Amazon.com Essentials:
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
