Your thoughts on... The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride DVD SE

[yoda_four]

I thought I might as well start a new tradition, so, as of today, I will begin the "Your thoughts on" threads. Each time a new Disney DVD is released (perhaps all those Sept. classics will be in one thread!), I will begin a new discussion on its (re)release. Post your thoughts on the movie itself, audio and video, and its bonus features.

Seeing as how I just bought TLK 2, and I've never seen it before; I'll post my thoughts later .

[MickeyMousePal]

This is like the fourth time I saw The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride and I thought it was a good sequel so I bougth the special edition instead of the limited issue one.
I would say go for it if you like cheapsequels but if you don't like them don't buy it.

[Ciaobelli]

I dunno if to get it or not, dont have any cheapquel experience (is rescuers: down under a cheapquel?). I love TLK though, does it live up to it at all? Thanks

[Jack]

I bougth TLK2 special edition today.
I didnt buy the limited edition caues it stinks!!!
The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride is my favorite cheapsequel.
The DVD is good.
Higly Recommended for fans of teh cheapsequel!

[DVDFreak]

The Lion King 2 doesn't deserve to be coined with the term "cheapquel" It is a very good movie and in some ways, I actually like it better than the original. But maybe thats just me.

[MickeyMousePal]

The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride is one of the best sequel Disney has made so I guess you could get it if you want.
I know it's a direct to video sequel but that doesn't mean it's cheap.

[toonaspie]

What the heck is with the insert?!!! It's just a folded piece of thin cardboard!!!

for Lion King and LK 1.5 we had booklets!!

Once again Disney does not fail to dissappoint

But I had to get it, Lion King fan and all

[panhead4life]

I bought this one w/o ever seeing it. It doesn't even come close to comparing to The Lion King, however, it isn't that bad. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and was glad to put it in my collection.

I just wish they would have used their penciling techniques a little better. I think you guys know what I'm talking about at some parts. Still pretty solid though

[ichabod]

I think it's worth buying! it's definitely one of disney's better sequels, and the One by One bonus short is superbly animated!

[panhead4life]

I think they look good all lined up:

[Mermaid Kelly]

What the heck is with the insert?!!! It's just a folded piece of thin cardboard!!!
for Lion King and LK 1.5 we had booklets!!

Yea....I know

Still though....I really enjoyed the dvd I love the "song selection" thing in the bonus features!

[Ciaobelli]

I think I might get it then, TLK is top 3 for me, soooo, I should add it.

[toonaspie]

okay, I checked out the second disc. Some good stuff.

One By One uses the actual Lebo M song from Rhythm of the Pridelands and The Lion King on Broadway. It is an interesting and very extended version of the song. (The credits are a Lion King copyoff.)

I dont think the 5 minute Making Of was that fluffy. In fact you get to hear the creators explain why they made Simba's character the way they did. They wanted us to sympathize with Simba by changing his character (although it didnt work good enough in my opinion).

Another interesting thing: listen to the voice actors rehearsing carefully. You'll hear them say lots of lines that never made it even close into the film (or maybe that's because they were just entertaining us by standing infront of a mike).

Which leads to the last thing...

NO DELETED SCENES?!!!
WHERE ARE MY DELETED SCENES?!!!!

GAHHHHHHHHH!!!! (*falls over and dies*)

[Paka]

I agree with Ben's review of the dvd here - in that the opportunity for real bonus materials was pretty much squandered. As he suggests, the 1995 Timon & Pumbaa short "Stand By Me" would have made a great extra, in addition to the deleted scenes. I also would have appreciated a candid making-of featurette about the film - something where the filmmakers attempt to explain themselves.
I mean, the film has a background to it - a fairly green animation studio assigned to make it, a messy and tight-budgeted production, time constraints, etc. - I mean, the shoddiness of the final product certainly shows it. But like the TLK PE, the extras are pretty lacking. There's tons more little-known tidbits from the production of the original film that they could have put on the PE, as well as the monstrous cultural ripple-effect that TLK has made. I would have liked to see a fun, self-aware featurette on something like Kimba vs. Simba, for example.

