When I first saw the original 'The Lion King' in cinemas at the age of four, I'd been hooked. Ever since then, my favorite movie has always been this Disney classic. The sequel came out when I was seven, and for a cheaply made direct-to-video movie, was quite enjoyable to watch. Basically, the story follows on from the original film. To beat the original Lion King would be a near-impossible feat, so when put in perspective, the movie really isn't all that bad. The story is neatly tied in with the original film, with the concept of Scar, the antagonist of the first film, having a family bent on revenge over Simba, the protagonist of the 1st Lion King. The film can be very moving at times, and some songs I even preferred over the original's. However, this movie could have been so much more! Had Disney spent more time on it and released it to cinemas instead of having a direct to video release, this could have easily been just as good as the original. What brought this movie's rating down was the fact the storyline had a lot of unanswered questions - where was this pride int he rpevious movie? Many other gaps fill this film, and are far too vague for the viewer to assume what might have happened.
161 Reviews
One of the better DTV sequels!
TheLittleSongbird5 March 2009
Of course, it isn't as good as the stunning original, but it's definitely better than the Little Mermaid, Jungle Book and Cinderella sequels which ranged from disappointing to lame. It's also in my opinion in the top 3 of the better DTV sequels, which are The King of Thieves(Aladdin)and Enchanted Christmas(Beauty and the Beast).
What makes it good is the welcome return of Timon and Pumbaa, who brought great comic relief, although they weren't as funny. The songs, while not as outstanding as the original, were actually not that bad at all. He lives in You is wonderfully uplifting. Zira was also very convincing, much better than Morgana. I don't think though that she was as convincing a villain as Scar, who to me is on of the best Disney villains along with Jafar, Ursula, Frollo, Maleficent, The Wicked Queen and Ratigan oddly enough. The animation actually wasn't that bad either, though sometimes fell flat in the darker scenes, but it was colourful, crisp and lively on the whole.
The negatives are very few actually. In the Little Mermaid sequel, I put more cons than pros, but not here. Kiara and Kuvu are a little unconvincing, likewise with Simba, they just lacked depth. And the story isn't quite as gripping and is sometimes a little on the predictable side. But of course, the sequel is hardly ever better than the original, with the exception of perhaps Toy Story.
In conclusion, a flawed but enjoyable sequel to a cinematic masterpiece, though the original isn't as good as Beauty and the Beast. 7/10 Bethany Cox
What makes it good is the welcome return of Timon and Pumbaa, who brought great comic relief, although they weren't as funny. The songs, while not as outstanding as the original, were actually not that bad at all. He lives in You is wonderfully uplifting. Zira was also very convincing, much better than Morgana. I don't think though that she was as convincing a villain as Scar, who to me is on of the best Disney villains along with Jafar, Ursula, Frollo, Maleficent, The Wicked Queen and Ratigan oddly enough. The animation actually wasn't that bad either, though sometimes fell flat in the darker scenes, but it was colourful, crisp and lively on the whole.
The negatives are very few actually. In the Little Mermaid sequel, I put more cons than pros, but not here. Kiara and Kuvu are a little unconvincing, likewise with Simba, they just lacked depth. And the story isn't quite as gripping and is sometimes a little on the predictable side. But of course, the sequel is hardly ever better than the original, with the exception of perhaps Toy Story.
In conclusion, a flawed but enjoyable sequel to a cinematic masterpiece, though the original isn't as good as Beauty and the Beast. 7/10 Bethany Cox
A worthy successor...
MrLister16 August 2000
I wanted to see this for ages but was put off by the fact that it went straight to video. Then I noticed that all Disney sequels (bar Rescuers Down Under) went straight to video, so I bought it. From the opening song this film captures the spirit of the original. The first time I saw it I thought only two of the songs were good (Upendi and One of Us) but after seeing it a few times I realised that the songs are extremely well written and catchy. I feel there are a few points not accounted for in the film notably the origin of the Outland lions (I can only conclude that only a few followed Scar and others joined them in the time period between Kiara as a cub and as an adult) but I prefer these things left to the imagination. Overall I am very impressed by this film. It has very high quality animation for a straight to video sequel and introduces some interesting new characters. I would really like the Lion King to be a trilogy (I am a great fan of trilogies) so come on, Disney, Make a third film, preferably detailing the young Scar and Mufasa. A definite 5-stars.
A movie that i have a very complicated relationship with.
