The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)

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 Amazon.com

LION KING 11

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. April 19, 2008

THIS MOVIE IS SO ROMANTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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! August 7, 2007

Very rushed childhood

I'm ----, using the kid's review cause it's so much easier.

Better than most disney followups, though as another reviewer stated, TLK 2 spent too little time on Kiara and Kovu's childhood. When watching TLK2 I could not help but feel that the cubhood was just "thrown in" so as the audience would get what was going on in the "real" half of the story. In fact, Kovu and Kiara only spent about 20 to 25 percent of the movie as cubs, which actually kept them from gaining that endearing appeal that Simba and Nala had.

Now, as for the considerably longer second half of TLK2, I must give Disney credit for hiring some mediocre directors/screenwriters for this one, instead of the usual slapped together sloppy crap that has to this day become typical of disney direct-to-video followups. When compared to other DTVs, TLK2 is very impressive. But when compared to real disney films like the original Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Bambi, it completely flops. Just a little more effort, disney, and this could have been yet another one of your classic films. April 1, 2007

A great sequel thats as good as the first and my personal favorite.

I love this film. It and the first are really good movies. The actors + animation are great in this, plus it picks up just about where the first film left off. This is one ofe the much better Disney sequels. Recomended highly. March 11, 2007

the best lion king ever!

lion king 2 is the i think most romantic lion king ever!I love the music especially the song (love will find a way).lion king 2 is also a hilarious new story with you know who timon and pumbaa.once kiara gose out to play,she sneks of from timon and pumbaa and starts to run off to the outlands.once she is in the out lands ,she mets a firce lion cub named kovu.when kovu and kiara get older they fall in love.but simba dose not trust him when zeira attacks so simba makes kovu leave the pride lands .but than kiara gose out to find kovu and dose find him.then just in time kiara and kovu stop simba and zeira from fighting .so the out landers come back to the pride lands to join simbas pride with kovu, kiara,simba,nala,timon and pumbaa.i relly liked the lion king 2 and i hope you will to.
February 26, 2007

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