The Road to El Dorado
List Price:
Our Price: $11.49
You Save: $1.50 (12%)
Availability: Usually ships in 9 to 11 days
Buy Used: from $4.25 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Armand Assante, Elton John, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Kline, Tobin BellComposer: Elton John
Adapter: Karey Kirkpatrick
Composer: Hans Zimmer
DVD: 2 Layers, Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), DTS 5.1; English (Subtitled)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 89 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-12-12
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Dreamworks Animated
Movie Reviews of The Road to El Dorado
Movie Review: Never a Dull Moment
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is incredibly fun. The over-the-top expressions and gestures, the striking character designs, the bright colors, the lovable characters, and the fabulous voice actors weave a fantastic tale that never drops interest for a moment.
What separates this movie from the pack is its snappy dialogue, which flows effortlessly and brings a laugh a minute. The excellent voice acting, combined with the overly dramatic gestures and sharp facial expressions, bring the characters to life in a way that I have seen very rarely before.
The plot is a lot of fun, too. It surrounds a rarely-touched myth and culture (refreshing!). Furthermore, who hasn't dreamt of finding a treasure map, and what would be more fun than being thought of as a god by an unwitting culture? I especially like the angle Dreamworks took with this by using a couple of gangly, worldly cons as its protagonists rather than doe-eyed kids or macho explorers.
There are some minor flaws in this film. For one thing, this rosy image of South American natives and demonization of Spanish colonialism is so politically correct it's sickening. However, it's easy to overlook; just remember to keep history at arm's length and remember that this is entertainment -- a realm where the film excels.
Another negative thing is the over-dependence on really blah songs by Elton John. I mean, BLAH. The animators did what they could with it -- excellent jobs, even. However, it takes two to tango; the animation never completely meshes with the boring songs (which all sound completely the same), and the fact that you can feel boredom setting in in the first five seconds of each tune is a bad, bad sign. The animation does pick it up, but it carries most of the load. You'll be waiting for the songs to end so that the plot can continue.
Although all of the characters are fantastic, one manages to leap into the film and smudge the whole affair. Chel is well-animated and has a great voice, but the character herself is downright disgusting. She is a smug, oversexed trollop, crawling all over one of the protagonists in a way that'll be hard to explain to the little 'uns. At one point she's saying goodbye to all the children of her town, and I can almost imagine the subtext: "Chel says farewell to her illegitimate kids." She is almost never likable -- if she's not blackmailing the protagonists, she's purposely trying to part them.
Also, although it is billed as kid's fare, there are some really intense parts in this movie. Parents should be aware that a guy is sacrificed at one point (kicked into a vat of glowing green potion), a man is stepped on by a gargantuan statue, and the High Priest is a frightening, nigh demonic foe with some pretty creepy powers.
These are not reasons to turn away from this film, however. The plot is fun, the characters are 99% great, there's one catchy song in the middle, there are adorable animal sidekicks in the way of an armadillo and a horse, and the animation and voice acting is fabulous. All the good points outweigh the bad with ease. It's a great film definitely worth having, great for older kids and fun for parents as well!
Summary of The Road to El Dorado
In its third foray into animated features, DreamWorks came up with something unfortunate: the routine animated picture. Plagued with production problems (it was originally conceived as a mold-breaking PG-13 adventure), the likable film is a Hope/Crosby-style road picture about two scalawags who stumble upon the Latin American paradise of El Dorado, the mythical city with riches of gold. Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline are quite fun as Miguel and Tuilo, two Spanish con artists who are shipwrecked in the New World with a scene-stealing horse. The pair follow a map to the secret city where their loyalty will be tested: do they return home rich men or continue to live in this paradise? Of course there are some obstacles: a high priest (Armand Assante) is locked in a power struggle with the benevolent chief (Edward James Olmos) and the perfunctory girlfriend (Rosie Perez) puts the two friends at odds. Like too many of the animated features of its time, The Road to El Dorado impresses only on a visual level (it's drenched in gorgeous greens and golds). The story and Elton John's songs are quite forgettable; only Branagh and Kline's playful banter keeps the film alive. The PG rating is for some bare backsides and a suggestion of off-screen sex that should soar right over the little ones' heads. Slick and light, it's a fine 83-minute entertainment for ages 5 and up, including the nondiscriminating adult. --Doug ThomasKids & Family DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in American animation movies that must be watched
Titan A.E. (Special Edition)Release date: 2000-11-07; DVD
Best price: $5.03
Price in other shops:
WizardsRelease date: 2004-05-25; DVD
Best price: $6.64
Price in other shops:
Watership DownRelease date: 2002-03-26; DVD
Best price: $37.99
Atlantis - The Lost EmpireRelease date: 2002-01-29; DVD
Best price: $8.75
Price in other shops:
The Road to El DoradoRelease date: 2000-12-12; DVD
Best price: $5.66
Price in other shops:
The Prince of EgyptPRINCE OF EGYPT; Release date: 1999-09-14; DVD
Best price: $7.40
Price in other shops:
The Hunchback of Notre DameRelease date: 2002-03-19; DVD
Best price: $10.59
Price in other shops:
Pocahontas (Disney Gold Classic Collection)Release date: 2000-06-06; DVD
Best price: $14.24
Price in other shops:
The Last UnicornLAST UNICORN; Release date: 2007-02-06; DVD
Best price: $7.49
Price in other shops:
The Secret of NIMH (2-Disc Family Fun Edition)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-06-19; DVD
Best price: $10.18
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
Mulan (Special Edition)MING-NA; Release date: 2004-10-26; DVD
Best price: $15.15
Price in other shops:
Joseph - King of DreamsPARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2000-11-07; DVD
Best price: $3.39
Price in other shops:
Tarzan (Special Edition)Disney; Release date: 2005-10-18; DVD
Best price: $16.39
Price in other shops:
![Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (Full Screen Edition) [Animated] Image](/images/Spirit-Stallion-of-the-Cimarron-Full-Screen-Edition-Animated-B00006IJI5-X.jpg)
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (Full Screen Edition) [Animated]DAMON,MATT; Release date: 2002-11-19; DVD
Best price: $7.75
Price in other shops:
Hercules (Disney Gold Classic Collection)Release date: 2000-08-01; DVD
Best price: $16.72
Price in other shops:
The Emperor's New Groove - The New Groove EditionRelease date: 2005-10-18; DVD
Best price: $16.49
Price in other shops:
Treasure PlanetRelease date: 2003-04-29; DVD
Best price: $15.75
Price in other shops:
Atlantis - The Lost EmpireRelease date: 2002-01-29; DVD
Best price: $8.75
Price in other shops:
The Prince of EgyptPRINCE OF EGYPT; Release date: 1999-09-14; DVD
Best price: $7.37
Price in other shops:
Sinbad - Legend of the Seven Seas (Widescreen Edition)Release date: 2003-11-18; DVD
Best price: $4.40
Price in other shops: