The Return of Jafar and cheapquels

[Jake Lipson]

We now interrupt your regularly scheduled message board programing to bring you "Everything You Wanted to Know AND MORE About a Day In Disney History Which Will Forever Live in Infamy."



Ten years ago yesterday (May 20th, 1994) Disney rolled out this. "The Return of Jafar" came directly to video, the first episodes of the Aladdin TV series spinoff strung together into an hour-something feature, and we the public bought it unknowingly. Then we all got home and excidely popped it in our VCRs, and we saw...that it wasn't that great. But by that time it had already become one of the best-selling videos of all time and it singlehandly started the cheapquel machines in motion, which now churn out way too many and are way too disrespectful (in general.) It's an onslaught!

In retrospect, it's not the best thing to ever happen to Disney, and I wish like hell it had never been made, but on its own (independant from the chain reaction it started), Return of Jafar isn't too terrible. It's by no means great either, but it works well enough, especially if you think of it as the low-budgeted, highly-epiosodic TV show that it was meant to be. If it had had Robin Williams back, and a richer animation quality, I think it would have helped. Still needs a bit more work storywise when considered a movie, but when considered TV, it's more than decent. Iago's inner delimas at least are handled well. Eh.

[toonaspie]

what's your point? haha joking!

I guess it's our bad for convincing Eisner to produce more cheapquels. I remember that Lion King II was already in development after the success of the the first and then King of Thieves

next time, rent it or wait to watch it on Disney channel

[thomashton]

I'm sorry but next to Cinderella 2, this is the biggest piece of crap Disney has ever put out. I will never get over Iago and Jasmine doing the worst duet in recording history. I will not buy this simply for those terrible 3 minutes it wastes of my life.

[DreamerQ18]

I'm sorry but next to Cinderella 2, this is the biggest piece of crap Disney has ever put out. I will never get over Iago and Jasmine doing the worst duet in recording history. I will not buy this simply for those terrible 3 minutes it wastes of my life.

Hahahahahaha I found your comment very amusing. But I never actually thought of the sequal processe like this and kind of even feel sheepish. However I dont think its the worst sequal ever there have been so many worse.

[Sully]

I agree, and I have stopped buying any and all cheapquels for the family. The worst were Aladdin 3, Cinderella 2 and Tarzan & Jane, but that Lion King 1 and 1/2 literally gave me a migraine. Luckily it was a rental, or it would be the first Disney DVD I tossed out on the road.

I really don't mind some of them, such as Lion King II, which actually try and present somewhat of a story, using lower-cost animation and talent, but too many of these cheapquels are hashed together vignettes or regurgatated TV programs.

Do as I do now. Just say NO!

[Just Myself]

Jake you make it sound like it was Judgment Day from t2 or something...

I, being 4 at the time, begged and pleaded for this video. I didn't really like it, but I remember watching it over and over. Then when I was 7 I realized why: I just loved that Lion King preview

[FilmMkr]

I believe the return of jafar was originally planned as a special for Cbs and they decided to release it on video to see what would happen. That's a little different than it being the first few episodes of the series strung together.

They probably took return of jafar and cut it up to make the first few episodes of the series, not the other way around.

[castleinthesky]

I like all the sequals except the horrible Peter Pan 2.

[Ludwig Von Drake]

I thought Peter Pan II was one of the best sequels.

[castleinthesky]

I thought Peter Pan II was one of the best sequels.

In my opinion, it contained no plot. It had the same Plot as Peter Pan except Wendy is now caled Jane, and the alligator transformed into an octopus.

[Kram Nebuer]

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

05/13/2004 Archives: "Plot and thoughts on Bambi And The Great Prince"

As reported previously, famed Disney animator Andreas Deja is being confirmed as working on the company's "midquel" to the 1942 classic Bambi. The new film, currently in production under the title of Bambi And The Great Prince, is your basic teenage angst tale, dealing with Bambi coping with his Father, the Great Prince, and his finding of a new mate while an orphaned Bambi comes to terms with his Mother's death. Despite some strong (and anticipated) backtalk at Animation Nation, there could be some hope: Andreas' involvement could be great for the project, though many feel it is very sad to see an artist of his stature working on such a film. Thanks to Inkan in the AN Forum for the news and links.

