The Road to El Dorado - Nostalgia Critic
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2023
- Though not loved by critics and audiences at the time, the animated comedy has grown a following over the years. Where does NC fall on the Dreamworks film? Find out now as Nostalgia Critic takes a look at The Road to El Dorado.
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The Road to El Dorado is a 2000 American animated adventure comedy film directed by Eric "Bibo" Bergeron and Don Paul in their feature directorial debuts, from a screenplay by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, as well as additional sequences directed by Will Finn and David Silverman. Starring the voices of Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, Rosie Perez, Armand Assante, and Edward James Olmos, the film follows two con artists who, after winning the map to El Dorado in Spain, wash ashore in the New World. The map leads the two men to the city of El Dorado, where its inhabitants mistake them for gods.
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HOLY.......ship. Thoughts on El Dorado?
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It’s one of my favorite Dreamworks movies
AMAZING movie! It's tough to be a GOD was SO Good!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤
The Road to El Dorado is a Really Great Film and it’s a Underrated Gem
@@animationnerd2748 EXACTLY
The fact that my movie club just screened this (per my suggestion) in a movie theatre and I missed it after catching covid, I'm just gonna assume this is the universe's way of mocking me.
The Chief casually accepting they’re humans because of the positive impact they’ve had on his people is one of my favorite parts of the movie.
The Chief in general is one of my favorite things with this movie.
I could say that Cortez is the best part because he is voiced by Jim Cummings.
@@brytilaaryeah but the chief is Edward James Olmos so...
Mien to dude!
If only Bug's Life did that.
The biggest differences between Miguel and Tulio is that while they are both dumb and cocky, Miguel is more naive and optimistic well Tulio is more of a realist and cynical. If you pay attention, they're kind of like a SpongeBob and Squidward kind of thing.
Thank you! When he said that he had a hard time telling them apart, I did a double take at my screen because I couldn't believe it! Their personalities, who they are at their core, are so different; their wants and needs don't always line up.
While they both have similar traits in common, they display them and what they really want out of life entirely differently.❤💙
@@kingblanketfort They are the same, but at the same time, polar opposites depending on what aspect you are looking at. I too am a bit taken aback how he doesn't see that aspect and just equates them as being basically the same character. I feel like it's pretty on the nose with those aspects of them.
Much in the same way as brothers having lived most of their lives together, there have some strong similarities, but also differences. Or in this case, partners in crime that have survived until now by staying and working together for who knows how many years.
They would have to be quite similar to be able to stay and work together in that way, but they also have different ideas and ways they process what they experience.
That scene where they're getting ready for the party is really interesting because it starts off with Tulio leading the way (talking about how Chel is off limits) and then Tulio gets doubtful about the whole God thing and Miguel is like "Just smile, act godly, and follow my lead" and the dynamic changes abruptly between them.
I totally agree.
When Doug said that he couldn’t see any differences between the two I knew right away that he was wrong in some way.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie but your comment here made me fully remember why I felt that way so thanks.😇
For everyone wondering about the “less sexy“ chel:
The original concept was pretty much the same character body wise, but she was wearing a pretty deep cut poncho. ONLY a poncho, nothing else.
Oh my goodness...
*strong breeze* many would be praying for that.
Devianart would have a field day with that
HOHOHO, what could’ve been… what could’ve been…
Denizens of R+Three+Four: I feel a disturbance in the force.
I personnally really like the fact that the animation is more realistic. Tulio and Miguel feel like real guys that happen to be goofy and funny. And since I think that this movie is more about the two protagonists and their relationship than the actual plot, it helps relating to them more. You connect to them more, and it's easier to imagine yourself being part of their adventure.