Martinito_0818327 June 2019
The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride is the movie that i had hard time rating it. It tries to respect the original and in some extend - it succeeds, but there are still some parts that are not very good and unfortunately because of them, it makes the movie very weak and not unique at all. It suffers from a story that we've seen many times and also at the same time serves as a perfect narrative for the sequel, but the way it's told is too weak and bit cliché; some of the old characters are here and act the same, while others have new roles, especially Simba, who is given the role of a father to the main protagonist and being overprotective and also being the best character in the movie. Aside from Simba, Kiara, Kovu and Rafiki, the villain and the other characters are weak or don't have enough screen time and they drag the movie down for me; the way the story is told, you'll expect the same with the dialogue; the music is forgettable with the exception of three songs (He Lives In You is the best song without a doubt and makes the opening of the movie amazing) and one track that they played two times and has become memorable; the animation is bit rough in some places, but still looks nice and you can tell it doesn't look like low-budget; the cinematography is very mixed in my opinion; the sound is great; the acting is great, but that may depends on the country you live in, since i watched a dubbed version and the english version is mixed for me after trying it. After watching it again, i can understand what they where trying to do, but i feel like they didn't give 100% of themselves to make a perfect sequel to one of the greatest movies of all time. With those problems aside, i still respect everyone, who was involved with the making of it and it's one of those movies that i'll be happy watching it again.
One of the best Disney sequels (although thats still not saying much)
classicx_attraction2 April 2008
The lion king 2 is probably my favorite Disney sequel. Its one of the movies where the first time around its okay, and then if you see it again, you're like..wow, this is great! Same goes for the songs. I actually love this movie. Compared to the first movie, it isn't all that bad. They didn't ruin anything from the first movie, like the characters personalities, as they do in so many other sequels (like little mermaid 2. puke.) I'd say more of the problem is they kind of down play a lot of characters that had bigger roles. Zazu and Nala are barely in this. Timoon and Puumba are still cute and funny. Kiara, their daughter, is a little flat, But the evil villains are very, very good. Zira is excellent, and Kovu is very complex and interesting. The ending is a little flat as well, but its still a touching movie. Its on par with Aladdin and the king of thieves, which is the only other excellent Disney sequel. (for the record, toy story 2 is Disney and pixar-but is not Disney made. pixar makes it, Disney distributes. thanks.) This sequel actually has depth and every (major) character in this movie has their own personal struggle. Its not simple and happy go lucky like most Disney sequels. I would highly recommend it.
Why is this Movie Given So Much Crap?
apeclaw20117 October 2005
I don't understand why this movie is regarded to as trash. Of course it is not as good as the first movie but it comes pretty stinkin close! The animation is actually equal too the quality of the original movie. I think that it is the most perfect Disney sequel ever! It is a very interesting story that shows Simba as a father. It is cool because you get to see Simba has now become basically, like his father. Every time I see this movie, I can feel that Simba has the same sense of power that Mufasa had. It has a fun and sweet story line and a great ending. When this movie was being made, the goal was to create a sequel to a movie that everyone loves so that they could spend more time with the characters. I think (despite what everyone say's) they created an awesome, spectacular Disney film!
Most impressive sequel yet.
Norway129 November 1998
Simba's Pride may be the first of Disney's sequels with a soundtrack worth purchasing. The music was very good and the art was also most impressive. The only voice I wasn't completely satisfied with was Edward Hibbert as Zazu. Even I could have made a better clone for Rowan Atkinson. The script was somewhat rough, and some of the scenes had some unnecessarily dark undertones, but I still believe this to be the best made sequel yet - thanks largely to some very good songs. Keep it up, Disney!
Excellence at its best...why so many haters?
amcmartinez14 July 2014
So I finally decided to break down and write a review for Lion King 2. I might seem like I'm ranting but I'm just so tired of people bashing this work of creation. Lion King 2 is not bad! ITS NOT! And I guess a lot of people are saying it is because they are expecting to see Lion King all over again. Well my advice to those is to hit the replay button on LK because its not happening. Sequels are not meant to be exact replicas of their predecessors. So, those who are looking for that with this movie are going to be rudely disappointed. Having that said, I think it can be agreed that LK2 brought something a little new to the table.
So first for those people complaining about the animation, it didn't suck. Either I'm blind or you are because I see the same quality animation as the first. Now I will admit LK2 wasn't as "flashy" as the original but it's not supposed to be. Its animation is more toned and a bit darker to fit the mood of the script. We can see this by just looking at Priderock , which had been shown from the other side to convey the shadowy feelings of Simba.Well since I brought that up I guess I'll start off with him first. Simba ,of course, is a big part of the movie. He is seen struggling to deal with his lingering hatred of his uncle Scar. He holds this resentment against Kovu and the Outlanders. Kiara is the daughter of King Simba making her a princess. She is strong minded and very independent. We can see this from her desire to do things herself and staying true to her heart. Bad-boy Kovu on the other hand is a lion trained by his evil mother, Zira, to befriend Kiara so that he may overthrow Simba thus, avenging Scar.
