Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly good direct-to-video release from Disney
Review: We're all aware that not much can compare to the original Lion King film. The animation, songs, voices...everything just perfection. However, as an ardent fan of the film, and in particular Timon and Pumbaa, this was snapped up as soon it went on sale - and boy, what a nice surprise! A direct to video release that's actually decent!This film is much of an improvement on the first "sequel". Simba's Pride just didn't hold any of the magic of the original story - and barely held my attention for one showing before being put onto the shelf to get dusty. I was immediately more interested in this film as I thought it's premise held much more entertainment quality. "Yeah, I'd like to see how everything was through Timon and Pumbaa's eyes" I thought, and I wasn't to be disappointed. We're originally transported back to Timon's younger days to see why he came to team up with Pumbaa. It's dealt with very wittily, yet with enough warmth that you actually do care what happens to all involved. We're shown how Timon and Pumbaa meet, and how they embark on their quest for "Hakuna Matata". Much comedy ensues, with a revealing insight into the original film's events. Why do the animals bow at Simba's presentation at Pride Rock? Why does everyone fall over at the end of "I Just Can't Wait To Be King?" Watch to find out. Having eventually found their perfect home, their meeting with Simba is retold and we get to see some of Simba's teenage years - missed out in the original film. (Timon has a wonderful line during a particularly restless night looking after a young Simba - "we're gonna get old walking across this thing". As soon as you hear it you'll know exactly what it's getting at). Next to be dealt with is Simba's reunion with Nala and his trip home to Pride Rock to avenge his father's death. All seen in a new perspective it's all very watchable, even if you are seeing duplicated scenes that occurred in the original movie. The climax again adds more breadth to the original. With Scar and his minions vanquished and order restored in the Pridelands, Timon and Pumbaa settle into their new home with his original meerkat colony who are surprised and impressed with the new "all-action" Timon. This is very much Timon's film, we get to know a lot more about him than Pumbaa and it is Timon that saves the day right at the very end. That's no complaint I would add, after all we heard about some of Pumbaa's woes in the original film 10 years ago. Disney have done a lot of things right with this film. The original cast (with the exception of Rowan Atkinson as Zazu which consistantly grates with me - he's much missed on the interactive section of the original movie's special edition too) return, and Julie Kavner and Jerry Stiller lend their vocies as Timon's nearest and dearest. Two new, annoyingly catchy songs appear within the first 15 minutes and several songs from the original make welcome returns. This isn't a big long song-fest though, I'm pleased to say. Much as I like the songs Disney movies are famed for, it is nice to give the characters time to speak and flesh themselves out in-between. Lots of scenes from the original appear again, and are interworked with the new animation reasonably well. An interesting twist is that the film is presented as if being viewed by Timon and Pumbaa in a cinema. I have seen a few reviews saying how annoying this is, but I actually find it very funny. The fact that they take shots at scenes which otherwise would be excessively cheesy is very endearing, and of course completely in character. There are, inevitably bad points. This isn't going straight to video for nothing after all. You certainly need to have watched the original movie and know it well - and you also have to be willing to deconstruct it quite violently too. A lot of those scenes you held dear are made fun of mercilessly. They've generally interworked the timelines between the films very well, but there are a few moments when I thought "that doesn't go". The film is quite short - 72 minutes with lengthy end credits, but it is so fast passed that it seems even shorter to me. It doesn't quite know what age range it is heading for either, there are lots of "kiddie jokes", but also quite witty points that younger children won't necessarily get (I always used to wonder why my Mum insisted on watching Dangermouse with me, it's only now at 24 that I watch it and realise now). Lots of film references too. This isn't too bad in a way, it keeps everyone occupied throughout for different reasons. I'd rent it first if your not sure, but if your a Lion King fan you'll probably end up buying it anyway (you perhaps already have!) The DVD features I actually find quite disappointing. This is a 2 disc release, and if they'd not put over 10 minutes worth of trailers on the first disc, probably could have been condensed onto one. There are several games for the youngsters including a virtual Safari, Rafiki's Challenge and a "hidden Mickey" hunt throughout the film. There's a supposedly funny "mockumentary" about Timon which I watched in total silence and a 1 minutes "making of..." featurette which I had to turn off half way through out of sheer irritation (not very much info about the film at all - but everyone involved is all certain how great it is). There are some storyboarded deleted scenes, with commentary from the directors as to why they were cut. Overall, very enjoyable which surprised me greatly and made it even more fun. Don't start comparing to the original as that is pointless. I also don't think this sort of production should be carried on to other Disney films, I don't think it would work. However, the way these particular characters cry out for attention every time they're on screen, it seems fitting to let us find out more about them. I would have rated this 5 stars but for the DVD "extra's" as the film I cannot fault, both for the entertainment value and the way it tells an unexpectedly heartwarming story without being too cringeworthy
Rating:
Summary: Quite a Good Cartoon Movie - for an addon!
