32 reviews
The Positive: My 4 year-old likes it. The Negative: Everything else.
- bensonmum2
- Nov 29, 2015
- Permalink
Pretty weak and forced.
I am a massive Disney fan and can be pretty forgiving towards everything they do. For the most part Disney makes some of the best movies I have ever seen but unfortunately this is not one of them. It has all the same characters from the original movie and a few new ones but everything seems a little forced. For example "Stop trying to make Zuka Zama happen! It's not going to happen!" The Lion King was an organic process that just happened to work and The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar does not come close to it's potential.
It feels overall pretty childish and slightly lame. I'm sure kids will love it but everyone else will miss that special charismatic charm. So while I don't hate the movie if you're not a big Disney fan then you probably won't enjoy it. I will still stay tuned for the new series but I'm not hugely optimistic just yet.
It feels overall pretty childish and slightly lame. I'm sure kids will love it but everyone else will miss that special charismatic charm. So while I don't hate the movie if you're not a big Disney fan then you probably won't enjoy it. I will still stay tuned for the new series but I'm not hugely optimistic just yet.
- Shopaholic35
- Feb 23, 2016
- Permalink
Trying a bit too hard to be The Lion King
This is less a sequel to The Lion King and more a rehashing. While the plot itself is unique enough and the Lion Guard doesn't feel out of place in the setting- even if it wasn't in any way hinted at before this, nearly everything else feels copied directly from the original. They even directly reference Hakunah Matata before the song it inspired. Kion's friend Bunga is not only a blatant Timon and Pumba analogue, he's their nephew (despite being a honey badger, which is questioned but not explained). Homaging a beloved precursor doesn't have to be bad- it's one of my favorite parts of Jurassic World- but this feels completely paint-by-numbers. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they had a literal checklist of Lion King elements they had to hit while writing. The one thing it should have taken from the movie but didn't was the emotional depth. Kion is around the same age Simba was at the beginning of the movie, and this only covers one day instead of a lifetime, so they don't have time for the same sort of resonance, but some of the elements presented- original or otherwise- should have had some sort of impact on the characters. That's what separates a kids movie from a family movie, and Lion Guard doesn't have much to offer adults. That said, this is the pilot for a Lion Guard series, and it does what a pilot should do. It sets up the premise and the characters, while coming across as more than exposition.
- phoenix-hourglass
- Nov 21, 2015
- Permalink
Nostalgia and fun, but at what cost?
Well, lets see. The music is really on point, the songs could have been better. They really tried to stay on track with the original animated movie. I'm so glad they went for hand-drawn animation and not that ridiculous 3D computer animation. The plot is really my weak spot. They try to pay homage to the original movie, and they rely heavily on nostalgia. They actually have made a plot for a new following of course, and that's why the plot is messing with the timeline of the original movie and its sequel. It just awoke such nostalgia in me and so many fond memories of the "Lion King" that I really can't hate it for that although it drives me crazy at times. Still a really fun watch. I'll definitely try and watch some of the episodes of the TV series.
- grigoraaakis-889-295918
- Nov 24, 2023
- Permalink
So disappointing
- rokkstarr8
- Nov 28, 2015
- Permalink
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
Like a lot of people I was sceptical about this show when it was announced as it stunk of Disney milking a franchise dry.
It turned out to be not too bad, judging only at this point on this Pilot episode.
Yes, it's aimed at younger audiences, so there's annoying comic support characters, and fart jokes galore, but it does seem to have been made with love, and within the original 'Lion King' time line.
Some nice original voices return, plus some good sound-a-like's, and I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
It turned out to be not too bad, judging only at this point on this Pilot episode.
Yes, it's aimed at younger audiences, so there's annoying comic support characters, and fart jokes galore, but it does seem to have been made with love, and within the original 'Lion King' time line.
Some nice original voices return, plus some good sound-a-like's, and I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Definitely a kids movie (fierce Lion King fans be warned, disappointment may await)
I Love This!
