Lion king 2 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) DVD

The circle of life continues for Simba (Matthew Broderick), now fully grown and in his rightful place as the king of Pride Rock. Simba and Nala (Moira Kelly) have raised a daughter who's as rebellious as her father was. Kiara (voiced by Neve Campbell) drives her parents to distraction when she catches the eye of Kovu, the son of the evil Scar! Will Kovu (Jason Marsden) steal Kiara's heart?=*=*=The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (later retitled The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride) is an American direct-to-video film released by the Walt Disney Company on October 27, 1998, as a sequel to the 1994 film The Lion King. It was later re-released as a special edition DVD (which altered the original title's "II" into "2") on August 31, 2004. The film centers around Simba's daughter, Kiara, who falls in love with Kovu, a male lion who was raised in a pride of Scar's followers, who are Simba's enemies. Desperate to be together, they must overcome the two obstacles that are keeping them apart: Simba and Kovu's mother, Zira. This film was not rated until the two-disc Special Edition was released. It was then given a G rating by the MPAA.=*=*=The film starts with the presentation of Simba and Nala's new cub Kiara. When Kiara is older, she runs from her suffocating babysitters Timon and Pumbaa and sneaks across the borders of her father's kingdom to the 'Outlands', where she encounters an "outsider" cub named Kovu. Kovu tells her that Outsiders don't take orders, nor need anyone to take care of them, which impresses her greatly. However, the two soon get into trouble when they find themselves in a river surrounded by crocodiles. Luckily, Kovu "bravely" distracts them long enough for the two to escape. The cubs become friends, and Kiara attempts to initiate a game of tag, only to find Kovu has no idea how to play. In a bid to relax him, she playfully growls, but when Kovu retaliates, out of nowhere Simba appears. Kovu's mother Zira, who had been watching from the bushes, also emerges. The two face off as Simba's pride appears, and Zira reveals that the Outsiders were exiled by Simba for remaining loyal to Scar, and that Kovu was Scar's heir to the throne ¨C and therefore a threat to Simba. However, Simba is unwilling to hurt a cub and orders the duo to leave, much to Kiara and Kovu's dismay. As they journey home, Simba scolds his daughter for breaking the rules and endangering herself, reminding her that one day she will be a queen. Kiara expresses her disinterest in the plan, but Simba says that it is a part of her, as she is a part of him. The two sing "We Are One", but Kiara still does not understand the meaning of the phrase, though Simba says she will, in time. Meanwhile in the Outlands, Zira's ragged and termite infested adult cub Nuka complains to his younger sister Vitani about Kovu being "The Chosen One", when as the eldest the honor should be his. At that moment, Zira returns and scolds her two sons. She mocks Kovu's claim that he and Kiara are friends. She then realizes that, by using Kiara, Kovu can get close enough to Simba to murder him and take the throne. Thus, he can avenge Scar's death. She lulls Kovu to sleep by singing him 'Zira's Lullaby', expressing her desire for revenge. Alone in his tree, Rafiki communicates with Mufasa's spirit, and voices his fear of Zira and mistrust of Kovu, brought up with hate in his heart. Mufasa however, has his own plan ¨C Kovu and Kiara will be together, and unite the two prides. Time passes and Kovu grows into an adult. He is molded by Zira into the perfect assassin, with only one goal in mind: kill Simba. Kiara has also grown, and, keen to go on her first solo hunt, makes Simba promise he will let her do it alone. However, Simba sends Timon and Pumbaa after her to ensure her safety. Kiara is unable to catch anything, but is furious at her father when she finds he has lied and sent the duo to track her. Nuka and Vitani watch the events before lighting a series of fires (obtained from the geysers from the Elephant Graveyard where the hyenas had departed from) around Kiara, trapping her. Kiara faints from the smoke as Kovu appears, as part of Zira's plan, and carries her back to the Pride Lands. Though angry at first that he has interfered, Kiara soon recognizes her old friend. However Simba, drawn by the sight of smoke, appears. Kovu lies and claims that he has left the Outsiders to become a rogue, and asks to join Simba's pride.