Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
DreamWorks First Animated Gold, November 30, 2005
I gotta tell you, when it comes to non-Disney animated flicks, I usually passed in the past. Don Bluth did some breakaway stuff in the early eighties and there have been the occasional gems outside of the box like The Iron Giant. But before it hit paydirt with Shrek, DreamWorks animation department wasn't getting my money or my interest. I actually bought this movie on DVD as a last-minute stocking stuffer for my younger daughter and now its a family favorite. Tulio and Miguel...two 16th century con-artist sheisters who win a treasure map to the fabled City Of Gold - El Dorado hidden somewhere in the new world. Formulaic? So some reviewers say. I disagree. This movie is hysterically funny. Kenneth Branaugh and Kevin Kline are classic...and Rosie Perez is the sexiest animated character since Jessica Rabbit hit the big screen all those years ago. Some say that this isn't geared for children...and I gotta admit that there is a little bit of sexual tension going on here and there, but nothing to outlandish. Overall even the Elton John songs are catchy and you'll find yourself humming along if you're not careful. Renewed my faith in non-Disney animation.
Dig It!
|
|
|
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exploring the Road to El Dorado, November 14, 2000
By A Customer
I first saw DreamWork's second animated film (after "The Prince Of Egypt") in theatrical relaese and, much like the recent Fox Animation film Titan AE and Warners' "The Iron Giant", realised that here was yet another feature that had been totally marketed in the wrong way. Expecting some serious "Pocahontas"-like drama based around the time of Cortez, I was more than pleasantly surprised to find that this was a a colorful, exciting and very funny romp, with the comedy paring of Kevin Kline and Ken Branagh sheer chemisty. Their interaction is a joy to take part it, and I was swept along the story until it reached it's logical conclusion (after all, this is still partly a kids movie)! The only real weak links were Rosie Perez's Chel, who's character was just not drawn in enough detail (excuse the pun!) and the placing of a ballad towards the end of the film. Otherwise the songs (by Elton John and Tim Rice) zips the story along lke Phil Collins did for "Tarzan", the only other drawback was that the song "16th Century Man" from the soundtrack CD is not included in the film (but is a better song than "The Trail We Blaze"). This DVD special edition includes, like "Prince Of Egypt" and "Chicken Run", a director commentary, trailers and a "Making of", allowing the viewer to explore this underrated film in more detail. A hark back to the "Road To..." movies of the Hope and Crosby era, "Road to El Dorado" is more than well worth adding to your animation collection. Ditto "Titan AE" and "The Iron Giant", all Disney-standard features in spirit if not name!
|
|
|
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Adventure Tale, February 16, 2006
I really enjoyed watching "The Road to El Dorado." It's full of adventure that every young boy enjoys to watch. Unfortunately, I'm almost thirty, and the real reason I bought this flick was for my four-year-old daughter to enjoy. She liked it well enough, but it has many themes in it that are a little bit over her young head. Also, there are a couple of words in it(hell and crap), that some parents may not want their youngsters hearing.
That being said, this is a great film for older children to watch. Much like "Atlantis: The Lost Empire," "El Dorado" has plenty of action and even a little suspense that will definitely trigger the imaginations of youngsters who dream of being pirates, Indiana Jones, treasure hunters, etc.
The story begins with Miguel and Tulio, two generally low-brow scalawags trying to cheat their way to riches in a game of dice. They gain a map in their victory but are quickly found out to be cheats. They hide in barrels in order to get away from the authorities and those that they had cheated, but are placed on a ship headed for the New World. They manage to escape at sea and find themselves beached at El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. They are mistaken for gods and are treated as such. Along the way, they stockpile as many of the natives' riches that they can, but in the end, they must make a huge moral decision that leads to a swashbuckling conclusion.
With the voice talents of Kevin Kline, Rosie Perez, Edward James Olmos, and the wonderful Kenneth Branagh, "The Road To El Dorado" is essentially a buddy flick for the younger crowd, though this oldster found himself enjoying this film quite a bit. The music, by Elton John and Tim Rice, is ultimately forgettable, but the score, by Hans Zimmer, is much more memorable.
Pick this flick up for your older kids. Younger children may not catch the bulk of the humor in this film, but the comedy provided by Altivo, a horse, is sure to get some laughs out of them.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys adventure films like all of the Indiana Jones flicks and even "The Goonies."
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
DVD ~ Val Kilmer
DVD ~ Brad Pitt
DVD ~ Michael J. Fox
DVD ~ Joseph Gordon-Levitt
DVD ~ David Spade
by Elton John
~ Elton John
