reworking of the film took place and in three years, a CG animated film was created.

Based on dinosaurs found in the Korean peninsula, the film is set during the early Cretaceous period of the dinosaurs and focuses on a Tarbosaurus known as Speckles. The film is narrated by Speckles.

The Korean CG animated film using the title name "Dino King 3D: An Amazing Adventure" will be released on Blu-ray 3D/2D in June 2013 courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.

"Dino King 3D" begins with a baby Tarbosaurus named Speckles, who was just born and as he grows up, he wants to hunt like his mother, big brother and twin sisters. He learns how his brother is a chaser that leads the pray right towards his twin sisters and then his mother killing the prey in order to feed the family.

But despite being one of the feared carnivorous dinosaurs, there are many threats that can easily hurt young Speckles.

But one day as Speckles feels that he can hunt with the family, they are unaware that the Tyrannosaurus Rex known as "One-Eye" is in the area, look for a new place to live and feed.

As the family are about to hunt down a few dinosaurs, they suddenly see a large stampede of dinosaurs starting to run towards them and in the mayhem, Speckles is caught. They learn that all are running away from One-Eye.

As Speckles family try to rescue him, all dinosaurs are seen running towards a cliff area where many of them are unable to control themselves and fall off the cliff or are hit by other dinosaurs who are unable to control and stop themselves. Knowing they need to defend Speckles, the family does its best to fight against One-Eye but each of the siblings are killed and fall over the cliff area. Speckles mother tries to fight back but One-Eye is too powerful and thrown over the cliff.

Speckles is now alone without a family and must fend for himself. Speckles learns that in order to survive, he must try to hunt down his own food immediately or go after the leftovers left behind by One-Eye.

And as Speckles turns five years old, he is still too young to defend himself or fight but he has managed to live this long. One day, he sees One-Eye going after another Tarbosaurus which he names "Blue Eyes" and together, both are just happy to be friends and help each other.

And as both grow up together and are 20-years-old, they become an awesome team when it comes to hunting. Despite having left an area without One-Eye around, peace is disrupted when One-Eye goes to search for another feeding ground. And while both Speckles and Blue Eyes became a couple during the mating season and are expecting babies, Speckles must do all he can to protect his young babies from One-Eye and other threats, especially the pesky velociraptors.

But what Speckles is not prepared for is another type of threat to the dinosaurs...nature.

Will Speckles be able to support and protect his family?

VIDEO:

"Dino King 3D: An Amazing Adventure" is presented in 3D and 2D (both versions are on one single Blu-ray disc). First, let's discuss the 2D of the film. When it comes to dinosaur films, "Dino King 3D" looks amazing when it comes to textures and details in HD. While the backgrounds appear to use real nature backgrounds, sometimes it features rocks that don't appear as well-detailed as the dinosaurs. But in terms of CG animation, the textures, shading and movements of the dinosaurs are well-done. You can see muscle structure being utilized amongst the dinosaurs and I was very pleased with how the film looked.

As for the 3D, "Dino King 3D: An Amazing Adventure" is more depth-based 3D and for the portrayal of space and distance, the film looks good when it comes to that aspect of 3D. But for those hoping to see the objects coming out at you, aside from dinosaur heads and volcanic activity, the 3D for this film is more depth-based.

AUDIO:

"Dino King 3D: An Amazing Adventure" is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. It's important to note that the original Korean dialogue is NOT included with this Blu-ray release. But the ambiance of the film is magnificent as you can hear dinosaurs, the stomping of dinosaurs on the ground via LFE and use of panning sound through the surround channels.

Narration in English is crystal clear and lossless soundtrack is not mega immersive as I would have hoped but overall, the soundtrack is very good.

SPECIAL FEATURES

There are no special features but a trailer.

EXTRAS:

"Dino King 3D: An Amazing Adventure" comes with a lenticular slipcover.

JUDGMENT CALL:

As a father who is fascinated by dinosaurs and has a child who seems to have memorized to pronounce names of dinosaurs, "Dino King 3D: An Amazing Adventure" was a fascinating family film.

While we have seen animated films about displaced young characters, in the case of "Dino King 3D" which seemed like a kiddy film with it's initial introduction of Speckles at a young age, the film immediately becomes more serious in tone as Speckles becomes alone, having to fend for himself but then growing older and having to protect his family from being eaten or killed.

But the story is not exactly jovial as dinosaurs were in constant threat from other predators and dinosaurs hunted each other and for baby dinosaurs, they were constantly targeted. So, this is not an animated film that tries to show hope for a family. This is not a film that ends with a Disney ending of everyone is happy, because the fact is that characters die in this film. It may be too scary for children as these are not like Disney animated films where animals find a way to thrive and be happy.

Poor Speckles wants to protect his family but it's not easy when you have a vicious T-Rex and other dinosaurs nearby and then there is nature that adds to the problems for the dinosaurs.

But if your child is over 5-years-old, I believe the child can watch this animated film. There is no blood, but you will see a T-Rex chomping the necks of other dinosaurs or other dinosaurs being killed someway, somehow.

