Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lion King 2 is the sequel to Disney's 1994 masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognisable vocal talents return, creating a worthwhile successor to the highest-grossing animated film ever. We pick up the story as the lion king, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick), and Nala (Moira Kelly) have a new baby cub, a girl named Kiara (Neve Campbell). Like her father before, she seeks adventure and ends up outside the Pridelands, where lions loyal to the evil Scar (who died in the original) have lived with revenge in their hearts. The leader, Zira (a spunky turn from Suzanne Pleshette), schemes to use her son Kovu (Jason Marsden) to destroy Simba. As luck with have it, Kiara has bumped into Kovu and fallen in love.
This all sounds familiar since all of Disney's straight-to-video sequels have played it very safe, nearly repeating the originals' story, tone and pace. Perhaps there were too many cooks for this production. Besides the two screenplay credits, there are eight other writers credited for additional written material. The look of the film has none of the surprise of the original but is far superior to many other animated video releases.
For kids, the sequel will be a favourite. The comic antics of Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella) are enjoyable, as is Andy Dick as Nuka, the mixed-up older son of Zira. And there's plenty of action. The best element is the music. Relying on more African-influenced music, the five songs featured are far superior to those in Disney's other sequels. Zira's song of revenge, "My Lullaby", was cowritten by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The standout opening number, "He Lives in You", was created for the Lion King Broadway smash and now finds a whole new audience. --Doug Thomas, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
A WORTHY SEQUEL AND VERY WATCHABLE.......2007-11-13
his film was pleasant to watch. "Why" do you ask? Because, compared to Disney's other "sequels" that have went to theaters like the "Jungle Book 2" and "Piglet's Big Movie," this movie is a materpiece. I love it! Here are a few reasons: a) the ENTIRE cast (except for the British comedian Rowan Atkinson as Zazu) return to reprise their roles, including new voices of Neve Campbell from the "Scream" series as Kiara and Jason Marden "A Goofy Movie" as Kovu, b) the animation was way above average for a "sequel" and c) the story is actually good! I've seen some garbage with these recent Disney sequels but this one has a very good message.
Here's a brief summary of the film: Simba and Nala have a daughter named Kiara, who, like her father, is very curious and eager to explore. She ventures in the Outlands, a dry area beyond the Pridelands where Simba has exiled Scar's followers. There she meets a cub named Kovu and instantly they befriend each other, despite their different backgrounds. Kovu's mother Zira is watching from the grass the cubs' relationship unfold. Simba and co. come along and he reminds Zira that she and her pride was banished and for the first time meets Kovu. She explains that Kovu was chosen by Scar to follow in his footprints and that the Pridelands belonged to Scar. Anyway, Kiara and Kovu are forced to say good-bye for quite some time. Zira sees the friendship between her son and Kiara as an opportunity to brainwash Kovu in growing hatred for Simba and killing him and taking his place as Scar's heir. A few years pass and Kiara is now a teenager, ready for her first hunt. Meanwhile, Kovu's siblings, Nuka and Vitani, set afire the fields and Kiara gets trapped and faints from the smoke. Kovu saves her in order to be accepted into Simba's pride, while secretly aiming to kill him when he gets the chance. The romance comes in and Kiara and Kovu fall in love with each other after being separated for many years. From there on, he must decide which path he must be on: as a follower of Scar or a follower of his heart....
There are so many good things I like about this, especially Kovu's struggle within himself between honor and love and positive message of unity. Now, some say this movie's animation or other things are no where near the original. Well, duh! Who can beat the original? It's just impossible...name one animated feature that actually surpassed the original. But what makes this film unique is that it actually came pretty close. The downside to this film for me is that Kovu and Kiara grow up way too fast! I liked when they were playing together but had to be separated from each other by their rival parents. Timon and Pumbaa are back for more humorous appearances (though I have to admit they could have been funnier).
Did I mention the songs were actually good? This is something I thought would never be the case with a sequel. "He Lives In You," "We Are One," and "Love Will Find A Way" are my top favorites. The characters were not flat, in my opinion, and the voice acting was excellent! To sum it up, watch this movie despite all the negative reviews, who are people that expected this sequel to surpass the original or something. I love both. I can't say one is worse than the other because I see them as one continuous story. TLK was the best, and TLK 2 carries on the spirit.
This movie could have easily been released in theaters and may have been pretty successful. The only negative aspect of it was that it was too short! Only 1 hour 17 minutes! They could have spent some more time on Kiara and Kovu's childhood years. Thus I give it ****1/2 out of *****.
