8/10.
If you asked me this five years ago, I would have said 4/10, but the movie has
really grown on me. I recently rewatched it and it was not all that bad. He Lives In You, My Lullabye, and even Upendi are tunes I find myself humming. I have grown attached to Kiara and Zira and Kovu. The plot is kind of clever, poorly executed, but still engaging. The animation is a problem, but I'm letting that one pass. Still there are a few things I still don't enjoy.
Top Five Reasons For Disliking This Movie5. Color Scheme - I know a lot of people don't get bothered by this, but I do. The way Simba is colored looks weird. I am still not sure for the cause of this. The Lion King
was colored by computer (look at the bottom center; the man is coloring Simba with a computer) so getting the same colors is not that difficult. Heck, Microsoft Paint, going back to Windows 3.1 (1990), had a color picking tool. It's that simple!!
4. Continuity - Instead of answering questions left unanswered by the first film, this sequel elects to pose new ones (Zira) and leave half of
those unanswered. With all the comics and fanfics I've read that do a great job with both expanding and explaining the holes in TLK1 and TLK2, there really isn't a reason this movie couldn't done better.
3. Nuka - I found nothing desirable about this character. Every time he talked, I wanted to strangle him. His appearance was just awful, not evil awful, just ugly. He had no significance, Vitani could have handled his role much better solo. He was only here for the laughs, because kids love seeing a goofy, crazy character on the screen. And seriously Andy Dick?? I am so glad he died because if he hadn't, he would be in a LOT more fanfics.
2. Kovu's Voice - There should be a law against a celebrity voicing two popular characters. Every time I heard Kovu, I picture Max, Goofy's son. Ughh. It's for this reason
I voted for Cub Kovu. Also, not to sound like a perv, but every time Kovu says something in a 'deep tone' I can't help but think of a child predator. "
Hey look, we are one!" *shutters* Between this and Andy Dick, my respect for the casting director has disappeared.
1. Romeo & Juliet - I would LOVE to ask the writers of this movie as to why they decided to go down this path. Not only has it been done endless times before, but you get a whole load of cliches and eye rolling moments attached: Kiara's whiny attitude, Simba's inept judgement, groanworthy romance issues, predictable plotlines, etc.
(Dis)Honorable Mentions*Love Will Find A Way - The only Lion King song I didn't fall in love with after the second listen. Only after recently rewatching (fifth time) did I finally enjoy it.
*Watered Down Story - The most intense and epic elements of the first movie are the reason the original is a masterpiece. However, because of either Eisner or some big wig, the really hardcore stuff was cut.
Nuka's death scene and
Zira's suicide would have been great. If those people were involved with the original film, I doubt Simba would have lost a dad.
*Animation - I probably shouldn't complain about this (except for the color issue) because I know the production team tried their best. But the errors in characters and the horrible CGI do some serious distracting.
*Timon & Pumbaa - They are saved by the fact they are actually funny. However they keep interrupting the truly emotional moments in the movie. I love Seinfeld jokes, but I don't want to hear them during my grandmother's funeral.
*Kovu's Scar - I don't care if literally
no one else in this forum agrees with me, I still think this was mean of the writers to do. Poor Kovu! After all he has been through, he now has have a permenant mark comparing him to the Prideland's version of Hitler. I should make a "I Am Pro-Temporary Wound" stamp for my signature. LOL.
This concludes my rant.