Also, I'd say the comedy comes more from the dialogues.It's not really supposed to be cartoony
And really, the difference between Miguel and Tulio is pretty obvious. Tulio is cunning, cynical, logical, down to earth, leader, while Miguel is naive, more in touch with his feelings, follows Tulio's plans, optimistic, charming...it's just that their personnalities don't strictly follow the usual stereotypes we see with those kinds of characters. Tulio, the logical, cynical one, can be goofy, can make mistakes. Miguel, the naive one, the dreamer, can be manipulative, can get mad...They are juste more developped than the average "dreamer/scheemer" duo
Totally agree. I like that the style of humor never gets too cartoony and that instead they rather made it a classic buddy comedy that just happened to get cartoony and over the top sometimes. Most of the humor really rather derives from the two main protagonists and their relationship with each other while the cartoony slapstick never takes over too much and it works absolutely fine. Every piece of dialogue they have is funny af, and their comedic chemistry is some of the best I've ever seen, right up there with Laurel and Hardy or Mattau and Lemon.
I agree with this too. In todays world with so much anime breaking their own worlds limitations, I love that this film stayed grounded. Music is great! The characters are fun to explore and the dialogue is so fun to keep pace with!
Also love that the chief is fat, yet able to walk up a massive amount of steps.
Well said, I was gonna write something similar but you beat me to the punch. It's less of a comedy and more of a general charming adventure.
Yeah, I don’t think the final product is supposed to be super cartoony. It’s realism is it strong point imo, but I can see it not being for everyone I guess
Feel like he got stuck on the idea of it needed to be more cartoony and therefor missed stuf.
I once heard someone call this movie "when the bard and the rogue go off on their own dnd campaign" and that makes me love this movie unconditionally
Which is what made it so shocking that Doug couldn’t tell the difference between the two. Their dynamic is as obvious as the bard and the rogue.
Right! RIGHT!!! 🤩
@@KnuttyEntertainment you need to watch this as a commentary and nothing more because Doug usually miss a lot of things in movies, he is just to literal
omg thats so adorable and hilarious, I love that
@@KnuttyEntertainment These guys arn't really much different personality wise liek Critic said, but I think that's fine, having them be so similar makes the story great that Miguel is the one who changes and comes to liek the people more while Tulio remains level headed and mission focused, but even he eventually warms up to the people that they realize breaking their long friendship over this gold isn't worth it, and eventually they sacrifice the gold and their ability to stay in the city in order to seal the enterance to the city so it remains hidden. Essentially they're so similar that it's great t compare them when Miguel changes.
Another criminally underrated classic by Dreamworks, they really deserve more recognition.
Agreed
100% agreed, I kept rewatch the film this very year along with Chicken Run.
Next he needs to review Spirit
Facts
Says every gen Z’er that has ever talked about it
Despite the horse not being a talking animal sidekick, the fact it brought the keys on the boat then later mouthed 'El Dorado' when they entered the city always got me. The horse had human intelligence and he was brilliant (he even hides his horseshoes at the end when the guys are crying about losing all the gold). I saw this movie when I was 7 (...gosh darnit) and I enjoyed the jokes and silly moments and obviously I didn't understand the more adult themes until I watched it later in life, but I do think it's still a good movie.
They completely copied his vibe for the horse in Tangled
@@Bubblegob Agreed. I legit kept calling Maximus "Altivo" when Tangled first came out.
I was about the same age when i saw it and the giant lizard monster terrified me.
Actually there are some differences between the two leads. Tulio is stubborn, hard-headed and cautious, while Miguel is more risk-taking, free-spirited, optimistic and he plays well with others, at one point literally.
That’s what I was thinking, that is literally the plot point for their division in the end part of their movie.
The biggest laugh I got out of this movie was this scene:
Tulio: You're BUYING your own con!
Miguel: At least I'm not DATING mine!
And that devious bit of pleasure Tzekel-Khan got from watching them fight with each other XD
@@deuceydee3506
**Miguel slaps Tulio**
"Ooo."
**Tulio slaps Miguel**
"Ouch."
**Miguel punches Tulio**
**Tzekel-Kan chuckles deviously**
@@deuceydee3506 ANd then how they turn that right on Tzekel-Khan and punch him. A great pay off as we saw this back in Spain, and now here in the city.