The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride gets 9/10
Not a disappointment.......2007-08-23
Disney has done some pretty crappy sequels. But The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is not one of them. It's my personal favourite of the series, and I like it more than the third, and perhaps a tinsy bit more than the original.
The animation is almost like the original, and the soundtrack is really beautiful, especially the Song 'He Lives in You' at the start. Zira's 'My lullaby' is wonderful tribute to 'Be Prepared' from the first film. But one of the real highlights is 'Love Will Find a Way,' which I prefer to 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight.' The story is not as clichéd as in other sequels. It's no 'main character has a child who grows up to be a whiny and disrespectful teenager who runs away from home because they can't get what they want and so and so forth.' Yes Simba has a child, Kiara, but she has such a sweet and loving personality and she really does care for her father and her family.
The story is about Simba's daughter Kiara who just loves to explore. After managing to separate herself from Timon and Pumbaa (her babysitters) she accidentally bumps into Kovu, another cub. But unfortunately, Kovu is the son of the murderous Zira - leader of the Outsiders, who want to avenge Scar's death. Before the two can make friends, they are separated by their parents. Zira trains Kovu into becoming a teenage killer who's destiny is to kill Simba and take his place as King. But when Kiara meets him again, they soon start to fall in love. Then Kovu starts realise that he's being manipulated.
I won't spoil it for you, but it's a very dark but sweet story. Kiara and Kovu don't actually spend that much time as cubs, but the story is about them as teens, not cubs so I don't really care. I think that Disney just over-hyped it with cub merchandise.
But anyway, if you love the the original Lion King, you'll love this one too. Get the Special Edition DVD, because the picture quality has seriously been improved.
Circle of Life still rolling.......2007-04-21
Just as the first movie is said to be based upon "Hamlet", the sequel has elements of another famous Shakespeare play-"Romeo and Juliet". Difficult to emulate the original and perhaps a bad move to make it a straight to DVD release because this definitely isn't B or C grade material.
In this film, we can see Simba as a worried dad, and together with Nala he had Kiara, his daughter who remembers himself very much in looks and in personality: she is always thinking about something dangerous or forbidden to do! Worried, he asks to Timon,Pumbaa and Zazu to always watch her and take good care. One day, Kiara easily escapes from one of the forbidden lands, where Scar's followers lives. Without being aware of this Kiara makes Friendship with Kovu,a little lion that Zira, his mother, pretend to raise to overthrow Simba. When Simba knows that, he forbids Kovu and Kiara to be friends, but when the time passes and they grow up, they are going to meet again, but now their feelings are going to be stronger. kiara is the key to make the lions to be close again. But Zira and Simba really hate each other. What is going to happen is almost a cliché, but nice to watch anyway.
Absolutely fantastic!!!!.......2006-05-21
I love this film. Of course it couldn't be better than the original, but it is 100 times better than lion king 3. The plot was really good, you could see things coming from a mile away but you can with most disney movies. I also thought it was nice that they still retained lots of the original characters. The music was fabulous, almost as good as the original. You can really see how Kovu's views are changing throughout the film and how much he and Kiara love each other. I thought that the end was amazing and parts of the film still give me goosebumps even now eg, the opening scene, the song 'exile'. It is an absolute must-see, kids will love it
We are One :).......2004-09-01
I Just Purchased this movie The Lion King Simba's pride 2 and I thoughly enjoyed the movie,alot of fighting scenes between the lions,you could see also later in the movie that Kovo really loved Kiara and really changed from being manipulated as a baby cub by his Mother Zula to kill Simba.The songs are great especially the African music in it :) favourite songs are We are One,One of Us,Love Will find a way(this song made my eyes well up) you must get this film today as I thoughly recommend it.Enjoy the Movie as this is a must have for your collection.
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is another made-for-video sequel to a Disney masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognisable vocal talents return, creating a worthwhile successor to the highest-grossing animated film ever. We pick up the story as the lion king, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and Nala (Moira Kelly) have a new baby cub, a girl named Kiara (Neve Campbell). Like her father before, she seeks adventure and ends up outside the Pridelands, where lions loyal to the evil Scar (who died in the original) have lived with revenge in their hearts. The leader, Zira (a spunky turn from Suzanne Pleshette), schemes to use her son Kovu (Jason Marsden) to destroy Simba. As luck with have it, Kiara has bumped into Kovu and fallen in love.
This all sounds familiar since all of Disney's straight-to-video sequels have played it very safe, nearly repeating the originals' story, tone, and pace. Perhaps there were too many cooks for this production. Besides the two screenplay credits, there are eight other writers credited for additional written material. The look of the film has none of the surprise of the original but is far superior to other animated videos. In fact, the film played in European cinemas.
For children, the sequel will be a favourite. The comic antics of Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella) are enjoyable, as is Andy Dick as Nuka, the mixed-up older son of Zira. And there's plenty of action. The best element is the music. Relying on more African-influenced music, the five songs featured are far superior to those in Disney's other sequels. Zira's song of revenge, "My Lullaby," was cowritten by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The oustanding opening number, "He Lives in You", was created for the Lion King Broadway smash and now finds a whole new audience. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Better than expected!.......2007-03-05
I've always been reluctant of sequels especially the Disney ones. They've never sounded as good.
However we recieved this second hand and my sister decided to watch it..Out of interest once reading the case I decided to sit and watch through it and I was surprised to find it was not as bad as I thought it might.
I do love follow up stories, if they are done properly and this was done very well. An enjoyable follow up to the original and sounds better than the third and some of Disney's latest work. I love story by all accounts, which means it treads the same lines but the history and the consequences of that history is what makes it worthwhile, as is Timon and Pumba who are still as funny if not moreso.
The artwork from what I see is just as good as the original, which is nice considering that animation tends to not look as good nowadays and I enjoyed the music, although they are not as memorable as the originals they are not far off and for me some of these will be remembered.
The only downside to say is Rowan Atkinson didn't return as Zazu. I prefer his over this one but you can't have it all.
The Long Awaited Sequel Has Arrived.......2006-06-08
Finally a sequel that is worthy of owning!
It follows on brilliantly from the 1st film in that Simba is now the King Of The Pridelands & it's his daugther Kiara - who is so much like Simba when he was younger! who is learning about her place in the Circle Of Life
Wonderful songs are featured including my persoanl favourite "We Are One" which is ung by Simba & Kiara after Simba rescues her fro the Outlanders, also featured is "One Of Us" - used as Kovu is banished from the Pridelands, "Love Will Find A Way" - te love song of the film, "My Lullabay" - used to get Kovu to go to sleep by his Mum
Definitely worth owning whether a fan of the series or not!
Beware!.......2005-01-07
One of Amazon's listmakers refers to this as 'The Lion Ker-ching', which I thought quite a good description. A blatant cash cow, the artwork is shoddier, the songs worse (except for the lullaby sung by Kovu's mommy, which is a passable re-working of Scar's villain song)and the best advice I can give is don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed. Having said that, my 3 year old likes it, so not a complete waste of money....
'sequel' is such a strong word.........2004-10-04
Okay first things first; if you're looking for a repeat of The Lion King, you won't find it here. The Lion King 2 is a sequel in the best sense of the word. It takes the story and characters of the first film and builds on them without being too afraid to step in another direction.
The constant references to Scar and the, um, 'scars', he has left may indeed turn some people off. Personally I loved it. Kiera and Kovu are worthy successors to Simba and Nala. Here we have characters who cannot escape the past, but unlike the first film where Simba is trying to escape HIS past, they are trapped in the shadow of events before their time. They weren't a part of Scar's betrayal or downfall yet they still live with the consequences. Their struggle to be seen as individuals away from their heritage is a metaphor that easily applies to the film as a whole and I for one think it is wholly successful.
The film is altogether darker than the first, (Scar's vengeful mate is a pretty twisted figure), but it works perfectly in it's context as a sequel. You watch The Lion King when you're young and fall in love with the beautiful artwork and songs, then you watch The Lion King 2 when you are a bit older and appreciate for the first time just how complex the first film was to leave such a legacy, and hopefully see it in a new light.
Some people won't want to view an old favourite in a new light, and I must admit I didn't watch this film out of choice, but the new characters soon had me involved in a whole new way, the new songs, (especially the emotional, 'He's Not One of Us'), are never far from my tongue, and in moments of doubt Timon and Pumba are there to ease you along.
There are many Disney sequels and most are straight-to-video for a reason, but if you dismiss The Lion King 2 on those principles, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Hakunama Watta??.......2004-05-14
Although its a great film and i watch it all the time (on VHS) it hasnt been released on dvd yet. the official uk release date it the 28th of june 2004,along with the lion king trilogy!
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is another made-for-video sequel to a Disney masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognisable vocal talents return, creating a worthwhile successor to the highest-grossing animated film ever. We pick up the story as the lion king, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and Nala (Moira Kelly) have a new baby cub, a girl named Kiara (Neve Campbell). Like her father before, she seeks adventure and ends up outside the Pridelands, where lions loyal to the evil Scar (who died in the original) have lived with revenge in their hearts. The leader, Zira (a spunky turn from Suzanne Pleshette), schemes to use her son Kovu (Jason Marsden) to destroy Simba. As luck with have it, Kiara has bumped into Kovu and fallen in love.
