Customer Reviews

Christian the Lion (The Lion Who Thought He Was People)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the same mold as 'Born Free', this documentary style film, to me, is much better. It's about a 3rd generation London Zoo lion named 'Christian', that acts like a human...and his eventual introduction into a life with wild lions in Africa. Much of the film centers around George Adamson, and how he forms a pride of lions out of rehabilitated, orphan cubs. Which is just amazing.
Never have i seen such love displayed by "ferocious beasts". 'Christian' is a cat like no other. He will surely touch your heart.
We found it on a $1 DVD, at Family Dollar. It's a double feature disc with another family film ('Lil'Scratch'), on the opposite side, about an orphaned bear cub. The transfer quality isn't that good, but the story makes up for it.
It has some sad scenes and shows carcasses of large mammals, so viewer discretion is advised.
A very powerful and moving experience.
***** 5 Stars. Highly recommended!

If you liked the book and movie Born Free and would like to see the real George Adamson in a movie, as himself, then do not miss this entertaining and touching movie filmed in Kenya. The stars of the movie Born Free became close friends with George Adamson during the making of Born Free and they returned to make this this wonderful film. This is a true story, filmed as it happened. A London born Lion bought in a department store is flown to Africa to be introduced to a life in the wild by conservationist George Adamson.

Whether you love Lions, George Adamson, Africa or just enjoy an amazing true story, this is a movie which will entertain you and touch your heart.

I have only just ordered this tape for my own, but I have watched the whole thing on you-tube. It's a beautiful story. Touching and heartfelt. I highly recommend seeing this.

Finally finding an audience on You-tube, there is a reason this is a number one bestseller. There are DVD versions out there, just google search and you can find one. Great heartfelt story.

I wanted to to see "Christian the Lion," having read the book by John Rendall and Ace Bourke years ago. Christian was purchased in Harrods Department Store in London in 1969 by Rendall and Bourke, who raised him in a boutique in the city until he became too big to keep in captivity any longer. Not wishing to put him in a zoo, they made contact with noted lion expert George Adamson of "Born Free" fame through actors Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna. Ultimately Christian was flown to Africa where he was acclimated to the wild for the first time in his life (his parents were in a zoo) by Adamson.

The film documents Christian's life up through Rendall and Bourke's now-famous reunion with a very grown up Christian, film footage of which is ubiquitous on the Internet. The film is genuinely touching and speaks to the power of the human-animal bond, even in animals like giant predatory cats. I have always loved big cats, and greatly admire the work Adamson did until he was murdered by Somali bandits on August 20, 1989 at the age of 83. He was trying to help a tourist. Adamson was buried on his preserve in Kenya next to his beloved lion "Boy," who is heavily featured in this film and became Christian's mentor and friend as much as was Adamson himself.

I think the world owes a debt of gratitude to Rendell and Bourke for trying to do the right thing for Christian, even though they knew it would mean a shorter and more strife-filled life than if he lived his days out in a zoo. They understood that lions need to be free, and although I cannot imagine letting an animal I loved as much as they loved Christian move halfway across the world and enter such a savage life, they understood the importance of big cats in their natural habitat and I salute them. I couldn't stop thinking about the selflessness of their decision and the lifetime devotion of Adamson to the lions when I watched this film, and while the movie is sometimes painful, it is a wonderful tribute to these men and all the others who helped Christian realize his full potential.

Christian the Lion is a wonderful story. I watched the movie after reading the book and really enjoyed it. I recommend this video to all people who love animals.

After seeing the YouTube sensation, I just had to get this video, which shows the whole documentary about Christian. Would have liked to have the DVD, but too expensive. The VHS will do for now. I think the Adamson's work in Africa was amazing, so impressed!!

This is an utterly heart-warming story that has a strong nostalgic feel to it, since it just couldn't happen in this world today.

Alternative: buy the dvd from the Bornfree website and help with the on-going conservation efforts.

I am reviewing the DVD by HSV (Hollywood Select Video). It is a decent enough attempt to put out a public domain copy of a 16mm film, but therein lies the problem. The PD version of this film is missing a few minutes. (The official DVD titled Christian: The Lion at World's End is complete.) Even the credits are not all there on the HSV DVD.

Because of its source, the picture is a bit soft compared to the official DVD, as well.

Heck, even the picture on the cover is just a generic lion picture; it's not Christian.

Good enough to get by, but I don't really know why this DVD is around when the official DVD is available.

I saw the Christian the Lion trailer.
It had tragedy and if you are an animal
lover, don't burn this into your heart and brain.
If you don't mind crying your eyes out then
watxch it. Would NOT recommend to have children see
it or they'll cry, too. You get very attached to
some of the other lions and there's alot of tragedy.