I'm personally waiting for my NetFlix rental of SP to arrive, though. The first disc comes Friday, but the bonus disc has a "Very Long Wait" listed for it.

[toonaspie]

but why did they take out the deleted scenes?!!

I know they exist...you want proof???

http://www.lionking.org/sequels/TLK2/ (scroll to bottom)

At least LK1 and LK1.5 had some despite them not being very good

A few deleted scenes wouldve make up for it, is this asking too much from a Lion King fan?!!!

[Jungleprince_55]

Mine Did Not Have A Slipcover And Looks Really Stupid Sandwiched In Between The Other Two Lion King Films,But My Friend Did Not Buy The Special Edition,He's Still Got The Limited Edition Which Looks Even More Out Of Place Sitting With The Other Two Films.

Right Now My DVDs Are Packed Away Because We Are Leaving Tomorrow To Get Away From Hurricane Frances.

[Jake Lipson]

I got this tonight and popped in Disc 2 to check out my most eagerly awaited bonus, One By One. It is superbely done -- such an amazing fusion of color and spirit and music, you really need to see it to understand how great it is. A thousand curses upon Disney for failing to release it to theaters first, denying it elligibility for the Best Animated Short Oscar which it otherwise would have easily won.

And Lion King II itself? I've always loved it and even as I grew to understand the cheapquel was cheap, I always had a fondness for it. Still, strangely enough I hadn't seen it in full in years, despite owning the VHS. This time it was better than I remembered it, and had it been given a slightly higher budget it probably could've rivaled the original. The only thing holding it back is the animation, which is as good as they could do at the time on that budget but not up to either TLK or TLK1.5 standard. Still, it's servicable, even if it's not anything as breathtaking as the original.

The story is very solid, and the Romeo & Juliet angle is really effective. The characters are all well-defined, and Kiara's simmilarities to Simba in the original are effective without being too jarringly simmilar. I think the concerned-parent angle for him works here, as he is very much trying to continue on in Mufassa's fine pawprints. It harkens back to the moment in the original in which young Simba steps into a pawprint of his father. Now, like then, he is in the pawprint, but how does he fill it? Since this picks up right where the original left us, he's still new to the king gig and uncertanty is to be expected, after having had such a great father. Also, considering his traumatic experiences in the original movie, you'd expect him to be very overprotective. The more Africanized songs are great too, and very effective in tone.

And, really, this has a dark streak unlike much of Disney's theatrical films, let alone DTVs. I'm suprised some of this even made it here, as I know of several deleted scenes that got axed because they were too hot for Disney to handle (ie, Zira's much darker suicide.) Another SHAME about no deleted scenes! The making of was decent enough and was (to a degree) insightful, but the exsisting (online!) deleted scenes and a commentary track would've really done a lot to improve the overall set. The Stand By Me shor and some Timon & Pumbaa episodes would have fit nicer on 1.5, I think, since that's their movie, but I wouldn'tve said no to their inclusion here either. Unfortunately, they failed to show up on either release. Shame!

Great movie, great presentation, but a wasted oppertunity on disc. Oh well. More later as I explore the other bonuses it *does* offer.

[toonaspie]

I got this tonight and popped in Disc 2 to check out my most eagerly awaited bonus, One By One. It is superbely done -- such an amazing fusion of color and spirit and music, you really need to see it to understand how great it is. A thousand curses upon Disney for failing to release it to theaters first, denying it elligibility for the Best Animated Short Oscar which it otherwise would have easily won.

And Lion King II itself? I've always loved it and even as I grew to understand the cheapquel was cheap, I always had a fondness for it. Still, strangely enough I hadn't seen it in full in years, despite owning the VHS. This time it was better than I remembered it, and had it been given a slightly higher budget it probably could've rivaled the original. The only thing holding it back is the animation, which is as good as they could do at the time on that budget but not up to either TLK or TLK1.5 standard. Still, it's servicable, even if it's not anything as breathtaking as the original.

