The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | 
| Directors: Rob Laduca, Darrell Rooney
Actors: Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, Neve Campbell, Liz Callaway, Michelle Horn
Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
Category: Video
List Price: $26.99
Buy Used: $0.03
You Save: $26.96 (100%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  239 reviews
Sales Rank: 191
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Hifi Sound, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 75
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
MPN: 2077-1/C9353
Model: 2077-1/C9353
ISBN: 0788805533
UPC: 786936017267
EAN: 9780788805530
Theatrical Release Date: October 27, 1998
Release Date: October 27, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Another made-for-video sequel to a Disney masterpiece. As with the Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas sequels, most of the recognizable 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 theaters. For kids, the sequel will be a favorite. 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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 234 more reviews...
 Better than average Disney sequel August 14, 2008
The Lion King is one of the greatest animated films ever to grace the silver screen. In my opinion, it battles it out for the top spot with Beauty and the Beast and maybe Toy Story. Everything about it was beautifully created-- the animation (who could ever forget the famous stampede), the music (Circle of Life, Be Prepared, Can you feel the love tonight are among Disney's best), the story (taking Hamlet to the animal kingdom). There was a brilliant villain in Scar voiced magnificently by Jeremy Irons, a complicated hero in Simba and a strong supporting cast of comedic roles. And it ended perfectly-- there was no need for a sequel because the audience is left with the sense that Simba has finally overcome his guilt about his father and will do just fine in his rightful throne. It's such a masterpiece than a direct-to-video sequel could NEVER do the original any justice. Of course, that is always true with Disney.
In this case, Lion King II, while infinitely better than The Little Mermaid or Pocahontas sequels, still really serves no purpose other than to entertain young children. The original became such an enormous success and probably was the peak of the Disney Renaissance because it appealed to everyone. First and foremost, it was a beautifully made and somewhat dark Shakespearean tale that just happened to be a cartoon. I mean, no one ever forgets Mufasa's death scene whether they were 6 or 30 when they first saw it. The sequel, while it has some moments of fun, cannot hold a candle when compared to the grand nature of the original. Yet it takes on yet another serious Shakespeare tale (R&J that is), which they should not have done unless they were going to put in more effort and make it a theatrical release. The main characters, Kovu and Kiara, are nowhere near as developed or engaging as the young Simba and Nala. The villain has nowhere near the complexity and motives of the brilliant Scar. Even the adult Simba in this sequel is a shadow of his original self and as a father figure, is no Mufasa either.
In my opinion, a better sequel might have dealt more with Simba taking on his father's position. After all, in the original, it was not a fairy-tale romance that captured people's interests but the more serious father-son dynamic between Simba and Mufasa. And in this sequel, the most interesting moments involve Simba trying to live up to his idolized father and still traumatized by his uncle's deception.
The music is severely lacking as well. There is no Circle of Life or Be Prepared or even Hakuna Matata. The original had a sensational Hans Zimmer score that was sorely missed here and replaced by fairly pedestrian tunes. My problem with this movie is that it shouldn't have been made, which can be said of most Disney sequels except maybe Aladdin and the King of Thieves that was surprising comedic gem.
Overall, not a terrible direct-to-video sequel but one that really didn't need to be made.
 Excellent sequel August 4, 2008
One of the few sequels that didn't kill the original disney movie. Here, like in the original Lion King shakespeare elements are used. This time Romeo and Juliet instead of Hamlet.
The music was excellent and memorable. Emotional and not the crappy canned music in so many other sequels.
A movie that I would still watch again and again.
A rare Disney sequal July 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The term "Disney sequal" brings up thoughts of butchering and ruining Disney classics. Strangely enough this was rather enjoyable. Unlike most other sequals this wasn't made too much longer after the first so retains most of the original voices. The plot is also somewhat related to the first--The Lion King being loosely based on Hamlet and this one being loosely based on Romeo and Juliet. This is definately worth watching, but the songs did leave something to be desired. There were also a few holes in the plot, but in terms of Disney sequals this is def in the top five.
LION KING 11 April 19, 2008
MY GRANDDAUGHTER THOUGHT I HAD THIS MOVIE. I DID BUT GAVE IT TO HER AND SHE WORE IT OUT. I LOOKED FOR ANOTHER AND FOUND IT ON AMAZON . IT IS A GREAT FAMILY MOVIE. IT TAKES UP FROM LION KING I. THE MUSIC WAS VERY GOOD. MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I SAT DOWN AND WATCHED IT FROM START TO FINISH. SHE IS 10 AND I AM 61, SO YOU SEE IT IS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
THIS MOVIE IS SO ROMANTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! August 7, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I don't know what movie the people who are saying that this is a bad movie were watching!!! I agree that they should have spent more time in Kiara's childhood, but they had to keep the plot moving and they had the crucial meeting when they were cubs. To certain people who ask how Scar has his own pride of lions, and it was "implied" in the first one that he died. They implied nothing of the sort. Really, tell me what you saw. You saw the shadows, the SHADOWS of the hyenas and flames and Scar going down into them. It couldn't really be a Disney movie if there wasn't a happy ending with Scar being MOBBED by the hyenas, I repeat, MOBBED!!!! Also, do you know how hard it is for him to start a pride of lions? As easy as it is for a guy to have three kids at once (and I'm not talking about triplets, either). I love the fact in this movie that Simba hates these people and it's just like the Warriors series by Erin Hunter (everybody read them they're great!), in the fact that Bramblekit/paw/claw is haunted by his father's past (Tigerclaw) who hated the current leader of the Clan, Firestar, and so he has to prove himself over and over and over again because of that! He has to overcome his father, and that is what Kovu (Brambleclaw) has to do to over come Scar (Tigerclaw) and prove himself to Simba (Firestar) so he can marry Simba's duaghter, Kiara (Squirrelflight)
This is a heart wrenching story that has great songs--definitely buy it and watch it over and over!
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