The Lion King 1 1/2 - Who's getting it?
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Jake Lipson
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The Lion King 1 1/2 - Who's getting it?
Unlike some of the no-brainer releases that most everyone around here gets at some point or another (the animated classics, for example), The Lion King 1 1/2 is a toss up. I've noticed over the last couple of weeks there are a lot of people who are looking forward to it and will own it, and then there are some people who are going to avoid it like a plague just like any other cheapquel, and then there are the people in between. Which group do you fall in? Why?
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Jake Lipson
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This is a question I'm answering with a rousing YES! Why? Lots of reasons.
A long time ago, when I was a kid, I used to buy most all of the Disney direct-to-video sequels when allowance permitted, or used to beg and got more or less all of them. I fell for their tricks hook line and sinker. I've still got them all, too -- Return to the Sea, The Enchanted Christmas, Pooh's Grand Adventure, The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, etc. -- but then I grew up a bit and realized what a scam it was and that they were really cheapquels. Since The Little Mermaid II, I've never bought a direct-to-video cheapquel from Disney (although I did crack and get Balto II: Wolf Quest from Universal, which was fairly good.)
Anyway, the only Disney cheapquels I still love are Pooh's Grand Adventure and Simba's Pride. Looking back on it recently, I thought Simba's Pride was very successful in providing a solid continuation of the original story with good quality animation (if not up to the original), the same great voice cast, and more exellent songs. If The Lion King is Hamlet, then Simba's Pride is Romeo and Juliet (albit with a happy ending) and it turned out very good.
So naturally I trust that the next installment is going to be just as good, and I've been following it for the last few years with keen intrest. I've been proven right about its quality so far, with all of the clips I've seen yet being great and very, very funny. Not to mention that my favorite character has always been Pumbaa and it's nice to see him and Timon getting spotlighted.
They did have their TV show, too, which I also loved. Although that doesn't seem to count as canon anymore, really, because I distinctly remember episodes about Timon's banishment from the meerkat colony and him bumping into Pumbaa and they aren't the same sanerio as is used in the movie. Not that that's a bad thing, though. This way could be even better. For the record, I seem to remember Timon's banishment involving him trying to woo a girl and ignoring his responsibilities, but I'm not really sure. Could someone with a better memory of the show elaborate?
Plus, this project has been getting the best buzz I've ever heard for a direct-to-video sequel. So far I've seen a few reviews, all of which have been posotive, as well as Prince Phillip's reaction posted here on the board. And I also heard good things about it while it was in production. Such as:
Plus, they've got a lot of the original talent back -- the voice cast, of course, but Tim Rice, Elton John and Hans Zimmer also contributed to the project.
And I'm kind of on a Lion King high at the moment. I'm really excited for the franchise again -- I experienced it at IMAX, the original classic came home on a great-looking DVD with some nice extras, this looks great, Simba's Pride is coming back as an SE DVD, and I get to see the musical when it tours here in March. Plus, the original movie is 10 years old this year. What a year for the franchise, and what a way to celebrate the anniversary. It's just a shame that Simba's Pride won't be out again until August so I can't have an anniversary marathon of all three on its actulal anniversary date. (It had a limited release on June 15, 1994 and went wide June 24, 1994, and then returning to theaters on November 18, 1994 to use its popularity to promote the then-upcoming theatrical release of Pocahontas with a trailer. After beating out Aladdin as the #1 highest-grossing animated movie of all time up to that point after the re-release, it exploded onto video March 3, 1995 if I remember correctly. I remember that I got my copy when I was sick with the chicken pox. Mom brought it home, but I couldn't have it until I got done with the missed work my kindergarten teacher brought over to the house.) But if I must I can watch the VHS to cap the marathon, or I can have a marathon show once TLK2 does hit DVD again. (I missed out on the Limited Issue version, just like all 8 other LI discs.)
Okay, that's probably the longest answer ever written to a yes-or-no question, but it was fun to remmeber.
In short, even though I'm not expecting it to be up to the level of the original and do have my reservations (especially the plot holes, timeline errors, and Timon and Pumbaa with the remote), I've heard so much good about it that this seems forgivable. I'm going to loosen up and enjoy. I'll be getting it and watching it day one and hope that it can equeal or surpass Simba's Pride. I grew up on The Lion King and wouldn't ever dream of missing the chance to return to the Pride Lands.