We see how volcano's led to the death of many dinosaurs (in this case, in a region of Korea) which destroyed their water and habitat and forced other dinosaurs to travel long distances to find a new home.

While I have watched dinosaur documentaries such as BBC's excellent "Walking with Dinosaurs", "Dino King 3D" is fascinating because its inclusion of many dinosaurs and getting that narration through Speckles of various dinosaurs that lived during that era in the land which eventually would become Korea.

I have since learned that many fossilized dinosaurs were found across the South Korean coast and many fossilized dinosaur eggs and footprints from the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era were found in the seacoast of South Korea. Which the animated film does go into how many dinosaurs were possibly led to the coast near the ocean area. With dinosaur museums in various areas of South Korea, there also seems to be fossils instead of eggs or footprints now being found in the era which have been important in filling the missing 20-million-year gap in the fossil record in regards to the origin of dinosaurs in Asia and their first appearance in North America.

The film is educational when it comes to knowing the names of dinosaurs. I never heard of Tarbosaurus and didn't know that it looks similar to a T-Rex. After doing research, I've learned that the Tarbosaurus is the Asian version of a T-Rex and they are close cousins. Both were killer dinosaurs, had powerful jaws and teeth, big back legs and tiny arms, while Tarbosaurus had smaller arms than a T-Rex. But Tarbosaurus were found in rock formations in Mongolia, while T-Rex were generally found in North America.

Both were the top of the food chain but very interesting to see both featured prominently in the film.

What is also interesting is the portrayal of a Velociraptor. Like most people, my knowledge of the dinosaur was through the "Jurassic Park" films. But since then, I have read that these dinosaurs look like big chickens and are small. The animated film does portray them that way, with feathers. But also to read that Velociraptors were mound in Mongolia, not North America. There is one thing that this film does show and not really known as fact and debated today is if Velociraptor hunt in packs. This film does show that, as carnivorous creatures going after the sick and dead.

But there are other dinosaurs that are mentioned that I have never heard about, so it was good to learn about them through this animated film.

As for the Blu-ray release, the animation and textures of the dinosaurs are fantastic! Backgrounds were OK and the film could have been much more immersive. While the 2D version of the film looked great, the 3D was OK and more depth-based than anything. Unfortunately, there are no special features and it's a shame because if the 2008 three-part documentary was included, it would have made "Dino King 3D" a magnificent release.

Overall, "Dino King 3D: An Amazing Adventure" is an exciting and enjoyable dinosaur family film and also one that probably is the better looking CG-animated film about dinosaurs at this current time. Me and my 10-year-old son absolutely enjoyed this film but at the same time, I know this Blu-ray release could have been better.

"Dino King 3D: An Amazing Adventure" is a CG animated film about dinosaurs worth watching!

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Dino King tells the story of the life of Speckles, a tarbosaur who's whole family is killed by One-Eye(a vicious T-Rex).

I have to admit the English narrative over this story is horrendous. I, too, would have preferred the original Korean vocal narrative with subtitles over the English narrative, anyday. However, every other aspect of this Korean film is top-notch. I loved it and watched it several times over..it's THAT good! Up until now, Disney's Dinosaur and the Jurassic Park series were always my favorite Dino films. I think what I liked most about it was the story. Despite the fact it was geared more towards the younger set, it was the story that kept me watching. It was almost like I was watching it as it was happening.

I'm sure there are other reviewers who've touched on this. Even though this is geared more towards kids, there are moments in the film where adult supervision & guidance is needed. Why? There are several scenes of intense fighting between the Dinosaurs that end with them spilling blood. As someone pointed out in their review, because this film borrows elements from nature films, nature can be brutal, sometimes, even to the young. So, give this film a viewing before letting younger children give it a look.

Overall, I loved this film and I more than highly recommend this one to everyone. If you love Dinosaur movies or just love a good story, give Dino King a look.

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i just watched this on youtube and i am very impressed! I love dinosaurs in general and this is one of THE best dinosaur movies i have ever seen. well worth purchasing!

Honest reviews on Dino King

It is a good thing I got this movie using points from my credit card, because otherwise I probably would had regretted the purchase. The computer animation looks good, but this is a story that probably would had been understood just as well without any voices.

The main character narrates the story, and the voice as a child is rather grating. Plus, it sounds rather out of place when he refers to other dinosaurs as "That is an [insert real scientific name of dinosaur]!" Names for dinosaur species is something us humans created, millions of years after these creatures were dead. Maybe it's just me... but it just doesn't seem to click.

I wonder if the original Korean version is also narrated like this. If not, then we're the unlucky ones.

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While the English narrative is awkward and annoying at times, and the animation can be clunky, the story is as solid and touching as The Land Before Time and has more drama and death-of-family-members than The Lion King. By the end of it I was rooting for Speckles and yelling at my TV screen. It was intense. And I'll admit it: I cried at several dinosaur deaths. It was depressing all the bad things that happened to Speckles(Dude deserved a more badass name than 'Speckles'). It was rough. But, in the end, all in all, DINO KING was 'an amazing adventure.'