In the end Kiara and Kovu fall in love and show others that love is the most important thing above all, no matter what you look like or come from. So the two groups put an end to their bitter feud and decide to join together . They now see that there is no difference between them because they're all lions; They are one.And so the light finally shines on the other side of Priderock. The story actually gives an eye opening lesson to people. We shouldn't judge others by their race or their background. This is still an ever so prevalent issue in our society that I wish would just disappear. Well that's the lesson I got from watching this movie. It seems though that some people forgot their "Upendi" and "Hakuna Matata" back in Neverland because they're so oblivious to the fact LK2 is a stunning movie that conveys a strong message.
This movie was fantastic! Whats not to love? The animation was on key, the plot had good substance, and the characters are lovable and totally unforgettable. What more do you people want?! Not to mention the amazing song "We Are One" which makes my eyes turn into Niagara falls every time I hear it. *Sniff Sniff* (Now I miss Mufasa)...anyway. Asides from Lion King I don't think this movie could have did any better. Kudos to you Disney! Anyone who disagrees,oh well, I guess thats just you and your narrow minded opinion. #LEH
So first for those people complaining about the animation, it didn't suck. Either I'm blind or you are because I see the same quality animation as the first. Now I will admit LK2 wasn't as "flashy" as the original but it's not supposed to be. Its animation is more toned and a bit darker to fit the mood of the script. We can see this by just looking at Priderock , which had been shown from the other side to convey the shadowy feelings of Simba.Well since I brought that up I guess I'll start off with him first. Simba ,of course, is a big part of the movie. He is seen struggling to deal with his lingering hatred of his uncle Scar. He holds this resentment against Kovu and the Outlanders. Kiara is the daughter of King Simba making her a princess. She is strong minded and very independent. We can see this from her desire to do things herself and staying true to her heart. Bad-boy Kovu on the other hand is a lion trained by his evil mother, Zira, to befriend Kiara so that he may overthrow Simba thus, avenging Scar.
In the end Kiara and Kovu fall in love and show others that love is the most important thing above all, no matter what you look like or come from. So the two groups put an end to their bitter feud and decide to join together . They now see that there is no difference between them because they're all lions; They are one.And so the light finally shines on the other side of Priderock. The story actually gives an eye opening lesson to people. We shouldn't judge others by their race or their background. This is still an ever so prevalent issue in our society that I wish would just disappear. Well that's the lesson I got from watching this movie. It seems though that some people forgot their "Upendi" and "Hakuna Matata" back in Neverland because they're so oblivious to the fact LK2 is a stunning movie that conveys a strong message.
This movie was fantastic! Whats not to love? The animation was on key, the plot had good substance, and the characters are lovable and totally unforgettable. What more do you people want?! Not to mention the amazing song "We Are One" which makes my eyes turn into Niagara falls every time I hear it. *Sniff Sniff* (Now I miss Mufasa)...anyway. Asides from Lion King I don't think this movie could have did any better. Kudos to you Disney! Anyone who disagrees,oh well, I guess thats just you and your narrow minded opinion. #LEH
Not the Mightiest Lion
travisimo17 January 2004
Being a big fan of the first Lion King, it would take a heck of a sequel to match my appreciation for the first flick. The Lion King II: Simba's Pride doesn't even come close in my eyes, but I don't think Disney was really shooting for that. The story is likeable enough with Simba's daughter, Kiara, growing up and trying to step out of Simba's shadow. She meets an outsider, Kovu who is some sort of descendant or handpicked successor of Simba's nemesis, Scar. Kiara and Kovu hit it off as young cubs but are told by Simba they can't see each other when Simba learns of Kovu's background. In a way it's kind of refreshing to see a flaw in our hero, Simba, as he holds a grudge against Kovu for something Kovu had absolutely no control over. Then again, I wondered where exactly these outside lions came from, as I don't recall seeing a glimpse of them at all in the first LK.
Anyway, Kovu and Kiara grow up and fall in love and that stuff, but Kovu has been taught to hate Simba and the other Prideland lions. I'll stop there, but you get the sense of what the story is like. It's not groundbreaking material, but it's nice enough to keep you and/or the little ones interested. There are some flaws in LK2 that I just couldn't get over. The animation is obviously nowhere near that of the original as it was made from a much smaller budget. That's okay and all, as the story usually trumps visuals, but some effects like the fire scene were pretty bad. The fire just stood out like a sore thumb. I've seen better effects on David Letterman skits!