A long time ago, when I was a kid, I used to buy most all of the Disney direct-to-video sequels when allowance permitted, or used to beg and got more or less all of them. I fell for their tricks hook line and sinker. I've still got them all, too -- Return to the Sea, The Enchanted Christmas, Pooh's Grand Adventure, The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, etc. -- but then I grew up a bit and realized what a scam it was and that they were really cheapquels. Since The Little Mermaid II, I've never bought a direct-to-video cheapquel from Disney (although I did crack and get Balto II: Wolf Quest from Universal, which was fairly good.)
Anyway, the only Disney cheapquels I still love are Pooh's Grand Adventure and Simba's Pride. Looking back on it recently, I thought Simba's Pride was very successful in providing a solid continuation of the original story with good quality animation (if not up to the original), the same great voice cast, and more exellent songs. If The Lion King is Hamlet, then Simba's Pride is Romeo and Juliet (albit with a happy ending) and it turned out very good.
So naturally I trust that the next installment is going to be just as good, and I've been following it for the last few years with keen intrest. I've been proven right about its quality so far, with all of the clips I've seen yet being great and very, very funny. Not to mention that my favorite character has always been Pumbaa and it's nice to see him and Timon getting spotlighted.
They did have their TV show, too, which I also loved. Although that doesn't seem to count as canon anymore, really, because I distinctly remember episodes about Timon's banishment from the meerkat colony and him bumping into Pumbaa and they aren't the same sanerio as is used in the movie. Not that that's a bad thing, though. This way could be even better. For the record, I seem to remember Timon's banishment involving him trying to woo a girl and ignoring his responsibilities, but I'm not really sure. Could someone with a better memory of the show elaborate?
Plus, this project has been getting the best buzz I've ever heard for a direct-to-video sequel. So far I've seen a few reviews, all of which have been posotive, as well as Prince Phillip's reaction posted here on the board. And I also heard good things about it while it was in production. Such as:
and, from someone working on the movie,So what's the real high point of this direct-to-video project? Disney animation fans are finally going to get to see a fully animated version of "Warthog Rhapsody" (Tim Rice & Elton John's first stab at trying to write a comic song for Timon & Pumbaa). Ernie Sarbella gives an absolutely killer vocal performance as Pumbaa in this song. As does Nathan Lane as Timon. The downside of the project?... The Lion King 1 1/2 : Hakuna Matata's story is a bit on the thin side. Not as thin as--perhaps-- Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. But still pretty slight. The upside?... Animation on this project is being done by Disney Television Animation Australia. The very best of Disney's direct-to-video operations. (Why are they the best? Well, the Australians actually *GET* the American sense of humor. So no one has to laboriously explain to the animators there how to properly time out a scene in order to get a laugh back stateside.
Both of these are among the very old and interesing news bits on TLK1.5 that appear at <a href=http://www.lionking.org/sequels//TLK1.5/ target=blank>The TLK WWW Archive</a>.5. This is most definitely Timon's film - Pumbaa plays an important part, but the film is really as much about Timon's journey as the original TLK was about Simba's journey.
6. And it is very, very funny. No bias here: the lecia reel cracks us up every time. I didn't particularly care for TLK2, but this... THIS is the sequel I would have chosen to make. And I consider myself a true TLK fan.
Plus, they've got a lot of the original talent back -- the voice cast, of course, but Tim Rice, Elton John and Hans Zimmer also contributed to the project.
And I'm kind of on a Lion King high at the moment. I'm really excited for the franchise again -- I experienced it at IMAX, the original classic came home on a great-looking DVD with some nice extras, this looks great, Simba's Pride is coming back as an SE DVD, and I get to see the musical when it tours here in March. Plus, the original movie is 10 years old this year. What a year for the franchise, and what a way to celebrate the anniversary. It's just a shame that Simba's Pride won't be out again until August so I can't have an anniversary marathon of all three on its actulal anniversary date. (It had a limited release on June 15, 1994 and went wide June 24, 1994, and then returning to theaters on November 18, 1994 to use its popularity to promote the then-upcoming theatrical release of Pocahontas with a trailer. After beating out Aladdin as the #1 highest-grossing animated movie of all time up to that point after the re-release, it exploded onto video March 3, 1995 if I remember correctly. I remember that I got my copy when I was sick with the chicken pox. Mom brought it home, but I couldn't have it until I got done with the missed work my kindergarten teacher brought over to the house.) But if I must I can watch the VHS to cap the marathon, or I can have a marathon show once TLK2 does hit DVD again. (I missed out on the Limited Issue version, just like all 8 other LI discs.)