This all sounds familiar since all of Disney's straight-to-video sequels have played it very safe, nearly repeating the originals' story, tone, and pace. Perhaps there were too many cooks for this production. Besides the two screenplay credits, there are eight other writers credited for additional written material. The look of the film has none of the surprise of the original but is far superior to other animated videos. In fact, the film played in European cinemas.
For children, the sequel will be a favourite. The comic antics of Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella) are enjoyable, as is Andy Dick as Nuka, the mixed-up older son of Zira. And there's plenty of action. The best element is the music. Relying on more African-influenced music, the five songs featured are far superior to those in Disney's other sequels. Zira's song of revenge, "My Lullaby," was cowritten by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The oustanding opening number, "He Lives in You", was created for the Lion King Broadway smash and now finds a whole new audience. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Better than expected!.......2007-03-05
I've always been reluctant of sequels especially the Disney ones. They've never sounded as good.
However we recieved this second hand and my sister decided to watch it..Out of interest once reading the case I decided to sit and watch through it and I was surprised to find it was not as bad as I thought it might.
I do love follow up stories, if they are done properly and this was done very well. An enjoyable follow up to the original and sounds better than the third and some of Disney's latest work. I love story by all accounts, which means it treads the same lines but the history and the consequences of that history is what makes it worthwhile, as is Timon and Pumba who are still as funny if not moreso.
The artwork from what I see is just as good as the original, which is nice considering that animation tends to not look as good nowadays and I enjoyed the music, although they are not as memorable as the originals they are not far off and for me some of these will be remembered.
The only downside to say is Rowan Atkinson didn't return as Zazu. I prefer his over this one but you can't have it all.
The Long Awaited Sequel Has Arrived.......2006-06-08
Finally a sequel that is worthy of owning!
It follows on brilliantly from the 1st film in that Simba is now the King Of The Pridelands & it's his daugther Kiara - who is so much like Simba when he was younger! who is learning about her place in the Circle Of Life
Wonderful songs are featured including my persoanl favourite "We Are One" which is ung by Simba & Kiara after Simba rescues her fro the Outlanders, also featured is "One Of Us" - used as Kovu is banished from the Pridelands, "Love Will Find A Way" - te love song of the film, "My Lullabay" - used to get Kovu to go to sleep by his Mum
Definitely worth owning whether a fan of the series or not!
Beware!.......2005-01-07
One of Amazon's listmakers refers to this as 'The Lion Ker-ching', which I thought quite a good description. A blatant cash cow, the artwork is shoddier, the songs worse (except for the lullaby sung by Kovu's mommy, which is a passable re-working of Scar's villain song)and the best advice I can give is don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed. Having said that, my 3 year old likes it, so not a complete waste of money....
'sequel' is such a strong word.........2004-10-04
Okay first things first; if you're looking for a repeat of The Lion King, you won't find it here. The Lion King 2 is a sequel in the best sense of the word. It takes the story and characters of the first film and builds on them without being too afraid to step in another direction.
The constant references to Scar and the, um, 'scars', he has left may indeed turn some people off. Personally I loved it. Kiera and Kovu are worthy successors to Simba and Nala. Here we have characters who cannot escape the past, but unlike the first film where Simba is trying to escape HIS past, they are trapped in the shadow of events before their time. They weren't a part of Scar's betrayal or downfall yet they still live with the consequences. Their struggle to be seen as individuals away from their heritage is a metaphor that easily applies to the film as a whole and I for one think it is wholly successful.
The film is altogether darker than the first, (Scar's vengeful mate is a pretty twisted figure), but it works perfectly in it's context as a sequel. You watch The Lion King when you're young and fall in love with the beautiful artwork and songs, then you watch The Lion King 2 when you are a bit older and appreciate for the first time just how complex the first film was to leave such a legacy, and hopefully see it in a new light.
Some people won't want to view an old favourite in a new light, and I must admit I didn't watch this film out of choice, but the new characters soon had me involved in a whole new way, the new songs, (especially the emotional, 'He's Not One of Us'), are never far from my tongue, and in moments of doubt Timon and Pumba are there to ease you along.
There are many Disney sequels and most are straight-to-video for a reason, but if you dismiss The Lion King 2 on those principles, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Hakunama Watta??.......2004-05-14
Although its a great film and i watch it all the time (on VHS) it hasnt been released on dvd yet. the official uk release date it the 28th of june 2004,along with the lion king trilogy!