I love the whole
You think Cortez got here before us?
And what, took all the really BIG ROCKS? the scoundrel
Okay, while the animation isn't up to speed, the writing is phenomenal. Listening to Tulio and Miguel you totally believe they're old friends. A lot of the banter is absolutely amazing and even if I'm not watching too closely, I'm listening with my full attention.
Miguel: *On the boat starving* Did you ever think it'd end like this?
Tulio: ...the horse is a surprise.
Yeah, I absolutely LOVE their banter and interactions with each other. It's not only really funny, but also really believable, both with the voice acting and animation.
And yeah, that part was hilarious. I love Altivo's look at the end. 🤣
True. The comedic chemistry between the two leads is just perfect in every way, every line they exchange is hilarious af. Also, I think the animation looks really good and holds up pretty well. They did a very good job at giving the characters both a realistic and a slightly cartoony look, and the settings and backgrounds are also very beautifully done,
I honestly love the animation. I'm a sucker for traditional animation. Sure, it's not suited for the comedy, but I take inspiration from it.
I love their banter too. Felt like best friends and partners in crime. One thing I don't get here is how anyone could think they're alike or hard to tell apart. Tulio: Look at this place, everything everywhere is so beautiful and mysterious! There's so much to see, so much to do! This is the adventure of a lifetime, how could we ever leave! Miguel: Shut up and pack. We get the gold, and we leave before they catch onto the con. No sidequests! In RP terms, Tulio is a Chaotic Good character who jumps at every single thing the DM says to try and gain as much adventure and lore and fun from every moment, while Miguel is a no-nonsense maybe Lawful-Neutral type who only cares about finishing the main quest with as many gains and as few losses as possible.
@@broEye1you mixed up Tulio and Miguel, but otherwise you’re spot on
Honestly the lack of major differences in their characters is what makes them being best friends more believable. I think you can see some differences when the two split apart in the second act of the film and do their own thing, but when they come together they basically fuse into a composite idea made of their prankster/scammer sides.
I'm glad your shingles are healed This is such a great film, one of DreamWorks' most underrated. And you gotta respect the amount of adult jokes they were able to slip in. It’s unfortunate we never had a sequel as planned, I would have loved another adventure with this trio. Especially Chel. No particular reason.
Agreed
I still can't believe they got away with the blow job joke.
@@waterbullstudios9195I know right?
@@waterbullstudios9195 Wait, there's a blow job joke in this movie? 👀
I never realised that, and now I'm curious where it is 😂
@@stephaniejenkins7822 It's implied when the Shaman is checking up on Tulio, and Chel doesn't want to be scene with him 16:44 🤣 🤣.
One of my favorite parts of this movie was the chemistry between Branagh and Kline; they had the actors record their lines together, something that was rarely done back then. They legit sounded like life-long friends who knew everything about each other.
Yeah, their chemistry is GREAT. Probably the best part of the movie for me.
Wait, you mean they're not?
True. Their comedic chemistry is just outstanding and makes up a lot of the humor and charm of this film
Nostalgia Critic: ...friends...yeah, right.
@@snaketooth0943 I don't see them as gay since they never actually do anything romantic with each other like kissing or sex, they're more like very close brothers, so close they're comfortable being right in each other's personal space, or being naked around each other, kind of shows how things have been so rough for them that the only thing they can actually trust is each other. It's not like they actually live anywhere, so comfort about close spae and being nude around each other does hilariously make sense. Can't worry much about personal space when you don't really have much of that to call your own. I have a twin bro and we share the same room, we're kind of liek these 2 in that we don't mind being in each other's personal space or seeing each other naked like when one needs to use the shower or getting dressed, you grow up together you just get so use to each other even over your most personal things. We've seent the kind of porn we each lik and don't care. Probably also helps since me and my twin bro basically have all the same interests. But yah I will say one of the best things of this review is Critic's jokes hinting at them being possibly gay even though they don't actually show signs thay they are. Tulio even has a scene where he anc Chell either did have sex, or at least they intimatly made out, and the fact that Miguel feels betrayed by this (I think he too started getting feelings for Chell) and they called off their friendship and Miguel thought about staying while Tulio and Chell would leave.