The Lion King is one of the best Disney films ever, and the sequels aren't that bad. I was excited when I heard about this movie and the upcoming TV show coming out on January 15, 2016, and I really loved it. While it contradicts some stuff, I can look past it since it still stands on it pretty well. The movie follows Kion, the son of Simba and Nala and the younger daughter of Kiara, as he assembles the Lion Guard to protect the Pridelands. The stuff that's contradicted is fairly minor, and the film is otherwise faithful to the source material. I really like Kion in that he's slightly mischievous, but still well meaning. We also some spotlight for the other characters. I really like the themes presented on being a leader and being a good person, and it's tied together with Disney charm. I highly recommend this one.
- blytheandferb
- Dec 10, 2015
- Permalink
New friends and old acquaintances
- Horst_In_Translation
- Mar 5, 2016
- Permalink
Insulting (Minor Spoilers!!)
- thepinkpanther-76591
- Nov 29, 2015
- Permalink
Laughed my head off at the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" joke
As a big fan of the original movies, this is something I've been looking forward to for a long time. This is actually the pilot movie to the upcoming TV series to air sometime in 2016. Both were developed by Ford Riley (Special Agent Oso, The Land Before Time) who actually wrote on the original Timon & Pumbaa show back in the 90s. The animation was really good, though you could tell at places that it was computer generated (like when Simba is walking down Pride Rock to go to the underground cave)
Glad to see they got some of the original voice actors back, even if it was only Ernie Sabella and Kevin Schon (Schon voiced Timon on-and-off when Nathan Lane was busy) and James Earl Jones, who I'm betting got paid more than the entire cast just for the handful of lines he had. Max Charles does a great job as Kion and so do the other children. Rob Lowe is okay as Simba, but I'm surprised they didn't go with his usual voice actor Cam Clarke.
For some reason I wasn't thinking this would have songs in it. However it does and they are really good, especially "Zuka Zuma" and "Tonight We Strike". Nothing compared to the Elton John classics of course. Also I'm liking the extra Swahili words the characters say.
My biggest complaint is with that honey-badger, who is extremely annoying. He really seemed out of place with everyone else acting calm. I know he's a kid and this made for kids, but he was just too hyperactive in my opinion.
Also I'm disappointed the show rewrote the canon of the first and second movies ("Simba's Pride" takes place after this show but Kion isn't present), especially on some silly plot device that wasn't even necessary. I would hope the "Guard" won't be fighting hyenas every episode. I'd much rather have a regular TV series that just focused on the Pride Lands and their everyday adventures without having a forced "good vs evil" story line.
In conclusion, I give it a 7.5/10. Can't wait for the series but I have a hard time imagining what other story-lines the show could come up with. I'm really hoping that one of those is a flashback episode with Simba and Nala as cubs. And maybe we finally see those "plenty of good lions" that were talked about but never shown...
Glad to see they got some of the original voice actors back, even if it was only Ernie Sabella and Kevin Schon (Schon voiced Timon on-and-off when Nathan Lane was busy) and James Earl Jones, who I'm betting got paid more than the entire cast just for the handful of lines he had. Max Charles does a great job as Kion and so do the other children. Rob Lowe is okay as Simba, but I'm surprised they didn't go with his usual voice actor Cam Clarke.
For some reason I wasn't thinking this would have songs in it. However it does and they are really good, especially "Zuka Zuma" and "Tonight We Strike". Nothing compared to the Elton John classics of course. Also I'm liking the extra Swahili words the characters say.
My biggest complaint is with that honey-badger, who is extremely annoying. He really seemed out of place with everyone else acting calm. I know he's a kid and this made for kids, but he was just too hyperactive in my opinion.
Also I'm disappointed the show rewrote the canon of the first and second movies ("Simba's Pride" takes place after this show but Kion isn't present), especially on some silly plot device that wasn't even necessary. I would hope the "Guard" won't be fighting hyenas every episode. I'd much rather have a regular TV series that just focused on the Pride Lands and their everyday adventures without having a forced "good vs evil" story line.
In conclusion, I give it a 7.5/10. Can't wait for the series but I have a hard time imagining what other story-lines the show could come up with. I'm really hoping that one of those is a flashback episode with Simba and Nala as cubs. And maybe we finally see those "plenty of good lions" that were talked about but never shown...
- SaxAndViolins
- Nov 21, 2015
- Permalink
Not anything I can class as good, but I will say the target audience will probably rate it - which is the intention
Obviously not as good as the other two sequels, and even further adrift of 'The Lion King' itself. However, 'The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar' isn't terrible which is a pleasant surprise.