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is another made-for-video sequel to a Disney masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognisable vocal talents return, creating a worthwhile successor to the highest-grossing animated film ever. We pick up the story as the lion king, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and Nala (Moira Kelly) have a new baby cub, a girl named Kiara (Neve Campbell). Like her father before, she seeks adventure and ends up outside the Pridelands, where lions loyal to the evil Scar (who died in the original) have lived with revenge in their hearts. The leader, Zira (a spunky turn from Suzanne Pleshette), schemes to use her son Kovu (Jason Marsden) to destroy Simba. As luck with have it, Kiara has bumped into Kovu and fallen in love.
This all sounds familiar since all of Disney's straight-to-video sequels have played it very safe, nearly repeating the originals' story, tone, and pace. Perhaps there were too many cooks for this production. Besides the two screenplay credits, there are eight other writers credited for additional written material. The look of the film has none of the surprise of the original but is far superior to other animated videos. In fact, the film played in European cinemas.
For children, the sequel will be a favourite. The comic antics of Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella) are enjoyable, as is Andy Dick as Nuka, the mixed-up older son of Zira. And there's plenty of action. The best element is the music. Relying on more African-influenced music, the five songs featured are far superior to those in Disney's other sequels. Zira's song of revenge, "My Lullaby," was cowritten by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The oustanding opening number, "He Lives in You", was created for the Lion King Broadway smash and now finds a whole new audience. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Better than expected!.......2007-03-05
I've always been reluctant of sequels especially the Disney ones. They've never sounded as good.
However we recieved this second hand and my sister decided to watch it..Out of interest once reading the case I decided to sit and watch through it and I was surprised to find it was not as bad as I thought it might.
I do love follow up stories, if they are done properly and this was done very well. An enjoyable follow up to the original and sounds better than the third and some of Disney's latest work. I love story by all accounts, which means it treads the same lines but the history and the consequences of that history is what makes it worthwhile, as is Timon and Pumba who are still as funny if not moreso.
The artwork from what I see is just as good as the original, which is nice considering that animation tends to not look as good nowadays and I enjoyed the music, although they are not as memorable as the originals they are not far off and for me some of these will be remembered.
The only downside to say is Rowan Atkinson didn't return as Zazu. I prefer his over this one but you can't have it all.
The Long Awaited Sequel Has Arrived.......2006-06-08
Finally a sequel that is worthy of owning!
It follows on brilliantly from the 1st film in that Simba is now the King Of The Pridelands & it's his daugther Kiara - who is so much like Simba when he was younger! who is learning about her place in the Circle Of Life
Wonderful songs are featured including my persoanl favourite "We Are One" which is ung by Simba & Kiara after Simba rescues her fro the Outlanders, also featured is "One Of Us" - used as Kovu is banished from the Pridelands, "Love Will Find A Way" - te love song of the film, "My Lullabay" - used to get Kovu to go to sleep by his Mum
Definitely worth owning whether a fan of the series or not!
Beware!.......2005-01-07
One of Amazon's listmakers refers to this as 'The Lion Ker-ching', which I thought quite a good description. A blatant cash cow, the artwork is shoddier, the songs worse (except for the lullaby sung by Kovu's mommy, which is a passable re-working of Scar's villain song)and the best advice I can give is don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed. Having said that, my 3 year old likes it, so not a complete waste of money....
'sequel' is such a strong word.........2004-10-04
Okay first things first; if you're looking for a repeat of The Lion King, you won't find it here. The Lion King 2 is a sequel in the best sense of the word. It takes the story and characters of the first film and builds on them without being too afraid to step in another direction.
The constant references to Scar and the, um, 'scars', he has left may indeed turn some people off. Personally I loved it. Kiera and Kovu are worthy successors to Simba and Nala. Here we have characters who cannot escape the past, but unlike the first film where Simba is trying to escape HIS past, they are trapped in the shadow of events before their time. They weren't a part of Scar's betrayal or downfall yet they still live with the consequences. Their struggle to be seen as individuals away from their heritage is a metaphor that easily applies to the film as a whole and I for one think it is wholly successful.
The film is altogether darker than the first, (Scar's vengeful mate is a pretty twisted figure), but it works perfectly in it's context as a sequel. You watch The Lion King when you're young and fall in love with the beautiful artwork and songs, then you watch The Lion King 2 when you are a bit older and appreciate for the first time just how complex the first film was to leave such a legacy, and hopefully see it in a new light.
Some people won't want to view an old favourite in a new light, and I must admit I didn't watch this film out of choice, but the new characters soon had me involved in a whole new way, the new songs, (especially the emotional, 'He's Not One of Us'), are never far from my tongue, and in moments of doubt Timon and Pumba are there to ease you along.
