Rating: Summary: Excellent! Review: As a MAJOR Disney fan from early on, I must say that I viewed this film with only moderate expectations. However, it delivered beautifully! For the most part, I've never cared a whole lot for the musical aspects of Disney-- and other children's-- films, but I have to say, I prefer Elton John's songs in this movie to Phil Collins' in Tarzan any day. I really enjoy "It's Tough to be a God" (sung by Miguel and Tulio) also, and that's rare, because as I said, I'm not big on songs in my movies. But this sequence is playful, colorful, and fun, with a great beat-- and you can dance to it!
I do take issue with the baring of the bottoms in one scene, and there were 2 or 3 cuss words in the film (mild ones, mind you) that I felt were unnecessary in a children's movie. Other reveiwers have pointed out the "suggested sex" scene, but I only viewed it as an off-camera make-out session, nothing more. Both characters were fully clothed, if not a little rumpled, and I see no reason to feel they were doing more.
I bought this movie for my niece, who is 6 years old now. She loves the movie now, but was very frightened by the Jaguar sequence when she was younger (3 or 4), and wouldn't watch the movie for a long time after the first viewing because of it. However, as an adult, I found the movie highly entertaining; Miguel and Tulio are a lot of fun, and I've even come around to Rosie Perez (Chel) thanks to this movie. At least in small doses. Chel was funny here, though, as was the banter between the two main characters (fantastic work by Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline). Fabulous voice work by everyone else as well (Armand Assante and Edward James Olmos were great!).
When it came out, this movie was up against The Emperor's New Groove. In my mind, this blows The Emperor out of the water, though that movie was enjoyable enough (rather cartoony for a Disney feature, but it got better on the second viewing).
In closing, The Road to El Dorado is gorgeous, funny, and entertaining, and I highly recommend it-- at least for those over 4 or 5 years of age. I believe Dreamworks really gave Disney a run for their money on this one.
Rating: Summary: Another Road Movie. Review: Bing Crosby and Bob Hope made several "ROAD" movies together. The movies basically had the same plot: the duo traveled to some far off location, involved the duo getting into some kind of trouble, and had a beautiful woman fall in love with one of the duo (usually Crosby). The movies were also known for their cheesy songs and the frequent breaking of the theatrical fourth wall.With that said, THE ROAD TO EL DORADO is basically another Hope and Crosby film, except it's animated and it doesn't star Hope or Crosby. The animated visuals of the movie are rather spectacular in some parts and Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branaugh keep the picture moving as the bumbling duo of Julio and Miguel. The plot of the movie revolves around Julio and Miguel being accidently stowed away on one of Cortez's ships headed for the New World. The duo escapes in the night and in the process save Cortez's prize horse. The three companions eventually wash up on shore and discover they have landed on the shores of a distant land where El Dorado, the legendary city of gold, can be found. Eventually, the companions find El Dorado and are mistaken for gods. The plot of the movie does move rather slow and the film's songs, written and performed by Elton John, are rather cheesy. Nevertheless, THE ROAD TO EL DORADO is more enjoyable than many other animated pictures and proves to be an enjoyable animated action/adventure buddy flick that the entire family can watch together.
Rating: Summary: I WANT A SEQUEL! Review: DreamWorks did a great job on The Road to El Dorado. The cartoon plays like an old Bob Hope Bing Crosby Road comedy. The story follows two con men on their quest to the legendary El Dorado City of gold. Through a series of hilarious mishaps, they find the city and become worshiped by the people. Helping them in on the con is Chel, an attractive native who wants to go to Spain with our duo. In the end they do the right thing and protect the city but lose the gold.
Road to El Dorado is a little more adult than most animated movies, but that's a good thing. American animation really needs to grow up if hand drawn animation is to survive in a world where computer animated characters are becoming the norm. Hand drawn animation needs more stories like this, not less. Japanese animation is full of adult situations, and violence. The Simpsons and Family Guy can depict adult situations, on TV then why not a feature length movie.
The music is great, the hand drawn animation and CGI blend beautifully and Elton John and Tim Rice's songs are perfect. Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline have great chemistry in their voice-over performances, perhaps they could do a live action "Road". Rosie Perez is great as Chel I really wish Road to El Dorado did better at the box office the ending had me wanting a sequel. I want to see Miguel, Tulio, Chel and Altivo the horse on their return journey to the city of gold.
Hear me Dream Works! I want a sequel.
Rating: Summary: Stupendous! Review: Here is a terrific movie, centered around the egregious and incredibly destructive trek that Cortez undertook to the New World. Eldorado is the what he was looking for; a city of gold. This is a really fun movie which tells the story of two adventurers (Julio & Miguel) who accidently stow-away on one of Cortez' ships. They are all that stands in the way of the ruthless Cortez discovering the mythical lost city of gold. The film is well done all the way around. The cast boasts the distinctive voices of Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline (as the two heros) as well as James Edward Olmos. Another Hans Zimmer / Elton John collaboration (with lyrics by Tim Rice), the soundtrack is top-notch & worth buying on CD. I would highly recommend this film for the entire family. It will bring hours of enjoyment to all who view it. Too bad Voltaire is not around to see this one!!