Review: OK, let me start off with saying that I love most Disney cartoon movies. The Lion King is one of them... I even memorized almost all Disney cartoon songs...
With that said, I personally find sequels sucky, or decent at most. Pocahontas 2, Cinderella 2, Hunchback 2 - like most movie sequels, they just didnt pull it off...
Surprisingly, Lion King 1 1/2 is much better than most add ons or sequels. Though not part 2(part 2 was released already) is considered a tie-in to the original movie. And it is more of a prequel, which brings you back to the time how Timon left home and how he manage to meet Pumbaa and beyond. The movie got the original casts and the songs were made by Elton John and Tim Rice, which is good to know. Julie Kavner who plays Marge Simpson, plays Timon's mum, and on some moments, she almost sound the same as Marge! The songs are pretty decent, but few.
The story itself got lots of funny moments as well as some dragging parts(for adults). Some of it happens during the Lion King scenes, though in Timon and Pumbaa's perspectives, you can see same scenes(some at different angles) and hear the original parts of songs. And it also adds the missing pieces and loose threads on some parts - with pretty funny moments like why the animals bowed down when Rafiki showed baby Simba to the world; and why the animals fell during the closing of the "I Just Cant Wait To Be King" song.
I will not spoil the movie for you, but do remember that the movie is more based on Timon and Pumbaa than Simba and the rest. So dont expect to see a lot of lions. Also, there is not much of a plot, and as I said, morely to add missing blocks in the original story. This movie's own plot is more based on Timon and how he wanted to find a place where he fits in(just like Hercules, A Bug's Life - Disney seems to encourage unwanted misfits who go famous and heroic). So all in all, DO NOT expect a solid plot or even take this movie in an epic type of way, its more of a comedy version of the Lion King.
The DVD features is not that bad, and it even got lots of deleted scenes and a Hidden Mickey Hunt game(if you have Disney channel, you know that every Disney cartoon movie has one or two) - 10 of them throughout the movie...
I say that this movie is good for Lion King fans, as well as for family viewing. But I recommend you rent this first and see if its worth the collection. Though if you have extra cash, its good to buy this to entertain guests, especially during parties, since this movie is made for home viewing and wasnt released on theatres; and I think kids will love to watch this again and again as adults do chores(the Hidden Mickey Hunt is a reason to watch it many times!).
I give this movie with its DVD contents a 7.5/10.
Rating: 
Summary: an overseas view
Review: I bought this under the Asian-release title "Lion King 3." First, I'd like to point out some disappointments. One, I thought the meerkat song in the beginning was kind of weak, a song written "just so there would be a song." Two, maybe more of Pumbaa's story could have been told, because I wasn't really thrilled with Timon's weak history (he wasn't even kicked out! he could have left ages ago). Three, I thought the central storyline of Timon looking for a dream home was not strong enough to explain why he ran into many of the Lion King's events. And four, I thought there were too many interruptions during the movie, where Timon and Pumbaa pause it to offer some adlib; it got a little too numerous.