Okay, that's probably the longest answer ever written to a yes-or-no question, but it was fun to remmeber.
In short, even though I'm not expecting it to be up to the level of the original and do have my reservations (especially the plot holes, timeline errors, and Timon and Pumbaa with the remote), I've heard so much good about it that this seems forgivable. I'm going to loosen up and enjoy. I'll be getting it and watching it day one and hope that it can equeal or surpass Simba's Pride. I grew up on The Lion King and wouldn't ever dream of missing the chance to return to the Pride Lands.
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Cinderelly
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I won't buy it unless i rent it and like enough to decide on buying it. Right now i am leaning towards a no.... I've never liked sequels, pre-quels or anything other than originals, oh except toy story 2 and rescuers down under.
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Loomis
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I am definitely picking it up, and I am getting the US copy rather than waiting for the local copy (as I usually do with the sequels), mainly because it is being released as "1 1/2" in the states, and I think it is a better title.Jake Lipson wrote:The upside?... Animation on this project is being done by Disney Television Animation Australia. The very best of Disney's direct-to-video operations. (Why are they the best? Well, the Australians actually *GET* the American sense of humor. So no one has to laboriously explain to the animators there how to properly time out a scene in order to get a laugh back stateside.
It is nice to see the Australian animators being recognised, and the fact that we "get" your sense of humour (but just between us, there isn't a hell of a lot to "get" in Timon and Pumbaa jokes....farts anyone?
)But then, I might even pick up the local copy as well. The local Jungle Book 2 had a few Australian specific bonus features, and that was largely because it was animated here too.
So yup, I've ordered already and I'm looking forward to it. I loved the TV series, and hopefully this will be in the same vein...
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MickeyMousePal
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Yes I will buy Lion King 1 1/2 I want to see what happens before the first Lion King.
How Timon and Pumbaa meet and other important things I need to know.
How Timon and Pumbaa meet and other important things I need to know.
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jasmine-rules
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Prince Adam
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Joe Carioca
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I think I will get it... Though I did swear I wouldn't buy a ch.. a sequel again after "Hunchback II", "The Lion King 1 1/2" seems to be a funny movie. And of course, it is a 2-disc set, which makes it much more atractive.
I may get "Lion King II" as well, but only if the extras are any good. I agree it has above-average (for a DTV) animation and a few good songs, but I really don't like the film (I can't help hating Zira - and not in a good way). Well, the movie is surelly getting a 2-disc treatment (at least it has been confirmed to be released this way here in Brazil).
I may get "Lion King II" as well, but only if the extras are any good. I agree it has above-average (for a DTV) animation and a few good songs, but I really don't like the film (I can't help hating Zira - and not in a good way). Well, the movie is surelly getting a 2-disc treatment (at least it has been confirmed to be released this way here in Brazil).
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indianajdp
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More than likely. The buzz sounds good, it being a 2-disc set sounds good, and the features sound good (Lion King trivia! YES!)
It's funny because a couple of weeks ago I had decided to only buy animated classics from then on but then I liked Lion King 2 and this sounded really good so I broke. Only reason I won't be getting it is if I'm short on cash at the time.
It's funny because a couple of weeks ago I had decided to only buy animated classics from then on but then I liked Lion King 2 and this sounded really good so I broke. Only reason I won't be getting it is if I'm short on cash at the time.
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Mermaid Kelly
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I can't wait to see it, especially since it shows "older kid" Simba! 
Yes, I'll be getting it, much for the same reasons Jake listed above. I'm not a big fan of DTV sequels, but this actually looks like some quality entertainment from the previews and pretty funny as well. Lion King was the first movie I became *heavily* obsessed with as a kid, so I have a certain fondness toward the whole thing, including the first sequel. I'd like to have the whole trilogy on my shelf as well.
So, yeah, I'm going to pick it up. At the moment, I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get it first day, as I'm trying to save up enough doe for the Monster Legacy collection coming out later, but sometime within February I'm sure I'll be able to buy it.
