By this point, most people are familiar with the phenomenon of the Disney sequel. Usually pushed out straight-to-DVD, many of these were not nearly as good as the original movie, and some became so absurd as to be almost unwatchable. However, every so often one came along that managed to be quite good, and two examples of this phenomenon are The Lion King 2 and The Rescuers Down Under, the last of which was actually released to theaters and is an often-overlooked gem.
While both are very enjoyable movies, each of them has some very key advantages that make them the best Disney movie sequel.
10 Lion King 2: Better Music
Obviously, it would be difficult to match the quality of the musical in the original movie (especially since its soundtrack was one of the best in a Disney movie), which was created by the great Tim Rice and Elton John.
However, the sequel does a creditable job of creating its own noteworthy soundtrack, and some of the songs are actually quite touching and, at times, almost moving. It’s an indication of what a Disney sequel can be like when it’s given the type of attention and development it deserves.
9 Rescuers Down Under: Percival McLeach
Everyone knows that a key part of any Disney movie, whether original or sequel, is a good (and sometimes intelligent) villain, and the character of Percival C. McLeach is just such a person. He’s ruthless and cunning, the type of guy who won’t rest until he manages to capture and slaughter the magnificent golden eagle. He really seems to care nothing for the beauty of the natural world; all he sees is another means of bolstering his fragile ego.
He’s a reprehensible character, and that’s what makes him so fascinating to watch.
8 Lion King 2: Reunites Most of the Voice Cast from the First One
One of the most glaring weaknesses of most of the Disney sequels is that they struggle to find the best voices, often because the voices cast from the original movie have passed away.
Fortunately, The Lion King 2 managed to reunite almost all of the people from the original movie, and this allows it to recapture more than a little of that magic that made its predecessor one of the most successful movies, both critically and financially, of the Disney Renaissance.
7 Rescuers Down Under: More Complex Animation
Given that it was a theatrical release, it would make sense that The Rescuers Down Under would feature some top-of-the-line animation. Even so, it has to be said that the artistry involved in this movie is truly something, with some sequences that are designed to take the viewer’s breath away.
The scenes that take place on the back of the mighty eagle, as just one example, sweep the viewer up in the terrifying beauty and majesty of the natural world.
6 Lion King 2: Influenced by Shakespeare
Though it might go over the head of some younger viewers, it’s pretty obvious that the plot of The Lion King draws liberally from Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet.
It’s thus not much of a surprise that the sequel would also draw from Shakespeare, this time from the equally famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Thankfully, though, it manages to have a significantly happier ending than the playwright’s story about the doomed, star-crossed lovers that end up taking their own lives.
5 Rescuers Down Under: John Candy
John Candy was one of the funniest men to have ever worked in Hollywood. No matter what movie he appeared in, he managed to steal the show with his infectious charm and good nature.
He brings all of that to bear in his turn as the albatross Wilbur. He’s truly hilarious in this role, and it’s clear that Wilbur is the type of character that would become quite common in Disney movies: a little bumbling, but with a heart of gold that sees him through to the end.
4 Lion King 2: The Great Villain that is Zira
While Rescuers Down Under might have McLeach, The Lion King 2 has the great villain of Zira. It’s unclear exactly where she was during the events of the first movie, but she makes it clear that she still thinks of Scar as the rightful king (even though he’s dead).
She’s a delicious and delightful villain of the old school, and it helps in that regard that she’s played by Suzanne Pleshette, who makes the most out of this juicy role.
3 Rescuers Down Under: The Occasional Somber Notes
Even though it’s a very light-hearted movie, for the most part, it has to be said that The Rescuers Down Under does have some more somber moments (as is usually the case with most Disney movies).
After all, it’s undeniable that McLeach has literally been responsible for the deaths of some truly beautiful creatures, and even has a whole group of animals penned up for obviously nefarious purposes. What’s more, he literally tries to feed the main character to a group of crocodiles.
2 Lion King 2: The Complicated Politics of the Pride
The Lion King 2 is one of those movies that ends up raising more questions than it answers, precisely because it’s unclear just who, exactly, the outcast lionesses are (since they didn’t really seem to appear in the first movie).
What’s more, it’s unclear who, exactly, is the father of the male cubs that appear (including the hero, Kovu). However, it’s precisely these ultimately unanswerable enigmas that make this such a continually entertaining movie to watch.
1 Rescuers Down Under: It’s Genuine Warmth and Humor
Anyone who has seen the original Rescuers movie knows that there’s a lot of warmth and heart in it, which is what one would expect from a movie about two mice that set out to rescue a girl who has been kidnapped by an unscrupulous woman and her bumbling business partner.
This warmth and generosity of spirit carry over into the sequel, which is all about the idea that the beauty of nature should be appreciated rather than relentlessly destroyed in the way that McLeach does in every way that he can.
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