My next problem with the movie is the voice work. Most of it is done well by the original cast (Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella), but Rowan Atkinson is missed as the neurotic bird, Zazu. I also didn't like the actor who voiced Kovu, Jason Marsden. I don't dislike Jason Marsden personally, but he has done characters in the past that have just annoyed the crap out of me. I actually remember him as Eddie Munster in The Munsters Today. In the new version, Eddie becomes some sort of punk who rebels against his family. That's not the Eddie Munster I knew as a child. Furthermore, he also voiced Goofy's grownup son, Max, in The Goofy Movie. I liked Max when he was a kid in the TV series, Goof Troop, but as an adolescent, Max was just a whiny, selfish brat. So whenever I hear Jason Marsden's voice, I just get annoyed. It's my own issues, I know.
Now for my last complaint, which is usually the same for any Disney sequel, the music is just not up to par with the original. Elton John and Tim Rice were desperately missed in this movie. Although I will say there was one song that was fairly good, Love Will Find a Way. It's a nice ballad that really can fit in with any Disney feature. It also sounded familiar to me, like maybe I've heard it on the radio. That is just something uncommon with Disney sequels.
I know I've complained a lot, which is sort of hard for me to do, because I love The Lion King and Disney, but LK2 just isn't my type of flick. I'm very glad to see other reviewers enjoy it though. To each their own, I say!
My IMDb Rating: 5/10. My Yahoo! Grade: C+ (Flawed but Worthy)
Anyway, Kovu and Kiara grow up and fall in love and that stuff, but Kovu has been taught to hate Simba and the other Prideland lions. I'll stop there, but you get the sense of what the story is like. It's not groundbreaking material, but it's nice enough to keep you and/or the little ones interested. There are some flaws in LK2 that I just couldn't get over. The animation is obviously nowhere near that of the original as it was made from a much smaller budget. That's okay and all, as the story usually trumps visuals, but some effects like the fire scene were pretty bad. The fire just stood out like a sore thumb. I've seen better effects on David Letterman skits!
My next problem with the movie is the voice work. Most of it is done well by the original cast (Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella), but Rowan Atkinson is missed as the neurotic bird, Zazu. I also didn't like the actor who voiced Kovu, Jason Marsden. I don't dislike Jason Marsden personally, but he has done characters in the past that have just annoyed the crap out of me. I actually remember him as Eddie Munster in The Munsters Today. In the new version, Eddie becomes some sort of punk who rebels against his family. That's not the Eddie Munster I knew as a child. Furthermore, he also voiced Goofy's grownup son, Max, in The Goofy Movie. I liked Max when he was a kid in the TV series, Goof Troop, but as an adolescent, Max was just a whiny, selfish brat. So whenever I hear Jason Marsden's voice, I just get annoyed. It's my own issues, I know.
Now for my last complaint, which is usually the same for any Disney sequel, the music is just not up to par with the original. Elton John and Tim Rice were desperately missed in this movie. Although I will say there was one song that was fairly good, Love Will Find a Way. It's a nice ballad that really can fit in with any Disney feature. It also sounded familiar to me, like maybe I've heard it on the radio. That is just something uncommon with Disney sequels.
I know I've complained a lot, which is sort of hard for me to do, because I love The Lion King and Disney, but LK2 just isn't my type of flick. I'm very glad to see other reviewers enjoy it though. To each their own, I say!
My IMDb Rating: 5/10. My Yahoo! Grade: C+ (Flawed but Worthy)
Powerful sequel
nmf-214 January 2001
A very powerful sequel to a very powerful and the best Disney movie. Kovu and Kiara teach us how powerful and strong the love is. Like TLK 1, TLK 2 bring us good songs, especially Love Will Find A Way and He Lives In You. The new characters are very good, the villain Zira is cruel, the poor Nuka dies trying to prove his braveness and Vitani...well she's not a real villain like all the other outlanders. Unfortunately, they didn't give a good number of lines to Zazu and Nala, especially Zazu - he have less lines than Nala. But every good movie sometimes commit little mistakes. Well, The Lion King 3 is confirmed (2002) and I can't wait to watch this new movie, and I hope TLK 3 being so good like TLK 1 and TLK 2.
Under appreciated gem
Chloe-h199421 March 2020
This is a such a great little film about forgiveness and finding yourself! The songs are catchy and original and the characters are fresh and fun. They do justice to Simba without making him perfect or the star of the show. Kiara and Kovu are great with their own strengths and shortcomings. The villains motivation and actions make sense. I pull this one out every now and then for a heartwarming watch. Also, I really appreciate how the conflict gets resolved in this film. It's refreshing to see sympathetic villains in a Disney film. I would recommend this movie - I always have a good time watching it.