The story is very solid, and the Romeo & Juliet angle is really effective. The characters are all well-defined, and Kiara's simmilarities to Simba in the original are effective without being too jarringly simmilar. I think the concerned-parent angle for him works here, as he is very much trying to continue on in Mufassa's fine pawprints. It harkens back to the moment in the original in which young Simba steps into a pawprint of his father. Now, like then, he is in the pawprint, but how does he fill it? Since this picks up right where the original left us, he's still new to the king gig and uncertanty is to be expected, after having had such a great father. Also, considering his traumatic experiences in the original movie, you'd expect him to be very overprotective. The more Africanized songs are great too, and very effective in tone.

And, really, this has a dark streak unlike much of Disney's theatrical films, let alone DTVs. I'm suprised some of this even made it here, as I know of several deleted scenes that got axed because they were too hot for Disney to handle (ie, Zira's much darker suicide.) Another SHAME about no deleted scenes! The making of was decent enough and was (to a degree) insightful, but the exsisting (online!) deleted scenes and a commentary track would've really done a lot to improve the overall set. The Stand By Me shor and some Timon & Pumbaa episodes would have fit nicer on 1.5, I think, since that's their movie, but I wouldn'tve said no to their inclusion here either. Unfortunately, they failed to show up on either release. Shame!

Great movie, great presentation, but a wasted oppertunity on disc. Oh well. More later as I explore the other bonuses it *does* offer.

exactly what i was sayin!

[Starion]

What the heck is with the insert?!!! It's just a folded piece of thin cardboard!!!

for Lion King and LK 1.5 we had booklets!!

Once again Disney does not fail to dissappoint

But I had to get it, Lion King fan and all

The package doesn't have a booklet? I'll keep my eye out for the disapointing cardboard. Thanks for the information. I had to get the Simba's Pride Special Edition because I am a big lion King fan too.


I stil haven't recieved my copy with the lithographs.

I wish Disney included some deleted scenes on the DVD.


I also wish Disney interviewed the young actor and actresses that were in the movie. I wanted to see Jennifer Lien (Kes from Star Trek Voyager) in the making of clip too.

Has anyone listened to the French track? Is it in Dolby Digital or Stereo? Also, what song does Simba sing to Kiara - "Nous sommes Une" or "Une Famillie"?

Au revoir!

[disneyfella]

i really would've enjoyed the Stand by Me short and some deleted scenes. however, i was suprised and enjoyed for the 'find out why' shorts which i kind of remember being aired on television years ago.

one thing i will mention is how absolutely hilarious the virtual safari is this time around. those of you who haven't done it because you haven't liked any of the originals, pick left everytime and you are in for a treat! maybe it's just me, but i have enjoyed those virtual safaris which are way cool in surround sound and my nephews and i have so much fun with them.....sometimes i enjoy them by myself .

the making of was kind of short, however at least we had some sort of interviews with the voice cast unlike the original platinum edition of the lion king (what the heck were they thinking?).

the One by One short was waaaay cool. this is a very vividly animated short with african sounding music and really makes me want to have seen Fantasia 2006. i know this short has been completed for a little over a year and that makes me wonder which other ones have been completed and when can we see them? (not to mention the unfinished ones......will we ever see them?)

the music video is a nice inclusion; especially because the limited issue only has like a one minute version of this four minute music video so we finally get to see it all.

no trailer is disappointing, however this was NOT a theatrical release so the only trailer Disney could put on there was the VHS release trailer(S) and the dvd reissue trailer(S). not too disappointed this time for the lack of them.

overall, good presentation and a definite must for anyone completing the lion king collection.

(honestly i only purchased this to get my hands on the One by One short and that alone was worth the $18. )