The Jungle Book 2 (2003)

The Jungle Book 2 is by far one of the worst sequels (whether Disney or Non-Disney) I have ever seen. It has a weak storyline, below average songs and terrible animation.I remember when I heard that there was going to be a sequel to the Jungle Book (one of my favourite Disney films), I was extremely excited: my excitement went to waste. What makes this film even worse is how great the first Jungle Book film was. I think the same can be said for most Disney sequels (e.g. Pocahontas 2, The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 etc).Quite frankly, I like to imagine that this sequel does not exist.

I agree with the reviewer of the DVD to this Disney sequel on the Ultimate Disney site (now more commonly known as DVDizzy): It's not on the same level as the first movie, but simultaneously it isn't that bad either and I still find it enjoyable, despite the flaws there may be. Someone mentioned that this is just a rehash of the original film. I didn't quite get what that other viewer meant or what that other reviewer was talking about at first, but I guess it is somewhat, in a few ways, but not all that much I don't think. Believe it or not, this is actually one of the few Disney sequels I was feeling to a degree. Those who think this is very bad, I can think of other movies that are much worse, such as the straight-to-VHS Bar-B-Q and I rather watch Jungle Book 2 again than that or before ever watching that again, looking back on it. To anyone who may be reading this, y'all might want to rent for yourselves or watch it online first though. I don't think I'll even bother bringing up what has already been elaborated by the other reviewers about this on here nor try to discuss what hasn't already been discussed on this. Anyway, I say it's worth giving a whirl and hopefully at least some will be on the fence with it like I am.

Review Summary: A dull Disney effort that should have been released straight to video.It's sounds rather strange that Disney was once the maker of all these childhood treats, yet know, it seems that they are also the makers of these nightmares. Cash-grabs that is! How do you explain JUNGLE BOOK 2? It's a movie so desperate in its attempt to cash in on the audiences of the oft-called classic original that it forget that it should have been released straight to video, not that it matters. Either way it's just bad, really bad. Kids may love it though. God help us! I should say this sequel picks up where the original left off, but I should be honest. This is nothing more than a rehash of the first film, with more gratuitous musical numbers, more annoying talking animals and even sillier slapsticks, Disney-style. Since we left Mowgli (voiced by Haley Joel Osment), he was finally at home in the "Man-village" while Baloo (voiced by John Goodman) and Bagheera (voiced by Bob Joles) are safely back in the jungle, away from the menacing Shere Khan (voiced by Tony Jay). Of course, in any sequel, no story comes to a close for long. Pretty soon, little Mowgli longs to be back in the jungle. Luckily, good ol' Baloo is missing him badly and decided to pay him a little visit. And not so luckily, Shere Khan's back with a vengeance.The animation, despite a few bright spots, has nothing to it. It's just pedestrian. But the animation is the least of the problems. How about story? About a fresh new take on the characters? How about a wider appeal? Nothing. Just pure cornball Saturday-matinée animation for the kids. The voice cast is pretty good, but they give nothing to the picture they serve on. Goodman's good-guy voice is just getting really tiresome now. The late Tone Jay does provide a nice accent on the villainy of Shere Khan, too bad it's just regrettably forgettable.It sure ain't worth on the big screen, but is it worth a rental? Unless it's the only family movie available other than BABY GENIUSES or the like, you might as well.Rating: * out of 5.

I agree with the other posters here who say they were disappointed by this pointless sequel. I can't add anything to there comments, except to say that a much better sequel was right under the Disney Corporation's nose and they didn't see it or had forgotten about it after all these years.Back around 1970, while the original film was still very popular, Disney issued an audio sequel on LP record called MORE JUNGLE BOOK, with some of the original cast voices including Phil Harris and Louis Prima! This LP record had a much better story than this 2003 movie, and no, the movie is not a version of the record. For a kiddie record, it had some heart, something this pointless film sequel does not.On the LP, Louis Prima performs a song called "Strange Behavior", which he probably never recorded anywhere else, and Prima fans today have probably never heard it!