Good sequel
galaxychoco22 September 2013
I must say the sequel for me had a lot to live up to after how much I liked the first lion king but i think this sequel did a pretty good job. In this movie simba and nala have a cub kiara but she then meets kovu an an outlander who belongs to zira who was once scars mate. Kovu is brought up to believe that simba is the enemy and he must kill him but instead kovu ends up falling in love with kiara. The movie had a good plot and storyline it also had good characters. Not as good as the first but pretty close it is still a must see for kids well mostly anyone who likes Disney and animation. I would recommend this movie to most people. I give this movie a 7 out of 10.
Surprisingly good
runoson3 February 2013
Lion King II is darker and scarier but lacks the humor and music from the first film.
Everybody knows the first film but this one is a bit under the radar. I don't know why since it works well and follows the same pattern as the first one. Good versus Evil with strong sidekicks and villains. I especially like the weird offspring of the evil Scar.
The film contains all the ingredients of a likable Disney film - humor (less than in the first, though), good vs evil and a love story.
All in all, it's a good sequel and should get more attention that it has been receiving. 7/10. If your kids liked the first one they will surely enjoy this one as well.
Everybody knows the first film but this one is a bit under the radar. I don't know why since it works well and follows the same pattern as the first one. Good versus Evil with strong sidekicks and villains. I especially like the weird offspring of the evil Scar.
The film contains all the ingredients of a likable Disney film - humor (less than in the first, though), good vs evil and a love story.
All in all, it's a good sequel and should get more attention that it has been receiving. 7/10. If your kids liked the first one they will surely enjoy this one as well.
Not as good as the first, but deserves better
theninjahowl11 March 2012
I remember seeing this movie at a young age and was greatly impressed by it! After watching the first Lion King, I could't wait for this film. Now after hearing all the negativity on this movie I was confused, I mean of course it wasn't near as good as the first film but most sequels can't surpass there original because they already used all the good ideas in the first film. In my mind this film should have received better responses, the story was good, the characters were fun, they added different songs, sure there were silly moments but that's what makes the film good. And there was more of a love story then the first one but I enjoyed it. All in all I'd just like to say this film wasn't as good as the first "The Lion King" but it still deserved better.
I give it a 7.5 out of 10
I give it a 7.5 out of 10
The film was quite exciting...
Ariel-2826 November 1999
I was really surprised that Simba's child was a daughter, but it was a very good choice from Disney, because if he had had a son, the battle between the Pridelands and Outlands lions would have lasted forever. Especially the relationship between Simba and Kiara is beautiful, just like a father-daughter-relationship should be.
Zira is quite a frightening character, just a classic type of a really cruel female figure.
Yes, the film is worthy watching, but of course not equally well as the original.
Zira is quite a frightening character, just a classic type of a really cruel female figure.
Yes, the film is worthy watching, but of course not equally well as the original.
The best sequel I ever watched!
LittleKiara2 August 2010
Wonderful, dramatic tale, an interpretation of William Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" in animal kingdom. The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride - best direct-to-video sequel ever: wise, romantic storyline, beautiful characters - some of them looks like much better than characters from 1st movie. Kovu, Vitani and of course Kiara - I love them all sooo much! Great songs and music - heartwarming "Love Will Find a Way" always make me cry. Too pity it wasn't released in cinemas - I hope Disney will release it in Blu-Ray format alongside with 1st movie. Thank you, Darrel Rooney! The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride - one of the last great traditional cartoons from Walt Disney Pictures! 10/10
Pleasantly Surprised :-)
Mike-35927 October 1998
I am a HUGE fan of THE LION KING, so I was very anxious to purchase SIMBA'S PRIDE. I got home, put it in, and watched. When it was all said and done, THE LION KING II : SIMBA'S PRIDE is an enjoyable, fun, exciting sequel that is worthy of taking its place on the throne. The voice cast is top notch { except mabey for Neve Campbell, she seemed bland}, the action is exciting, the animation better than usual, and it was a completely different story than the first, which was nice. The only fault is that except for two songs, the rest are pretty bland and don't compare to the original, but I guess that can be expected. THE LION KING II : SIMBA'S PRIDE gets **** 1/2 out of ***** stars.
P.S.- Andy Dick turns in a deliciously funny and evil performance. Pay attention to him.
P.S.- Andy Dick turns in a deliciously funny and evil performance. Pay attention to him.
An above average sequel
studioAT12 June 2012
Disney did a lot of these straight to DVD sequels in the late nineties and it was no surprise that one of their biggest hits 'The Lion King' got the same treatment.
To be fair it's not bad. The story mirrors Romeo and Juliet and is strong while most of the voice cast return which wasn't always the case with these straight to DVD films.
The songs aren't as good as in the first film but are still nice and the action is enjoyable. it's the sort of Disney film that everyone can enjoy and could probably have been given a cinema release due to it's quality.
If you liked the first film and want to see what happened next then this film is well worth watching.