There are many Disney sequels and most are straight-to-video for a reason, but if you dismiss The Lion King 2 on those principles, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Hakunama Watta??.......2004-05-14
Although its a great film and i watch it all the time (on VHS) it hasnt been released on dvd yet. the official uk release date it the 28th of june 2004,along with the lion king trilogy!
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is another made-for-video sequel to a Disney masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognisable vocal talents return, creating a worthwhile successor to the highest-grossing animated film ever. We pick up the story as the lion king, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and Nala (Moira Kelly) have a new baby cub, a girl named Kiara (Neve Campbell). Like her father before, she seeks adventure and ends up outside the Pridelands, where lions loyal to the evil Scar (who died in the original) have lived with revenge in their hearts. The leader, Zira (a spunky turn from Suzanne Pleshette), schemes to use her son Kovu (Jason Marsden) to destroy Simba. As luck with have it, Kiara has bumped into Kovu and fallen in love.
This all sounds familiar since all of Disney's straight-to-video sequels have played it very safe, nearly repeating the originals' story, tone, and pace. Perhaps there were too many cooks for this production. Besides the two screenplay credits, there are eight other writers credited for additional written material. The look of the film has none of the surprise of the original but is far superior to other animated videos. In fact, the film played in European cinemas.
For children, the sequel will be a favourite. The comic antics of Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella) are enjoyable, as is Andy Dick as Nuka, the mixed-up older son of Zira. And there's plenty of action. The best element is the music. Relying on more African-influenced music, the five songs featured are far superior to those in Disney's other sequels. Zira's song of revenge, "My Lullaby," was cowritten by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The oustanding opening number, "He Lives in You", was created for the Lion King Broadway smash and now finds a whole new audience. --Doug Thomas
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is another made-for-video sequel to a Disney masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognisable vocal talents return, creating a worthwhile successor to the highest-grossing animated film ever. We pick up the story as the lion king, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and Nala (Moira Kelly) have a new baby cub, a girl named Kiara (Neve Campbell). Like her father before, she seeks adventure and ends up outside the Pridelands, where lions loyal to the evil Scar (who died in the original) have lived with revenge in their hearts. The leader, Zira (a spunky turn from Suzanne Pleshette), schemes to use her son Kovu (Jason Marsden) to destroy Simba. As luck with have it, Kiara has bumped into Kovu and fallen in love.
This all sounds familiar since all of Disney's straight-to-video sequels have played it very safe, nearly repeating the originals' story, tone, and pace. Perhaps there were too many cooks for this production. Besides the two screenplay credits, there are eight other writers credited for additional written material. The look of the film has none of the surprise of the original but is far superior to other animated videos. In fact, the film played in European cinemas.
For children, the sequel will be a favourite. The comic antics of Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella) are enjoyable, as is Andy Dick as Nuka, the mixed-up older son of Zira. And there's plenty of action. The best element is the music. Relying on more African-influenced music, the five songs featured are far superior to those in Disney's other sequels. Zira's song of revenge, "My Lullaby," was cowritten by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The oustanding opening number, "He Lives in You", was created for the Lion King Broadway smash and now finds a whole new audience. --Doug Thomas
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is another made-for-video sequel to a Disney masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognisable vocal talents return, creating a worthwhile successor to the highest-grossing animated film ever. We pick up the story as the lion king, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and Nala (Moira Kelly) have a new baby cub, a girl named Kiara (Neve Campbell). Like her father before, she seeks adventure and ends up outside the Pridelands, where lions loyal to the evil Scar (who died in the original) have lived with revenge in their hearts. The leader, Zira (a spunky turn from Suzanne Pleshette), schemes to use her son Kovu (Jason Marsden) to destroy Simba. As luck with have it, Kiara has bumped into Kovu and fallen in love.
This all sounds familiar since all of Disney's straight-to-video sequels have played it very safe, nearly repeating the originals' story, tone, and pace. Perhaps there were too many cooks for this production. Besides the two screenplay credits, there are eight other writers credited for additional written material. The look of the film has none of the surprise of the original but is far superior to other animated videos. In fact, the film played in European cinemas.
For children, the sequel will be a favourite. The comic antics of Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella) are enjoyable, as is Andy Dick as Nuka, the mixed-up older son of Zira. And there's plenty of action. The best element is the music. Relying on more African-influenced music, the five songs featured are far superior to those in Disney's other sequels. Zira's song of revenge, "My Lullaby," was cowritten by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The oustanding opening number, "He Lives in You", was created for the Lion King Broadway smash and now finds a whole new audience. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Better than expected!.......2007-03-05
I've always been reluctant of sequels especially the Disney ones. They've never sounded as good.