Look, I'll very likely never set eyes on this film again but that doesn't mean it's bad - it just isn't for me. I'm positive the younger audience will thoroughly enjoy this and the subsequent television series.
The animation is definitely a step downward, but Disney have arguably produced inferior across some other animated sequels. The voice cast are meh, while the premise - though fairly creative - isn't anything riveting. It's cool to see James Earl Jones reprise his role of Mufasa, albeit for only a matter of seconds.
Not anything I can class as good, but I will say the target audience will probably rate it - which is the intention, of course.
Look, I'll very likely never set eyes on this film again but that doesn't mean it's bad - it just isn't for me. I'm positive the younger audience will thoroughly enjoy this and the subsequent television series.
The animation is definitely a step downward, but Disney have arguably produced inferior across some other animated sequels. The voice cast are meh, while the premise - though fairly creative - isn't anything riveting. It's cool to see James Earl Jones reprise his role of Mufasa, albeit for only a matter of seconds.
Not anything I can class as good, but I will say the target audience will probably rate it - which is the intention, of course.
One Disappointed Lion King Fan
The worst thing ever
Just don't.
- afoxcalledcallie
- Mar 11, 2016
- Permalink
Almost a Nice Start
After the three movies that the animated movie The Lion King has. It's time to check the fourth movie of The Lion King that was intended for preschoolers to watch rather than young teens or adults. The Lion Guard: Return Of The Roar.
Unlike the other three movies. The Lion King, The Lion King II, and The Lion King 1/2. This is the movie that has a length that lasts forty-four minutes meaning it is more of a short film for television rather than a movie that lasts one hour and thirty minutes more or less.
Honestly, The Lion King is one of my first Disney as a baby and I never really understood much back then. But after watching all three movies again surely and properly I absolutely get to understand this movie again.
It's good to explore more of Lion King lore featuring the new protagonists Kion The Fiercest and Bunga The Bravest alongside non-Lion members of Pridelands who are Fuli The Fastest, Bheste The Strongest, and Ono The Keenest of Sight.
The colors and the detail are really good though all because the movie is made for TV only. I am not sure it's just the weather that I may or may not realize. The voices there are almost that I just remembered and brought more of the old characters. And the soundtrack here is actually very good
To be honest for me the movie gave me so many questions that I do not even understand one example is about male lions.
And why is Shenzi not here? Not to sound sexist but an animal fact that I searched is that females are the actual leader of a Hyena pack.
This is not a really perfect movie but please. If you really love The Lion King Franchise. Please give this movie and the cartoon series a chance to enjoy.
Unlike the other three movies. The Lion King, The Lion King II, and The Lion King 1/2. This is the movie that has a length that lasts forty-four minutes meaning it is more of a short film for television rather than a movie that lasts one hour and thirty minutes more or less.
Honestly, The Lion King is one of my first Disney as a baby and I never really understood much back then. But after watching all three movies again surely and properly I absolutely get to understand this movie again.
It's good to explore more of Lion King lore featuring the new protagonists Kion The Fiercest and Bunga The Bravest alongside non-Lion members of Pridelands who are Fuli The Fastest, Bheste The Strongest, and Ono The Keenest of Sight.
The colors and the detail are really good though all because the movie is made for TV only. I am not sure it's just the weather that I may or may not realize. The voices there are almost that I just remembered and brought more of the old characters. And the soundtrack here is actually very good
To be honest for me the movie gave me so many questions that I do not even understand one example is about male lions.
And why is Shenzi not here? Not to sound sexist but an animal fact that I searched is that females are the actual leader of a Hyena pack.
This is not a really perfect movie but please. If you really love The Lion King Franchise. Please give this movie and the cartoon series a chance to enjoy.
- kervindonngo
- Dec 14, 2022
- Permalink
They should have never done this
This series is an absolute abomination. Disney totally ruined their best movie/franchise by making this awful series with cheap animation, horrible voice acting, no-sense my-little-pony-themes and plots and more discontinuities with the main movie than the X-Men movies. The Lion King is by far my favorite movie and Simba is my favorite Disney character. They have both been disrespected and ruined by this no-sense cartoon. This is not The Lion King. The characters from previous movies are completely OOC or disrespected or doing pretty much nothing for all the episodes, the new characters are stereotypathed annoying children- cliché, there is not even half of the epicness from the original movie. Disney forgot that what made The Lion King so successful and beloved is the epic tone of the story and the characters. This is cheap-animation, not worthy anyone's time.