To be fair it's not bad. The story mirrors Romeo and Juliet and is strong while most of the voice cast return which wasn't always the case with these straight to DVD films.
The songs aren't as good as in the first film but are still nice and the action is enjoyable. it's the sort of Disney film that everyone can enjoy and could probably have been given a cinema release due to it's quality.
If you liked the first film and want to see what happened next then this film is well worth watching.
???
olivery2k9 August 2002
I really like this movie. It's a lot better than I thought it would be. I thought it was better than the first. Then I watched the 1st one again. The 1st is better, yet the 2nd one is almost as good. I think it would have been better if Kovu was Scar's son. Kovu's sister wasn't really needed, yet that doesn't matter. I was suprised about the ending. I was sure Kiara was going to die. I'm glad she didn't. I hope they make a 3rd, and no more. A 4th would be too much. 7/10
Not as excellent as my childhood favorite, but one of the better Disney DTV sequels
gavin-thelordofthefu-48-4602979 January 2013
After having grown up with my childhood favorite "The Lion King", I saw this sequel when I was a little child when it first released. I liked it and I considered it a good sequel. It's not as excellent as the original, but it's one of the better DTV sequels from Disney (Cinderella III: A Twist In Time and Aladdin and the King of Thieves).
There are some pros and cons that I would like to point out. The animation does fell flat in the darker scenes especially towards the end, but some of the background and colors are wonderful to look at. The songs aren't nearly as good as the songs from the original, but they're pretty decent and I think Zira is a decent villain though not as convincing as Scar. The voice acting is pretty neat too and it's great to see Matthew Broderick and the others return along with the new ones.
What I don't like about this movie is that the story isn't as gripping or compelling as the original and I don't think I cared for Kira and Kovu which were uninteresting characters in my opinion. Not because of the voice actors (which it isn't anything to fault with), but they lacked depth to them much likewise Simba in this movie. Timon and Pumbaa are still likable comic reliefs although not nearly as funny.
Overall, The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride isn't an excellent DTV sequel from Disney, but much like Cinderella III and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, it's a much better one while the Cinderella, Pocahontas, and Hunchback of Notre Dame sequels were ranged from disappointing to lame.
There are some pros and cons that I would like to point out. The animation does fell flat in the darker scenes especially towards the end, but some of the background and colors are wonderful to look at. The songs aren't nearly as good as the songs from the original, but they're pretty decent and I think Zira is a decent villain though not as convincing as Scar. The voice acting is pretty neat too and it's great to see Matthew Broderick and the others return along with the new ones.
What I don't like about this movie is that the story isn't as gripping or compelling as the original and I don't think I cared for Kira and Kovu which were uninteresting characters in my opinion. Not because of the voice actors (which it isn't anything to fault with), but they lacked depth to them much likewise Simba in this movie. Timon and Pumbaa are still likable comic reliefs although not nearly as funny.
Overall, The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride isn't an excellent DTV sequel from Disney, but much like Cinderella III and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, it's a much better one while the Cinderella, Pocahontas, and Hunchback of Notre Dame sequels were ranged from disappointing to lame.
Simba once again is a bit of a screw up!
planktonrules6 April 2021
In this sequel to "The Lion King", the emphasis is on Simba's daughter and her relationship with the son of Scar. Naturally, Simba hates this and Scar's widow wants to use this relationship to have her son kill Simba. But both Kiara and Kovu just want to be left alone to carry on their romance. In other words, it's about two feuding families and their offspring who fall in love...."Romeo and Juliet". And, just like in "The Lion King", Simba is, at times, a bit of a jerk.
So is this any good? Well, yes and kinda yes. The animation is nice for a direct to video release (though it was released in theaters in some places outside the USA) but not as good as the original. The music, however, is about on par with the original...probably the best thing about the film. Overall, a nice film but a film that clearly is okay...not great...just okay. Enjoyable and familiar.
So is this any good? Well, yes and kinda yes. The animation is nice for a direct to video release (though it was released in theaters in some places outside the USA) but not as good as the original. The music, however, is about on par with the original...probably the best thing about the film. Overall, a nice film but a film that clearly is okay...not great...just okay. Enjoyable and familiar.
The Best Disney Sequel. Period.
luckysword1 July 2020
Disney in the late 90s was infamous for unnecessary and uninspired direct to DVD sequels. Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure, and 101 Dalmations II: Patch's London Adventure. Derivative, simple films with little merit that mostly exist to pander to children who don't recognize films for their artistic meaning and to make Disney money.
This is NOT the case with The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.
Simba's Pride is, in my opinion, not only the most meaningful direct to video sequel in its execution, but also the only one that understood the meaning and origin of its predecessor and the only one that was necessary for the character arcs displayed in the first film.
