By Steven Suskin
09 Oct 2011

	Cover art for "The Lion King Diamond Edition"

Simba, Timon and Pumbaa are back! In a manner of speaking, that is, 'cause have they ever been away? Here comes The Lion King Diamond Edition [Disney]. "The Lion King" is "The Lion King," of course, but now he is in Blu-ray. As new customers come along, why not provide product in up-to-date, state-of-the-art form? This "Diamond Edition" replaces the "Platinum Edition" of 2003, which was merely a plain, old, everyday DVD (but niftily done). The film, itself, comes from way back in 1994.

The new Blu-ray edition is digital, with high definition sound and all sorts of interactive bonus features. New for 2011 are four never-before seen deleted scenes, plus some never-before-seen bloopers. The Blu-ray comes in a two-disc set, with the second disc being a DVD of the film. The Diamond Edition is also available in a four-disc combo pack, with the additional discs being a digital copy and a 3D Blu-ray. I suppose the 3D Blu-ray looks even better than the plain old 2D Blu-ray, but I don't yet have a 3D player. ("The Lion King 3D" is currently doing spectacular business in movie houses, having already surpassed $80 million at the domestic box office.) Speaking of Disney 3D, let us add that last October's "Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition" has now been repackaged and released as a five-disc Diamond Edition 3D.

*

	Cover art for "Pulp Fiction"

Arriving simultaneously with my deadline is the Blu-ray debut of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction [Miramax/Lionsgate]. This 1994 film shook up the cinema world in much the same manner as the very different "Citizen Kane" back in 1941. I can only imagine that "Pulp Fiction" will look mesmerizing in its new high-definition remastering, with the engineers working under Tarantino's direct supervision. John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Ving Rhames, Christopher Walken, Bruce Willis; all of them memorable. And let us not forget Samuel L. Jackson, who opens this week on Broadway — live on stage, as they used to say — in The Mountaintop. Seventeen years from Jules Winnfield, with all those curls, to Dr. Martin Luther King.

The disc is stacked with extras; many from the prior release but including such new items as a critical retrospective, "Here Are Some Facts on the Fiction," and a cast-interview piece called "Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting to Know You Chit Chat." Which sounds like it comes from the guy who gave us "Pulp Fiction," doesn't it? Miramax/Lionsgate are simultaneously releasing a Blu-ray of Tarantino's 1997 follow-up to "Pulp Fiction," "Jackie Brown."

*

	Cover art for "Glee: The Complete Second Season"

Those choristers at William McKinley High are back with Glee: The Complete Second Season [Fox]. "Glee" has had quite a life, coming out of nowhere to capture hordes of loyal fans who live and breathe for each new episode. And who have supported, in grand financial fashion, the numerous extra-curricular activities that have come along. Which is to say top-selling CDs, a concert tour, and a motion picture version of the tour. All this for a show that has only been around two years; "Glee" started in September 2009, following a highly-successful pilot which aired in May of that year.

The second season of "Glee" enjoyed the high points of the first mixed with an uneasy proportion of low points, in the storyline and character development areas. This sophomore slump is apparent on the new six-disc set; some episodes don't seem to work, although "Glee" fans will no doubt ravenously watch them. Among the season's guest stars are such names as Kristin Chenoweth, Carol Burnett, John Stamos, Cheyenne Jackson, Patti LuPone, Jonathan Groff, Barry Bostwick, Britney Spears, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Special features include a music jukebox; "The Making of The Rocky Horror Glee Show," devoted to last year's Halloween episode; "Shooting Glee in New York"; and "Getting Waxed with Jane Lynch," which speaks for itself.

*

	Cover art for "Modern Family: The Complete Second Season"

If it's hour after hour of good comedy writing that you are looking for, you needn't search for black & white reruns of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Modern Family: The Complete Second Season [Fox] has just won five Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. All of which are merited; "Modern Family" is indeed that good, and perfectly suited to repeated viewing. Special features include "Modern Family Holidays," the "Imagine Me Naked" music video, a chat with creator Steve Levitan, deleted items, and more. The 24-episode, three-disc set includes Nathan Lane's Emmy-nominated guest appearance (over two episodes) as Pepper Saltzman.

(Steven Suskin is author of the recently released Updated and Expanded Fourth Edition of "Show Tunes" as well as "The Sound of Broadway Music: A Book of Orchestrators and Orchestrations," "Second Act Trouble" and the "Opening Night on Broadway" books. He also pens Playbill.com's Book Shelf and On the Record columns. He can be reached at ssuskin@aol.com.)

*

Visit PlaybillStore.com to check out theatre-related DVDs for sale.