The Lion King 1½

Disney | minutes | | | Standard DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

If you think you know the whole story of The Lion King, then you'd better think again, as you don't know half of the real tale. In The Lion King 1 1/2, our old friends Timon and Pumbaa take us back to those incredible events, but this time, we have a different perspective on things. But before we deal with Simba's trials and tribulations, Timon and Pumbaa reveal their own stories, where they came from and what they're all about. This helps us to understand their Hakuna Matata outlook on life, as well as their thoughts & actions. The two might be the closest of buddies, but they haven't always known each other. You'll be shown the story of how Timon and Pumbaa first met and how their friendship blossomed. When Simba crossed paths with the duo, he was just a lost young cub, so he needed all the help he could muster. His life wouldn't be that of a typical lion, thanks to Timon and Pumbaa's odd habits, but in the end, he would be glad he was given the chance to bond with two such unique characters. When the time came to return however, Simba and his two best friends were right on the scene. So like I said, if you think the know the story, settle in with this release and you'll find out you only knew half of the real story.

A lot of folks compared The Lion King to Shakespeare's Hamlet, a school of thought which is confirmed with the release of The Lion King 1 1/2. Just as Hamlet had a sequel of sorts, Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead, which told the story from the perspective of two colorful supporting characters, such is the case here. The Lion King 1 1/2 shows us the events from the original, but with a new slant, as Timon and Pumbaa run the show. The Lion King was a massive hit and one of Disney's finest productions, so could this sequel somehow manage to at least not tarnish the shine of the original? This is not supposed to be the same kind of movie as the original, as the dramatic angle is lessened, while the humor is amped up to the limit. As such, don't expect the same level of emotion, but you can expect to have a great time with The Lion King 1 1/2. The tone is light and the pace is brisk, while the laughs come on a consistent basis. If you didn't like Timon and Pumbaa from the original film however, you're out of luck in this case. Simba and all the other characters return here, but the show belongs to Timon and Pumbaa, no doubt about it. But if you enjoyed their previous antics, you'll have a lot of fun with this movie. I have no problem recommending The Lion King 1 1/2, as it is a sizable cut above the usual Disney sequels.

So we've established that this is one of the rare Disney sequels that works, but what is so special about the formula used in The Lion King 1 1/2? To start off, the premise is one with some solid potential. This means the storyline isn't cobbled together to cash in on the original, as the case was with The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride. That movie had a rushed feel, as if focus were put on a fast release, instead of a well crafted one. But here, the premise is well planned and allows for a fresh spin on the original material. The hook is that you've seen this movie before, but never from the angles presented in this picture. The next step to success is the cast, which as we all know, can be tough to reunite for a sequel. In most cases, a few folks return, but most of the time, only one or even none of the previous stars come back. In the case of The Lion King 1 1/2, almost all of the cast is back, such names as Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Whoopie Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Moira Kelly, and still others have all reprised their roles. A switch in performers can be lethal for a sequel, but this time, all the key players are in place. The animation here also seems to be better than Disney's usual direct to video sequels. So in the end, all these factors add up and that is why The Lion King 1 1/2 is not the typical Disney sequel.

The Lion King 1 1/2 is presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a brand new release from Disney, so it would be a disappointment if the visual presentation was anything less than spectacular. No such disappointment however, as this is a fantastic transfer that will please even the more critical viewers. The print is pristine, as it should be, so the image is razor sharp and shows ample depth & detail. I saw no jagged lines or halos either, while compression is not an issue, thanks to the use of two discs. So the vibrant colors stream across the screen, with even rich orange and red hues coming across in flawless fashion. I saw no contrast related woes either, as black levels look stark and consistent at all times. So I am left to score this as a wonderful treatment, which means Disney deserves some solid credit.

I was pleased to find two 5.1 surround options here, as Disney has included both Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks. This might not be the most dynamic material in town, but it has some pep and both tracks sound terrific. The surrounds don't pulse at all times, because of the dialogue driven nature of the material, but rest assured, all the speakers get put through the paces. The songs have a lot of presence and depth, which makes them more powerful to listen to, while sound effects are more prominent than expected. I didn't expect a lot of background noise, but this track has superb subtle presence, which adds to the experience. I still wouldn't call this a power driven soundtrack, but it puts the speakers to good use, to be sure. No problems with dialogue though, as all the vocals sound loud and clear here. This release also includes a French language track, as well as English subtitles, should you require those options.

This might be a two disc release, but don't expect a tidal wave of bonus materials here. The main supplement here is a behind the scenes featurette, which covers numerous aspects of the project. The filmmakers take us to the genesis of the project, through the production, to the promotional side of the coin. Not the best featurette I've seen, but one that is well worth a look. A featurette pulls back the curtain on Timon's legend, while some deleted scenes provide a look into how the film could have turned out. This release also includes a Raven music video, a mode which allows you to hunt for hidden symbols, Timon & Pumbaa's Virtual Safari 1.5, and several interactive games, which the kiddies should love to explore.