- bigblack2009
- Apr 4, 2016
- Permalink
My kids love it, yet I am left disappointed and confused
- cuddlesshui
- Dec 9, 2015
- Permalink
No. Just, no.
As a huge fan of the Lion King, having grown up with it as a kid, this was an extreme disappointment to me.
To see the characters of Simba and Kiara being reduced to these uptight royal semi- antagonists is painful to say the least. Kiara, from the sequel "Simba's Pride" was adventurous and headstrong, like her father was when he was young. And now she's this obedient, tattletale daddy's girl who is also reduced to the stereotypical damsel in distress.
All to make new male protagonist look good. Kion, Simba's son (who strangely didn't appear in Simba's Pride) wants to be part of the Lion's Guard, (Kingsguard) but not the king, as the throne will go to Kiara. So he assembles a diverse group of animals as his "soldiers". This is where the producers thought "The Lion King meets The Avengers" comes in. It doesn't. It really doesn't.
I can't even begin to tell you how stupid, predictable and lazy the dialogue and story was. Why do they have make every single scene so utterly childish? When I was child, the Disney films I watched weren't dumbed down or censored to appeal to a younger audience! They were intelligent, meaningful and heartfelt films. People are too scared now to take risks with animation. It's all about the money and never about the art. Very sad.
2 out of 10
To see the characters of Simba and Kiara being reduced to these uptight royal semi- antagonists is painful to say the least. Kiara, from the sequel "Simba's Pride" was adventurous and headstrong, like her father was when he was young. And now she's this obedient, tattletale daddy's girl who is also reduced to the stereotypical damsel in distress.
All to make new male protagonist look good. Kion, Simba's son (who strangely didn't appear in Simba's Pride) wants to be part of the Lion's Guard, (Kingsguard) but not the king, as the throne will go to Kiara. So he assembles a diverse group of animals as his "soldiers". This is where the producers thought "The Lion King meets The Avengers" comes in. It doesn't. It really doesn't.
I can't even begin to tell you how stupid, predictable and lazy the dialogue and story was. Why do they have make every single scene so utterly childish? When I was child, the Disney films I watched weren't dumbed down or censored to appeal to a younger audience! They were intelligent, meaningful and heartfelt films. People are too scared now to take risks with animation. It's all about the money and never about the art. Very sad.
2 out of 10
- Avwillfan89
- Feb 1, 2016
- Permalink
Absolute Garbage
- McCarter_IMDB
- Jan 3, 2016
- Permalink
Not as Expected
As a fan of Lion King, I am very disappointed. First off this movie is only 44 minutes. A movie is normally an hour. The new voices for the characters are horrible. Rob Lowe for Simba was a horrible choice. This film looks somewhat low budget. They could have at least kept the same voice actors and actresses from the previous movies. I think there should have been a different plot instead making it seem like Simba is against a different animal crew. The hyenas even look different. They don't look normal at all. What I don't understand is how and when did lion came about Because lion king 2 Kiara was a cub and grew up to be an adult and where was Kion? He was not in the second one. So for him to become a leader in the lion guard shouldn't he be an older adult lion? The plot is most definitely weird and you can not pinpoint where the time line is being held. This is not a movie I will recommend for anyone to see. I could not enjoyed it as much as I did with the first two Lion Kings. I'm pretty sure children will enjoy it especially if they are not familiar with the originals.
- alysharenee
- Sep 3, 2016
- Permalink
It is horrible
you guys should have based the lion guard after Kiara and Kovu's kids not Simba's because the lion king 2 was already made i wish the people that made this would have sat down first and watched the movies before make this TV series . so next to time you people want to ruin the classics. don't do it and watch your movies before the wrong mix up happens anymore. so please i beg you stop and think before you guys make a TV series to mess up our minds. Please don't do it anymore. please make me proud to let my daughter watch a TV show that's got the right info in it. so please good shows like you did from the beginning i will be really happy if you take everybody's opinion to heart from now on.