So, yeah, I'm going to pick it up. At the moment, I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get it first day, as I'm trying to save up enough doe for the Monster Legacy collection coming out later, but sometime within February I'm sure I'll be able to buy it.
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MickeyMouseboy
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HECK YEA!
*politely clears her throat and hops onto her soap box*
For months, for a year, I have argued that this will be great...
*dramatic pause*
For months, for a year, I have consoled other overly fanatical Lion King fans that this will be a hit...
But no.
Nobody believed me...
BUT WHOOP! CHECK IT OUT! =D *points, jumping and screeching like some insane fangirl* Seen the 'site? Huh? Check out THAT animation! And the jokes were great. =3 Disney has FINALLY made a great sequel (or "behindthescenequel" x3)! AND, for Disney's greatest hit, to boot.
Now, Jake...*lunge-hug* ANOTHER PERSON WHO LIKES PUMBAA! I swear, I thought I was the only person who had the lil warthog as their favourite!
But I'm glad it stars Pumbaa and Timon, though it's mostly Timon's story. Though that doesn't damper my happiness...Timon's a very, very close second favourite of mine. ^^ Plus, the two sort of go together...like grubs and bugs. ;3
Anyway. I voted yes. If you consider camping out near the local video store to buy the DVD as soon as possibly a "yes", than HECK YEA! ^__^
*dances around* Kudos to the Dudes at Disney! =D
For months, for a year, I have argued that this will be great...
*dramatic pause*
For months, for a year, I have consoled other overly fanatical Lion King fans that this will be a hit...
But no.
Nobody believed me...
BUT WHOOP! CHECK IT OUT! =D *points, jumping and screeching like some insane fangirl* Seen the 'site? Huh? Check out THAT animation! And the jokes were great. =3 Disney has FINALLY made a great sequel (or "behindthescenequel" x3)! AND, for Disney's greatest hit, to boot.
Now, Jake...*lunge-hug* ANOTHER PERSON WHO LIKES PUMBAA! I swear, I thought I was the only person who had the lil warthog as their favourite!
But I'm glad it stars Pumbaa and Timon, though it's mostly Timon's story. Though that doesn't damper my happiness...Timon's a very, very close second favourite of mine. ^^ Plus, the two sort of go together...like grubs and bugs. ;3
Anyway. I voted yes. If you consider camping out near the local video store to buy the DVD as soon as possibly a "yes", than HECK YEA! ^__^
*dances around* Kudos to the Dudes at Disney! =D
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Jake Lipson
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Well, if my previous posts in this thread weren't enough I think my new avatar sums up my position nicely.
And <b>Niyani</b> - As long as Pumbaa's story is told as well (ie, his exile from the warthog community, etc), I have no problem with it focusing on Timon because I know that once they both get together they do go together. And I know it starts out with Timon, as opposed to Pumbaa, but that's okay, as long as we get some kind of info about his past. Maybe hell tell Timon his story when they meet and we'll get a nice little flashback sequence?
And <b>Niyani</b> - As long as Pumbaa's story is told as well (ie, his exile from the warthog community, etc), I have no problem with it focusing on Timon because I know that once they both get together they do go together. And I know it starts out with Timon, as opposed to Pumbaa, but that's okay, as long as we get some kind of info about his past. Maybe hell tell Timon his story when they meet and we'll get a nice little flashback sequence?
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Yuki
I'm with you all the way! I've rented it, and boy was it lame! The only thing that was OKAY about the movie was that you got to see the little 'oh look! That's Mufasa running to save Simba and Nala in the Elephant Graveyard!" So, yea. That was a little ammusing, but other wise I didn't like it. Sequels and prequels don't do much for me.Cinderelly wrote:I won't buy it unless i rent it and like enough to decide on buying it. Right now i am leaning towards a no.... I've never liked sequels, pre-quels or anything other than originals, oh except toy story 2 and rescuers down under.
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Starion
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I'm also waiting for The Lion King 2. I have the VHS tape, but not the DVD.HKR wrote:Yes, I got it when it was released here in march. I got Lion King 1 only couple of months before.
Now I'm just waiting to get Lion King 2.
My brother pre-ordered the DVD from DisneyDvd.com. I got a T-shirt with the DVD.