Lion King 1 1/2 [DVD] [2004] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

If you loved THE LION KING then you will love THE LION KING 3.This exiciting and hilarious adventure tells the story of how Timon and Pumbaa met and their point of view of the main movie.You no longer follow Simba in the story,but you follow T&P instead.You can now understand how some events and disasters happened such as the animals bowing to baby Simba at Pride Rock(Which will surprise and amuse you).There are 2 great new songs and 2 brand new characters,Timon's mum and his Uncle Max.Watch and see how Simba grew from cub to lion and how Timon and Pumbaa tried to stop Simba from falling in love with Nala.So join Timon and Pumbaa on their journey to find a new home and discover another story which is hidden within the first movie.

Normally Disney sequels are awful, and I mean really awful. They aren't worth the paper the cinema ticket/case cover was printed on.
But this, surprisingly, is brilliant. The whole thing is brilliant. Of course it's not quite as good as the first film but The Lion King is after all one of the best. Still, this is a great film and should have gone on cinema release. So let's break it down. The animation is delightful, much better than in other Disney sequels with beautiful backgrounds, a wonderful colour palette and all the characters perfectly drawn. It's hilariously funny - a proper comedy. The story or central concept - that we get to see things from Timon and Pumbaa's point of view works and the mix of sections from the original film and the new animation is both technically slick and well thought out and funny. The music is great, the original songs are as good as always, Digga Tunnah is amusing, fun and memorable and the rest of it is good stuff and well chosen - Jungle Boogie, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Timon and Pumbaa's inspired performance of Sunrise, Sunset are hugely enjoyable. Timon's mother and Uncle Max are good additions to the cast and the interruptions of Timon and Pumbaa from their seats in the movie theatre are just one more thing that makes this such a quality entertainment experience. The special features on the DVD are quite good - a jokey virtual safari, some interesting deleted scenes and some entertaining - if not exceptionally enlightening interviews with the cast and animators are enjoyably non-corporate - for Disney anyway, adding to the lighthearted parody feel of the film. In addition to all this, it should be noted that this is a film that never mocks the original or it's emotional resonance - this is a celebration of the first film and of course the lovable and sidesplitting Timon and Pumbaa. Buy it, it's worth every penny.

'The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata' is a magnificent follow up from the original 'Lion King' movie and is certainly an improvement over 'The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.'

To cut to the chase, 'The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata' is a long story told to you through the eyes of Timon the meerkat & Pumbaa the warthog. They tell you all about their version of 'The Lion King,' explaining to you how they were in the movie from the very beginning before we met them for the first time in the desert. They share with you their stories of how they found and raised Simba from a mischievous cub to a full-grown lion King. As you watch the movie, you see so much more of the story that you never even knew existed during the first one but at the same time, was still actually happening. Best of all, you finally get to hear the story of Timon's past when he used to live in a Meerkat Colony and how he left & met Pumbaa the warthog.

What really impresses me about 'The Lion King 3' is that unlike 'Simba's Pride,' they have used the very same soundtrack from the original 'Lion King' movie and have therefore succeeded in maintaining that good old 'Lion King' spirit feeling. However, they have also made some additional new songs and back-ground themes, creating one extra long, beautiful soundtrack.

The story is great, the humour makes you laugh every single time and the paint and animation is a smash hit. Why on earth couldn't they have done as good a job on 'Simba's Pride' as well?

All of the original voice actors from the original 'Lion King' movie (as well as some additional voices to new characters) have returned especially to do 'The Lion King 3' and they've done a fantastic job once again.

The special features are interesting. I wouldn't say majorly exciting but still quite entertaining. I like the new virtual safari by Timon & Pumbaa, however, I think you'd all agree with me when I say that the virtual safari on the original 'Lion King' movie DVD is much better.

Buy this movie NOW!!! It's excellent...!