The Lion King remains one of Disney's crowning achievements in animation.

From its timeless themes and unforgettable characters to its stunning animation and hummable songs, The Lion King never ceases to delight, move and thrill.

In its transfer to the Imax format, it becomes even more majestic. It's as if The Lion King and Imax were always meant for each other.

In the opening number, The Circle of Life, the wildebeest stampede, the hyena army and even the comedy sequences become eye-popping experiences.

The animation is crystal clear because the original frames were not just enlarged but also reformatted; several effects, like the waterfall in Can You Feel the Love Tonight and the singing crocodiles in Just Can't Wait to be King, have been redesigned.

The Lion King is the story of Simba, the heir to a beautiful kingdom in the African veldt.

In a storyline straight out of Hamlet, Simba is a blissfully happy cub who is betrayed by his evil uncle Scar. The scheming Scar causes the death of Simba's father Mufasa and then makes poor Simba believe he was at fault.

Simba flees his father's kingdom, leaving it in the hands of Scar and then falls in with one of the most lovable pair of sidekicks in any Disney film: the meerkat Timon and the warthog Pumba, who adopt Simba and eventually help him regain his throne.

The voice talent in The Lion King is flawless, from the booming sepulchral voice of James Earl Jones as Mufasa to the youthful exuberance of Matthew Broderick as the teenage Simba.

Watch for Whoopi Goldberg as a scheming hyena and Rowan Atkinson as the king's feathered advisor, Zazu.

Superb as they all may be, it's Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella as the incorrigible Timon and Pumbaa who steal the show. Their song Hakuna Matata and their playful banter are joyous.

The Lion King was a roaring success when it was released eight years ago, but on Imax it seems better, not just bigger.

(This film is rated AA)

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