That said, it was very interesting to see things from Timon and Pumbaa's perspective. It was funny to see them in the middle of Simba's encounters. It was worth the time and will definitely put a smile on your face. However, I don't imagine watching this one too many times. Sort of like a stand-up comic; if you hear him more than once, it's not as good.
Rating:
Summary: A fun re-telling of the tale from Timon's point of view
Review: Almost everyone knows the story of "The Lin King," of how Simba becomes the king he was meant to be, but does anyone know the story behind the scenes? Finally, the truth comes out in this fun re-telling of the now-classic movie, told by Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. It begins with Timon's family of meerkats, tunneling their way through the savannah. He doesn't feel that he belongs and wants to explore, to find the right place for him. So he sets off across the grasslands, running into Rafiki the baboon who tells him to search beyond what he sees for Hakuna Mata. In the grasslands, Timon runs into Pumbaa the warthog, and together, they set off in search of their paradise. Along the way, we get to see just how Timon and Pumbaa fit into the story of Simba. And, they happened to be everywhere, from Simba's debut to the animals to the wildebeast stampede. I absolutely loved this movie. Not only does it mesh well with "The Lion King," but it doesn't take itself too seriously. Timon and Pumbaa constantly break in during the film to give some kind of commentary on the scene, or to get a fresh bag of grubs. The Disney team even managed to get many of the original voices to return: Nathan Lane as Timon, Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa, Robert Guillaume as Rafiki, Matthew Broderick as Simba, and Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin as the hyenas. Some fresh, new voices have been added as well, including Julie Kavner as Timon's Ma and Jerry Stiller as his Uncle Max. The extras on both discs are pretty good, especially the delted scenes and the Hidden Mickey Hunt. Peter Graves makes a special appearance as the narrator for the short feature: "Timon: Behind the Legend." This is a fun film that everyone in the family will enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Another side of the same story
Review: Disney's latest direct-to-video sequel The Lion King 1 1/2 is a delightful and charming comedic romp. We see events before, during and inbetween the major events of The Lion King. In lampooning the original film, the director and writers have made an entertaining alternative to the original film looking at events from the Rosencrantz and Guildensten of the story (if the "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet" analogy mentioned in the booklet is to be believed). The animation is light years better than the average Saturday morning cartoon and the witty writing helps overcome any bumps in the road of telling a variation on the same story. The DVD begins by introducing us to Timon prior to meeting Pumba. Timon can't do anything right and his Uncle (played with comic zest by Jerry Stiller of Seinfeld and King of Queens fame) and his Mom (Julie Kavner from The Simpsons) are really the only two willing to give him a second chance. Needless to say, when Timon meets Rafiki for the first time and he gives Timon advice on where to find his place in the world, things get really goofy and funny. Most of the original voice cast appears in the DVD and the new song, although not quite up to "Circle of Life", is quite charming. When Timon finally meets Pumba, they manage to intersect with Simba's life without actually meeting him (and Scar as well as the Hyenas from the first film). They eventually find their place in the world when they "adopt" Simba and raise him. The parody of night feedings and the lack of sleep for new parents was a chuckle. There's also plenty of film parodies along the way including The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (with Ennio Moricone's famous theme music) and Fidler on the Roof ("Sunrise, Sunset" gets it here). They're also not above making fun of their own hit song during a bizarre sing-along during the film. The 77 minute film is paced well for little children and has enough witty lines, kid-style jokes and adventure to keep kids entertained. The extras are all on the second disc and include a number of cool interactive bits. "The Making of Lion King 1 1/2 " is mercifully short and entertaining. "Behind the Legend" makes fun of Biography with a peak at Timon's life. There's also 12 minutes of deleted scenes some of which are as much fun as the final film. There's also a music video starring Raven designed to make you want to go out and buy the soundtrack. "Timon and Pumbaa;s Virtual Safari 1.5" are the duo's self made theme park ride that takes pokes at the classic Disney rides. "Who Wants to be King of the Jungle" is a tired variation on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". It's interactive enough to make it entertaining for a short while. Finally, there's "Hidden Mickey Hunt" was pretty good for little ones. Oh, thee's also the weak interactive activity "Find the Face" where your supposed to select the correct picture of the character that matches the silhouette. On the whole, The Lion King 1 1/2 shows a huge improvement in Disney direct-to-DVD films. The quality is solid and inspired much of the time and the second disc of games although not always successful, is still entertaining for kids. On the whole I'd have to give TLK 1 1/2 4 stars for entertainment value and the creativity that's gone into the project.