- gabriellewh
- Nov 14, 2016
- Permalink
Flawed,forced,predictable,Nothing compared to the original movies
As a kid I enjoyed watching the lion king movies,I fell in love with the franchise and was hyped when I heard about the release of the lion guard,But after I sat down to watch this 44 minute movie,I couldn't help but stare at my TV shocked at what I saw,how did this!THIS!Com out of Disney!A studio that presented us with astonishing movies such as Frzoen,Snow white,Zootopia,Brave,Robin hood,Tarzan,I could go on for days,get the idea to create this abomination?!Were they desperate for money?!Did they sit down on their couch and watch the lion king going,"I wanna make a show out of that"and BAM?!This happened?!The creators of the original movies poured their hearts into their projects and the final product was breathtaking to watch in action,we loved these movies and surely we wish for our kids to feel the same way about them as we do!But yet,this is what Disney offers are kids,Brain junk food?Before I bore you to death,I'll cut to the Chase why this movie is a big waste of time.
1)The animation is lazy.
Adobe flash animation?Really?The characters look strange in this type of animation style,the only one who looks good is Nala,(Lets face it she looks pretty no matter how you animate her)Besides that,the walk cycles are lazy,it's like the writers didn't feel like making a full walk cycle so they just made four frames and hoped no one would notice.Their feet look like little nubs,they barely look like their walking on the ground!Not to mention the design of the characters are just bad...People who thought simba from the lion king 2 looks bad,prepare to feast your eyes on his newest design,Compared to his second one,this Disney junior art style will make the second movie simba look like a hot fashion model that all the girls faint over.not to mention Zuri and Tifu are just copies of Kiara except with hair tufts.Overall,The animators didn't feel like making this movie and it shows,BAD!
2)what happened to Kiara
Kiara was the protagonist in the second lion king movie,She was a adventurous cub who wanted to explore the pride lands without her father being overprotective of her.She hated the thought or mention of becoming queen,Her outer appearance was changed as well,She originally had pale orange fur,dark purple nose,light Amber eyes and a cream muzzle,belly,chest and paws.Now take all those things I previously listed about Kiara and throw it all away because now she's a pale tan color(like all the other lionesses)she has a smug,bratty,attitude and is a daddy's girl who tattletales on anyone who breaks the rules,She likes to brag that she is future queen,She is the opposite of what her original counterpart was like!I mean,Cmon Disney!You don't just take a classic character that everyone loved and then switch everything about them!Its like changing Elsa from ice to fire and making her outgoing and playful like Anna,Just..NO!
3)cliche characters
Where do I start?Nuremous characters are so stereotypical!You have the protagonist(Kion's)Bsst friend,who is carefree,Rebellious,And only likes to have fun.The tom girl who is all big and bad and stronger than the guys and possibly the main characters love interest.The fat guy with a heart of gold,And the smart nerd who knows everything and is an introvert.I've seen their personalities in so many movies,Their old,Forgettable,Just dull characters.It clearly shows the writers out no thought in these characters,They just said let's make so and so,And don't take their time trying to make them special,And coming from a company who has created characters like Mickey,Elsa,Woody,And many others,That is just plain sad.
4)Is simba racist?!
Wait,what?!What happened to the simba we grew up with in the original lion king?!Did Disney just wipe away his personality and made him some stuck up,Demanding father? Similar to the problem with Kiara,He just doesn't act the same.He acts like if your not a lion your nowhere as good as me,or your not worthy enough of being in the pride lands and stuff like that,It's just wrong!And to make him act this way in a children's show?!I know little ones won't understand this but parents will,This is something our children should not be introduced to,And I am ashamed Disney made that apart of his character.
5)What about the Lion King 2?
This is my last reason,Where does the lion king 2 fit into this time line?Some events just don't add up correctly,What about Kovu?And the outsiders?Where was Kion no his guard in the second movie?When was Kion born?these are questions fans of TLK ask and their never get explanations,Maybe in the future we will get one but for now,Things in this African world just aren't making sense.
In conclusion,this movie was flawed in many ways,By changing characters,Forgettable characters,Predictable villains,And a dumb story line that everyone could guess what was going to happen half way in the movie.Overall,Awful movie,Before you show this to your kids,Shwo them the original lion king,and once they understand the originals,Then show them this crap,It's a waste of brain cells,And time.