However we recieved this second hand and my sister decided to watch it..Out of interest once reading the case I decided to sit and watch through it and I was surprised to find it was not as bad as I thought it might.
I do love follow up stories, if they are done properly and this was done very well. An enjoyable follow up to the original and sounds better than the third and some of Disney's latest work. I love story by all accounts, which means it treads the same lines but the history and the consequences of that history is what makes it worthwhile, as is Timon and Pumba who are still as funny if not moreso.
The artwork from what I see is just as good as the original, which is nice considering that animation tends to not look as good nowadays and I enjoyed the music, although they are not as memorable as the originals they are not far off and for me some of these will be remembered.
The only downside to say is Rowan Atkinson didn't return as Zazu. I prefer his over this one but you can't have it all.
The Long Awaited Sequel Has Arrived.......2006-06-08
Finally a sequel that is worthy of owning!
It follows on brilliantly from the 1st film in that Simba is now the King Of The Pridelands & it's his daugther Kiara - who is so much like Simba when he was younger! who is learning about her place in the Circle Of Life
Wonderful songs are featured including my persoanl favourite "We Are One" which is ung by Simba & Kiara after Simba rescues her fro the Outlanders, also featured is "One Of Us" - used as Kovu is banished from the Pridelands, "Love Will Find A Way" - te love song of the film, "My Lullabay" - used to get Kovu to go to sleep by his Mum
Definitely worth owning whether a fan of the series or not!
Beware!.......2005-01-07
One of Amazon's listmakers refers to this as 'The Lion Ker-ching', which I thought quite a good description. A blatant cash cow, the artwork is shoddier, the songs worse (except for the lullaby sung by Kovu's mommy, which is a passable re-working of Scar's villain song)and the best advice I can give is don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed. Having said that, my 3 year old likes it, so not a complete waste of money....
'sequel' is such a strong word.........2004-10-04
Okay first things first; if you're looking for a repeat of The Lion King, you won't find it here. The Lion King 2 is a sequel in the best sense of the word. It takes the story and characters of the first film and builds on them without being too afraid to step in another direction.
The constant references to Scar and the, um, 'scars', he has left may indeed turn some people off. Personally I loved it. Kiera and Kovu are worthy successors to Simba and Nala. Here we have characters who cannot escape the past, but unlike the first film where Simba is trying to escape HIS past, they are trapped in the shadow of events before their time. They weren't a part of Scar's betrayal or downfall yet they still live with the consequences. Their struggle to be seen as individuals away from their heritage is a metaphor that easily applies to the film as a whole and I for one think it is wholly successful.
The film is altogether darker than the first, (Scar's vengeful mate is a pretty twisted figure), but it works perfectly in it's context as a sequel. You watch The Lion King when you're young and fall in love with the beautiful artwork and songs, then you watch The Lion King 2 when you are a bit older and appreciate for the first time just how complex the first film was to leave such a legacy, and hopefully see it in a new light.
Some people won't want to view an old favourite in a new light, and I must admit I didn't watch this film out of choice, but the new characters soon had me involved in a whole new way, the new songs, (especially the emotional, 'He's Not One of Us'), are never far from my tongue, and in moments of doubt Timon and Pumba are there to ease you along.
There are many Disney sequels and most are straight-to-video for a reason, but if you dismiss The Lion King 2 on those principles, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Hakunama Watta??.......2004-05-14
Although its a great film and i watch it all the time (on VHS) it hasnt been released on dvd yet. the official uk release date it the 28th of june 2004,along with the lion king trilogy!
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is another made-for-video sequel to a Disney masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognisable vocal talents return, creating a worthwhile successor to the highest-grossing animated film ever. We pick up the story as the lion king, Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and Nala (Moira Kelly) have a new baby cub, a girl named Kiara (Neve Campbell). Like her father before, she seeks adventure and ends up outside the Pridelands, where lions loyal to the evil Scar (who died in the original) have lived with revenge in their hearts. The leader, Zira (a spunky turn from Suzanne Pleshette), schemes to use her son Kovu (Jason Marsden) to destroy Simba. As luck with have it, Kiara has bumped into Kovu and fallen in love.
This all sounds familiar since all of Disney's straight-to-video sequels have played it very safe, nearly repeating the originals' story, tone, and pace. Perhaps there were too many cooks for this production. Besides the two screenplay credits, there are eight other writers credited for additional written material. The look of the film has none of the surprise of the original but is far superior to other animated videos. In fact, the film played in European cinemas.