Rating:
Summary: an overseas view
Review: I bought this under the Asian-release title "Lion King 3." First, I'd like to point out some disappointments. One, I thought the meerkat song in the beginning was kind of weak, a song written "just so there would be a song." Two, maybe more of Pumbaa's story could have been told, because I wasn't really thrilled with Timon's weak history (he wasn't even kicked out! he could have left ages ago). Three, I thought the central storyline of Timon looking for a dream home was not strong enough to explain why he ran into many of the Lion King's events. And four, I thought there were too many interruptions during the movie, where Timon and Pumbaa pause it to offer some adlib; it got a little too numerous.
That said, it was very interesting to see things from Timon and Pumbaa's perspective. It was funny to see them in the middle of Simba's encounters. It was worth the time and will definitely put a smile on your face. However, I don't imagine watching this one too many times. Sort of like a stand-up comic; if you hear him more than once, it's not as good.
Rating:
Summary: You won't know the 1/2 of it, until you watch the movie
Review: If you thought you knew the Lion King, you don't really know the 1/2 of the movie. This is Timon & Pumbba's side of the story. But for some reason, instead of getting named The Lion King 3, it is titled "The Lion King 1 1/2", and since this movie came out after the Lion King and The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, but never mind. As the movie opens, Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbba (Ernie Sabella) are in a dark theatre, and Pummba is against Timon fast fowarding to the part of the Lion King when they come in, and Pumbba reminds him they were there are the time, but we don't know it. And they begin telling thier story, which begins with Timon's early days with his family, including his mom (Julie Kavner) and his Uncle Max (Jerry Stiller), and the other meekcats are upset by Timon's digging, and then his Mom puts him on a new job, watching for heeynees, which his uncle trusts him to do, but instead Timon breaks into song, and doesn't too his job until it is too late, which upsets his uncle. Later on after having a talk wit his mother, Timon sets out looking for a better home, in which he runs into Rafiki (Robert Guillaume). And Rafiki tells him him "to look beyond what he see". And what he see is Pride Rock, and starts to make his trip there, along the way he meets Pumbba. And he joins Timon on the trip.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Good Humor
Review: I found the lion king 1 1/2 surprisingly funny and included clever use of words which only adults would understand combining with hilerous phrases which don't take away from the action, music and drama the kids enjoy and love. The director is less stuck on the mystic of the original lion king and brings in good animation frames, music, and friendship. The movie includes musical choregraphy, bright colors, and recapturing the energy of the original movie. The friendship magic between Timon and Pumbaa and Simba is not lost, instead the story transports the viewer back too Timon younger days, his disasters standing guard (which is funny), building the skylight in the burrow (also funny), his desire to adventure and departure from his mother (funny again), his rejection by the group (funny), and eventual friendship with Pumbaa and Simba (warm); you won't miss any warmth; also, included is the meeting of the wise sage, Hakuna Matata. The movie was very entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: screaming with laughter
Review: "something tells me this ain't the traveling cast of River Dance." That one line and scene will have me on the floor in stiches with tears in my eyes!! no matter how many times I watch it. I do like Disney movies quite a bit and thought this was just wonderful. A very interesting way of telling a story.
Rating:
Summary: Very Cute
Review: I really enjoyed watching this as a light, cute, animated comedy. It was great to watch, partly because it held no deep, meaningful emotion like in the Lion King 1. With quirky comments from the narrators Timon and Pumba, it was impossible not to love this cartoon. Definately a must see movie for a cosy night in.
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