1)The animation is lazy.
Adobe flash animation?Really?The characters look strange in this type of animation style,the only one who looks good is Nala,(Lets face it she looks pretty no matter how you animate her)Besides that,the walk cycles are lazy,it's like the writers didn't feel like making a full walk cycle so they just made four frames and hoped no one would notice.Their feet look like little nubs,they barely look like their walking on the ground!Not to mention the design of the characters are just bad...People who thought simba from the lion king 2 looks bad,prepare to feast your eyes on his newest design,Compared to his second one,this Disney junior art style will make the second movie simba look like a hot fashion model that all the girls faint over.not to mention Zuri and Tifu are just copies of Kiara except with hair tufts.Overall,The animators didn't feel like making this movie and it shows,BAD!
2)what happened to Kiara
Kiara was the protagonist in the second lion king movie,She was a adventurous cub who wanted to explore the pride lands without her father being overprotective of her.She hated the thought or mention of becoming queen,Her outer appearance was changed as well,She originally had pale orange fur,dark purple nose,light Amber eyes and a cream muzzle,belly,chest and paws.Now take all those things I previously listed about Kiara and throw it all away because now she's a pale tan color(like all the other lionesses)she has a smug,bratty,attitude and is a daddy's girl who tattletales on anyone who breaks the rules,She likes to brag that she is future queen,She is the opposite of what her original counterpart was like!I mean,Cmon Disney!You don't just take a classic character that everyone loved and then switch everything about them!Its like changing Elsa from ice to fire and making her outgoing and playful like Anna,Just..NO!
3)cliche characters
Where do I start?Nuremous characters are so stereotypical!You have the protagonist(Kion's)Bsst friend,who is carefree,Rebellious,And only likes to have fun.The tom girl who is all big and bad and stronger than the guys and possibly the main characters love interest.The fat guy with a heart of gold,And the smart nerd who knows everything and is an introvert.I've seen their personalities in so many movies,Their old,Forgettable,Just dull characters.It clearly shows the writers out no thought in these characters,They just said let's make so and so,And don't take their time trying to make them special,And coming from a company who has created characters like Mickey,Elsa,Woody,And many others,That is just plain sad.
4)Is simba racist?!
Wait,what?!What happened to the simba we grew up with in the original lion king?!Did Disney just wipe away his personality and made him some stuck up,Demanding father? Similar to the problem with Kiara,He just doesn't act the same.He acts like if your not a lion your nowhere as good as me,or your not worthy enough of being in the pride lands and stuff like that,It's just wrong!And to make him act this way in a children's show?!I know little ones won't understand this but parents will,This is something our children should not be introduced to,And I am ashamed Disney made that apart of his character.
5)What about the Lion King 2?
This is my last reason,Where does the lion king 2 fit into this time line?Some events just don't add up correctly,What about Kovu?And the outsiders?Where was Kion no his guard in the second movie?When was Kion born?these are questions fans of TLK ask and their never get explanations,Maybe in the future we will get one but for now,Things in this African world just aren't making sense.
In conclusion,this movie was flawed in many ways,By changing characters,Forgettable characters,Predictable villains,And a dumb story line that everyone could guess what was going to happen half way in the movie.Overall,Awful movie,Before you show this to your kids,Shwo them the original lion king,and once they understand the originals,Then show them this crap,It's a waste of brain cells,And time.
- kinkin-05329
- Jan 28, 2017
- Permalink
What did we do to deserve this, Disney?
- datautisticgamer-74853
- May 26, 2016
- Permalink
NO WORDS TO DISCRIBE HOW HORRIFIED I AM!!!!
The lion king is one of the many beautiful and amazing creations in movie history and too see this is disappointment on epic proportions. I love lion king and Disney.. currently I am on a mission to collect and own all the great Disney movies that i grew up with so that some day when i have kids i can show then what good animation was with some acceptations such as moana, finding nemo and brave. i will not be adding the lion guard to my collection.. I'm only giving this movie a one because I cant give it a 0/10..
such a disappointment
such a disappointment
- vanessaboo-62191
- Feb 25, 2018
- Permalink