For children, the sequel will be a favourite. The comic antics of Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella) are enjoyable, as is Andy Dick as Nuka, the mixed-up older son of Zira. And there's plenty of action. The best element is the music. Relying on more African-influenced music, the five songs featured are far superior to those in Disney's other sequels. Zira's song of revenge, "My Lullaby," was cowritten by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. The oustanding opening number, "He Lives in You", was created for the Lion King Broadway smash and now finds a whole new audience. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Better than expected!.......2007-03-05
I've always been reluctant of sequels especially the Disney ones. They've never sounded as good.
However we recieved this second hand and my sister decided to watch it..Out of interest once reading the case I decided to sit and watch through it and I was surprised to find it was not as bad as I thought it might.
I do love follow up stories, if they are done properly and this was done very well. An enjoyable follow up to the original and sounds better than the third and some of Disney's latest work. I love story by all accounts, which means it treads the same lines but the history and the consequences of that history is what makes it worthwhile, as is Timon and Pumba who are still as funny if not moreso.
The artwork from what I see is just as good as the original, which is nice considering that animation tends to not look as good nowadays and I enjoyed the music, although they are not as memorable as the originals they are not far off and for me some of these will be remembered.
The only downside to say is Rowan Atkinson didn't return as Zazu. I prefer his over this one but you can't have it all.
The Long Awaited Sequel Has Arrived.......2006-06-08
Finally a sequel that is worthy of owning!
It follows on brilliantly from the 1st film in that Simba is now the King Of The Pridelands & it's his daugther Kiara - who is so much like Simba when he was younger! who is learning about her place in the Circle Of Life
Wonderful songs are featured including my persoanl favourite "We Are One" which is ung by Simba & Kiara after Simba rescues her fro the Outlanders, also featured is "One Of Us" - used as Kovu is banished from the Pridelands, "Love Will Find A Way" - te love song of the film, "My Lullabay" - used to get Kovu to go to sleep by his Mum
Definitely worth owning whether a fan of the series or not!
Beware!.......2005-01-07
One of Amazon's listmakers refers to this as 'The Lion Ker-ching', which I thought quite a good description. A blatant cash cow, the artwork is shoddier, the songs worse (except for the lullaby sung by Kovu's mommy, which is a passable re-working of Scar's villain song)and the best advice I can give is don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed. Having said that, my 3 year old likes it, so not a complete waste of money....
'sequel' is such a strong word.........2004-10-04
Okay first things first; if you're looking for a repeat of The Lion King, you won't find it here. The Lion King 2 is a sequel in the best sense of the word. It takes the story and characters of the first film and builds on them without being too afraid to step in another direction.
The constant references to Scar and the, um, 'scars', he has left may indeed turn some people off. Personally I loved it. Kiera and Kovu are worthy successors to Simba and Nala. Here we have characters who cannot escape the past, but unlike the first film where Simba is trying to escape HIS past, they are trapped in the shadow of events before their time. They weren't a part of Scar's betrayal or downfall yet they still live with the consequences. Their struggle to be seen as individuals away from their heritage is a metaphor that easily applies to the film as a whole and I for one think it is wholly successful.
The film is altogether darker than the first, (Scar's vengeful mate is a pretty twisted figure), but it works perfectly in it's context as a sequel. You watch The Lion King when you're young and fall in love with the beautiful artwork and songs, then you watch The Lion King 2 when you are a bit older and appreciate for the first time just how complex the first film was to leave such a legacy, and hopefully see it in a new light.
Some people won't want to view an old favourite in a new light, and I must admit I didn't watch this film out of choice, but the new characters soon had me involved in a whole new way, the new songs, (especially the emotional, 'He's Not One of Us'), are never far from my tongue, and in moments of doubt Timon and Pumba are there to ease you along.
There are many Disney sequels and most are straight-to-video for a reason, but if you dismiss The Lion King 2 on those principles, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Hakunama Watta??.......2004-05-14
Although its a great film and i watch it all the time (on VHS) it hasnt been released on dvd yet. the official uk release date it the 28th of june 2004,along with the lion king trilogy!
DVD Review:
- The Mummy Returns - Superbit [2001]
- The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter/The Witches (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Scooby-Doo Collection (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Street: Complete BBC Series 1 [2006]
- The Three Caballeros [1950]
- Too Cool for Christmas [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Unknown Beyond (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Various Artists - West-Coast All Stars
- Woman On Top [1999]
- Woman on Top [2000] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
DVD Review List
DVD Review
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