Rating: Summary: Waiting impatiently for the DVD! Review: I am a very discriminating adult and an aspiring animator, and I thought The Road to El Dorado was fantastic! It was humorous, intelligent, and action-packed, with some of the finest animation Dreamworks Studios has to offer. I wasn't bored for a single second, and I even went back to the theatre to see it a second time. I thought the music was catchy, interesting, original and fun, and really suited the feel of the movie. Elton John writes perfectly wonderful music and Tim Rice is a great lyricist. There were two things I liked in particular. First, that the heroine Chel isn't a slender willow wand of a girl-a popular heroine depiction that encourages anorexia and bulemia at an early age. There's nothing sadder than a perfectly healthy seven year old girl who's "on a diet". I know. I've seen it. Chel is hippy and voluptuous with plenty of meat on her bones in a very Frazetta-style fashion-and she's also very attractive. What a way to insinuate that a girl can be sexy without being under one hundred pounds soaking wet. The second thing that struck me was the incredible animation of Miguel's face. Sure, Tulio was much "purtier", but it was Miguel's far more expressive face that held me transfixed. The range of emotions and expressions that showed on that face reminded me over and over again of the astounding magic of the animated medium and exactly why I'm working so hard to achieve it in my own life. Altogether, The Road to El Dorado was funny, interesting, and exciting and, as in everything Dreamworks has animated so far, visually breathtaking. I'm waiting eagerly for the DVD and I hope it'll have plenty of features and goodies on it for me to explore! On a more personal note, I have to admit I sort of envied Chel in this film-riding off with two attractive males all to herself-at least, for the time being. Of course, if I was in Chel's place, I'd have to say I'd favor Miguel over Tulio-but then, I've always been a bit of a fool for a pair of big green eyes on a guy! lol
Rating: Summary: A Great Movie for anyone. Review: I cannot see why the American critics rate this movie poorly! The Australian version has a G rating, though. It is a great movie, my 3 year-old brother watches it all the time and he loves it! You might say that the relationship between Chel and Tulio is a bit adult, but anyone who would say that is a drama-queen! It's perfectly clean! There is nothing wrong with this movie at all and I urge that you buy it, even if you don't have any kids!
Rating: Summary: Enjoyed, with reservations Review: I judge children's movies based on how eager I am to watch it again after what seems like the 50th viewing. El Dorado passes with flying colors. My husband and I enjoy watching it as much as my three year old does. I notice something new every time. The characters are believable, the story holds my attention and the music isn't too annoying. I give it only three stars because I think there are some aspects of the story that are too mature for little ones. It is rated PG, which I missed before I ordered it, due to some sexual situations and scary scenes. My daughter doesn't get the sexual references, but I could see a six year old asking some interesting questions.
Rating: Summary: My kids liked it but ... Review: I took my kids to see it and they liked it. They had also liked Cats Don't Dance which I hated but found superior to this film.
Other than some dazzling visual effects, this movie was painful to watch. The movie was flawed. It looked like it only took them a day to get from Spain to South America. Tulio and Miguel swindle a treasure map and then end up on the same boat with their victims. How come the map is not taken back from them when they are imprisioned? How do they happen to wind up in the exact starting point of the map when they land? Whatever happened to the guy that originally drew the map? How do Miguel and Tulio make a volcano erupt and then stop? (It wasn't clear if it was the Shaman that made this happen).
I thought Cortez went to Mexico. What is he doing in South America.
The street-wise Rosie Perez character with her Bronx lingo accent was totally out of place as a Mayan girl.
This had probably the worst Elton John Music I ever heard. As soon as I left the theater the music was quickly forgotten. The movie didn't even have a catchy closing tune.
If you need to take the kids to this one, pay a baby-sitter to take them.
Rating: Summary: Pay attention to rating - adult themes, but otherwise ok Review: It is nice to see that Disney has some competition. This is a solid 3 star movie of average entertainment value. The strength of the movie is repartee between the two main characters. The script design reminded me a little of a combination of the Sean Conneryand Michael Caine movie THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING and the Road movies done by Hope and Crosby only here they are Spanish warriors, not british warriors or american dandys. This is a movie that had enough action for my little kids and enough comedy for the older ones, like me. If you are looking for non-disney family fun also check out SWAN PRINCESS, BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER and the LAND BEFORE TIME.
Rating: Summary: It was a good movie but... Review: The movie was good but I have seen better but I do have it for keeps so this movie is about outlaws who trick people but then they go to Eldorado the City of Gold well you'll have to watch it to find out how it turns
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