In order: this film is not as simple as its contemporaries. Most of the direct to video sequels of the late 90s put the focus on the child of one of the original film's main characters, put them on a wacky adventure with an arbitrary villain, and allowed everything to return to a normal peaceful family after the parents proving they love their child. They're formulaic and rather boring. Scamp's Adventure, Patch's London Adventure, and even the 2006 'Fox & the Hound II' all follow this roadmap. Quite simply: Simba's Pride does not. It breaks out of the template set by other sequels and tells a story that allows its characters to grow and face meaningful conflict. Most of the film actually takes place when its main characters - Kiara and Kovu are adults - when their story can develop as a more authentic romance, in contrast to the immature stories of the young characters in other sequels of the time. By taking its time with the romance between Kiara and Kovu as well, this is actually better than most Disney love stories in general. Kiara and Kovu spend a great deal of time together platonically learning to help one another grow, and growing more comfortable with one another as they share their lives and skills. Given the timetable of the film it gives their romance time to blossom in a way that feels well paced, comparable to the masterfully executed romance of Beauty and the Beast, as opposed to the shallow and rushed romance of Cinderella or Little Mermaid (stories where one of the two love interests is a non-character who doesn't talk with their better half). This execution leads to a genuine investment and can speak well to themes about love and relationships based on the characters.
Secondarily, this stands out among other Disney sequels for its understanding of its source material. Compare this, again, to Little Mermaid I and II. The Little Mermaid was originally a Grimm's Fairy tale about a stand-alone event where Ariel fell in love with a human. There is no secondary story to draw inspiration from, so Disney had to entirely invent one for Return to the Sea. I think that inventing original stories like this has merit, but it betrays the inspiration and intention of the original film. The original was an execution of a classic story in Disney's unique style and the sequel was wholly irrelevant by being an entirely original story made to make money. Similarly to Little Mermaid, the Lion King is also Disney's interpretation of a classic story. In this case, The Lion King was a Disney retelling of the Shakespeare play Hamlet, about a prince of a murdered king returning to retake his throne. Unlike Return to the Sea, however, Simba's Pride understands the roots of the original Lion King and respects this by drawing from another Shakespeare play - in this case it was Romeo and Juliet. By drawing from the same source as the original, Simba's Pride has a layer of thematic cohesion with its predecessor that makes it fit organically into the story in a way no other Disney sequel does.
Not only does it fit more thematically than any other sequel but also is a necessary continuation of the original film. Because, quite simply, Simba's character arc isn't finished. His journey in the Lion King taught him the bare minimum of what was required to be a king, but still left him uncertain of how to be anything more than a wannabe Mufasa. We see Simba at his highest when the solution is simple - kill Scar - but when dissent, treachery, and disloyalty are his enemies as the king of Pride Rock it's easy to see why he'd be left uncertain of how to be a good leader. Because Mufasa never lived to show him the nuance of being his own king and his own leader. A natural and arguably necessary character arc that Simba's Pride tackles throughout the whole runtime, while also focusing on the romance between Kiara and Kovu (which once again, develops naturally over a long time until the beginning of the third act, when that character arc is complete). I also think that the way Kiara's arc mirror's Simba's from the first film is rather necessary to discuss: how one adheres to their responsibility in the circle of life (as Simba learned) while still managing to be their own person (as every character in this film learns). A struggle to find one's own identity while also fulfilling their responsibility to others. An incredibly mature arc that's a perfectly natural question to ask after Simba surrendered his life with Timone and Pumba to return to Pride Rock. Asking when one's responsibility is more important than their choice and how the two coexist. By tackling these themes and questions it not only acts as the most natural continuation of a story in Disney's massive armada of sequels, but also, rises above the quality of the original film. I personally feel that this discussion of existential themes about one's own identity in spite of their destiny is an incredibly nuanced theme that deserves to be discussed as much and if not more so than the themes of responsibility and destiny tackled in the original Lion King.
Won't compare to the original, and should not be compared to it.
vip_ebriega8 June 2007
My Take: An actually good-looking straight-to-video sequel to the instant Disney classic.
This movie is not as good as the original. No, every time I watch it, i always say "nothing can top it!", not even its creators (I'm speaking of course of Disney). This is a straight-to-video follow-up, though, is very well animated, colorfully directed and well-tuned, that I would agree for those who think this deserves a big-screen treatment. "Lion King II: Simba's Pride" is actually better than anything Disney is releasing in theaters nowadays. The creativity for the producers was never lost since the original, but of course, it does compare to the brilliance of the original.
The story was pretty much a romance tale between Simba's (voiced by Matthew Broderick) daughter Kiara (voiced by Neve Campbell) and Kovu (voiced by Jason Marsden), who is actually an heir to Scar's paw prints. Scar, as we all know, is the villain from the first film. While Simba tries to forbid his daughter, Kiara and Kovu fight for their love, even thru the pushing of Kovu's mother Zira (voiced by Suzanne Phleshette), who cares only for the prophecy.