[Leonia]

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

05/13/2004 Archives: "Plot and thoughts on Bambi And The Great Prince"

As reported previously, famed Disney animator Andreas Deja is being confirmed as working on the company's "midquel" to the 1942 classic Bambi. The new film, currently in production under the title of Bambi And The Great Prince, is your basic teenage angst tale, dealing with Bambi coping with his Father, the Great Prince, and his finding of a new mate while an orphaned Bambi comes to terms with his Mother's death. Despite some strong (and anticipated) backtalk at Animation Nation, there could be some hope: Andreas' involvement could be great for the project, though many feel it is very sad to see an artist of his stature working on such a film. Thanks to Inkan in the AN Forum for the news and links.

I think I can hear Walt Disney turning over in his grave right about now...

[DreamerQ18]

05/13/2004 Archives: "Plot and thoughts on Bambi And The Great Prince"

As reported previously, famed Disney animator Andreas Deja is being confirmed as working on the company's "midquel" to the 1942 classic Bambi. The new film, currently in production under the title of Bambi And The Great Prince, is your basic teenage angst tale, dealing with Bambi coping with his Father, the Great Prince, and his finding of a new mate while an orphaned Bambi comes to terms with his Mother's death. Despite some strong (and anticipated) backtalk at Animation Nation, there could be some hope: Andreas' involvement could be great for the project, though many feel it is very sad to see an artist of his stature working on such a film. Thanks to Inkan in the AN Forum for the news and links.

[/quote]


Thats total crap they just NEED TO LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!

[2099net]

I thought Peter Pan II was one of the best sequels.

In my opinion, it contained no plot. It had the same Plot as Peter Pan except Wendy is now caled Jane, and the alligator transformed into an octopus.

Peter Pan is the movie with no plot! Almost nothing in Peter Pan has any concequence for the characters. (True, Wendy does decide to move out of the nursery at the end of the film, but the reason is not clearly stated in the film).

Return to Never Land has a plot, as it actually follows the development of Jane's character. Her character development has a beginning, a middle and an end.

[TheZue]

I remember when Return of Jafar came out, and thinking that it couldn't be very good if they didn't want to pay enough to get Robin Williams back, so I didn't buy it at a time when I was buying all the disney movies that came out.

I have never watched any of the sequels, but it doesn't sound like I've been missing much.

[Maerj]

Only sequel I ever saw of theirs and bought was Lion King 1.5, which was a funny movie. I have chosen to ignore the rest of them and I treat them like the Apocrypha. Quality sequels with good stories are fine, but some just don't make sense or are blasphemous (Bambi 2.) There are too many other great Disney movies to buy and I think that we've all discussed this subject waaaaay too many times.

[castleinthesky]

In my opinion, it contained no plot. It had the same Plot as Peter Pan except Wendy is now caled Jane, and the alligator transformed into an octopus.

Peter Pan is the movie with no plot! Almost nothing in Peter Pan has any concequence for the characters. (True, Wendy does decide to move out of the nursery at the end of the film, but the reason is not clearly stated in the film).

Return to Never Land has a plot, as it actually follows the development of Jane's character. Her character development has a beginning, a middle and an end.

Sorry, but I only said Peter Pan 2 had the same exact plot as the 1st, which makes it have no plot.

[Christian]

I actually kind of liked Peter Pan II. And I agree with EVERYTHING the first poster said about RoJ. I too went out on the release day blindly and for no other reason than that I liked the first Aladdin and assumed that RoJ would be just as good. And I was wrong. But it certainly could've been worse. And King of Thieves was a little better.

[MickeyMouseboy]

I hope the DVD comes with Anamorphic WS (1:66.1)

[DisneyChris]

Peter Pan is the movie with no plot! Almost nothing in Peter Pan has any concequence for the characters. (True, Wendy does decide to move out of the nursery at the end of the film, but the reason is not clearly stated in the film).

Return to Never Land has a plot, as it actually follows the development of Jane's character. Her character development has a beginning, a middle and an end.

Although Return to Never Land has a more significant plot than the original, the original still beats this 2002 MovieToons film. The original is simply funnier, more entertaining, more exciting than the sequel. Lack of plot doesn't always mean that the film is bad, especially when you're talking about a classic like Peter Pan. Return to Never Land doesn't even come close to its predecessor's quality.