The story is simple, yet entertaining. You can obviously say Disney had fun with this project. And finally, their audiences get to share this fun, which is what Disney's later movies lacked.
Surely, this won't compare to the original, and not to be compared to it. This movie is special in its own way, and that's something we must appreciate.
TV movie rating: ***1/2 out of 5.
This movie is not as good as the original. No, every time I watch it, i always say "nothing can top it!", not even its creators (I'm speaking of course of Disney). This is a straight-to-video follow-up, though, is very well animated, colorfully directed and well-tuned, that I would agree for those who think this deserves a big-screen treatment. "Lion King II: Simba's Pride" is actually better than anything Disney is releasing in theaters nowadays. The creativity for the producers was never lost since the original, but of course, it does compare to the brilliance of the original.
The story was pretty much a romance tale between Simba's (voiced by Matthew Broderick) daughter Kiara (voiced by Neve Campbell) and Kovu (voiced by Jason Marsden), who is actually an heir to Scar's paw prints. Scar, as we all know, is the villain from the first film. While Simba tries to forbid his daughter, Kiara and Kovu fight for their love, even thru the pushing of Kovu's mother Zira (voiced by Suzanne Phleshette), who cares only for the prophecy.
The story is simple, yet entertaining. You can obviously say Disney had fun with this project. And finally, their audiences get to share this fun, which is what Disney's later movies lacked.
Surely, this won't compare to the original, and not to be compared to it. This movie is special in its own way, and that's something we must appreciate.
TV movie rating: ***1/2 out of 5.
Disney's, to date most underated movie
colinwii4 November 2018
To say that one of "The lion king" movies is disney's most underated movies might seem odd to you, but I really do think it is.
This movie really concludes everything that is left unsolved from the first movie. At the end of the first movie peace is restored but the outcasts are still left to suffer, this is resolved in "The lion king II: Simba's Pride"
This movie is all about teaching the watcher to be openminded and allow for second chances. The way this is written gives me chills, it's the most whole movie I have ever seen.
This is my favourite movie not only because I grew up watching it but also because I still feel the way I did watching it the first time when I watch it now, even though I've watched it some 200+ times.
Simply a masterpiece. This truly is disney's most underrated movie.
This movie really concludes everything that is left unsolved from the first movie. At the end of the first movie peace is restored but the outcasts are still left to suffer, this is resolved in "The lion king II: Simba's Pride"
This movie is all about teaching the watcher to be openminded and allow for second chances. The way this is written gives me chills, it's the most whole movie I have ever seen.
This is my favourite movie not only because I grew up watching it but also because I still feel the way I did watching it the first time when I watch it now, even though I've watched it some 200+ times.
Simply a masterpiece. This truly is disney's most underrated movie.
Respected sequel to the best animation movie ever
borimor20 October 2016
It's hard to compere yourself to the first Lion King movie, this's probably the reason why IMDb rating is a little low. It's still one of the best Disney sequel I ever seen. There's nothing to be a shame off, I believe that most Lion King fans will love this film. This time, the inspiration for this movie is the story Romeo and Juliet- the tragedy written by the great William Shakespeare- nothing new here, but still done very well.
Our beloved characters are still hear, only without Scar and the Hyenas. The new villain are enjoyable, I love Nuka the most, he only want his mother (Zira) affection and not matter how much he try, it's doesn't work. I love story between Kiara and Nala (style Romeo and Juliet), we seen more from Rafiki, Pumbaa and Timon and of course adult Simba.
The songs are wonderful, even for non-sequel movies, no Elton John, but they pick great singers for the movie- maybe the biggest surprise.
It's true, the movie don't have the same pace and charm, as the first one, but it's entertainment, with a lot of references to the first movie. The sequel bring honor to the 1994 classic film. Lion King fans will love this one, if they give the movie the chance it deserve.
7.5/10
Our beloved characters are still hear, only without Scar and the Hyenas. The new villain are enjoyable, I love Nuka the most, he only want his mother (Zira) affection and not matter how much he try, it's doesn't work. I love story between Kiara and Nala (style Romeo and Juliet), we seen more from Rafiki, Pumbaa and Timon and of course adult Simba.
The songs are wonderful, even for non-sequel movies, no Elton John, but they pick great singers for the movie- maybe the biggest surprise.
It's true, the movie don't have the same pace and charm, as the first one, but it's entertainment, with a lot of references to the first movie. The sequel bring honor to the 1994 classic film. Lion King fans will love this one, if they give the movie the chance it deserve.
7.5/10
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