The differences between Miguel and Tulio are pretty easy to spot throughout the movie.
Miguel is an optimist, who sees the brighter side of things which is played up for comedy by making him seem "optimistically dumb" (example "aliggggght.... cuba!" Line) hes more interested in having fun and enjoying the moment than he is in the future.
While Tulio is more pragmatically focused. The thinker who plans for the future and while he doesnt have any trouble having fun, he does try to always keep his mind on his goals.
By the end of the movie this ought to be apparent, as Tulio is still playing the con, while Miguel has second thoughts, and becomes more interested in enjoying life in El Dorado than going back to Spain.
Yeah, I really don't get how Doug missed the obvious here.
I can respect him not liking this movie, but I think he really missed a lot of points. Yours included
i think it's very obvious to see that miguel chases adventure, while tulio chases wealth. the difference was always pretty clear to me ever since i was a kid, and i'm baffled that anyone wouldn't pick up on it
@@NeonUFO they even straight up say it in the movie when they think they're lost at sea
@@kennethearl9926 right!!
This movie is an underrated gem in my opinion. I still be cracking up at their interactions with each other and Chel. The chief is so warm and kind. Love it
I think it hits different as someone with indigenous Hispanic heritage. I LOVE how they treated the culture and environment. The people themselves not really "worshiping" Miguel and Tulio but still being accepting/respecting of them as strangers and listening to their priest. They're not dressed in western clothing but Miguel and Tulio never make a single joke at it. They avoided a lot of jokes that would have made the movie lesser for it. I do agree their jokes could have been a little more dramatic but I like it for what it is. I don't always want a full belly laugh. 😅
Really? Because I read it offended some indigenous Mexicans.
I’m sorry but there is a very clear difference between Miguel and Tulio during the song when Doug says they’re the same character. Miguel is the dreamer, the one who wants to explore El Dorado and connect with the people. Tulio on the other hand, just cares about the gold and lying low and eventually falls for Chel. It’s as clear as night and day.
I still enjoyed the video and I’m glad that Doug is more understanding with this movie than he was in the DreamWorks-uary review from 10 years ago, and of course Doug is always entitled to his own opinion as he should be. But this is one of the few animated films that I’m gonna defend and hold to my heart til I go to my grave
Right? I don't get how he can think they're the same characters
But he prefaced his review by saying that animation fans complain about everything! So unfortunately, this entire comment holds no weight at all. 😕
@@Sirenz187that’s absolute nonsense. By that logic, any and all criticism of Doug’s analysis is worthless because he said “animation fans will criticize everything.” Do you not see how stupid it is to use that sentence to automatically dismiss any and all criticism?
@@jordinagel1184 do you not see how stupid 99% of what this moron says is dismissive ridiculous bullshit? Carry on.
If I'm being honest, Chel is one of my cartoon crushes. DreamWorks knew what they were doing when designing her.
One handed
How do you feel about chell with Doug's head?
Chel is partly to blame for my taste in women.
I was seriously surprised that the chel we saw was supposed to be the least sexy XD
More like Chel-dorado
I actually kind of like the relationship between Tulio and Chel. I was about the right age when this movie came out to get what was going on, and I guess I was surprised too, but I liked it. And while some might object to this, I think they keep it just tame enough for it to be a family movie. Their relationship starts off physical, after the two friends have promised not to pursue her, and by the time Miguel finds out about it, they genuinely have feelings for each other. It might be obvious, but I buy the jealousy, especially since Miguel is supposed to be the one who isn’t as much down to earth.
just because they get along it dosen't mean that they are gay
seriously you people are objective way too much and besides didn't black haired one had sex with woman right here?
I honestly think it's perfect as it is. I think it being overly goofy would lead to just another of the same old. It's unique to its charm. Chel wouldnt be written the same, Tulio would be more slimey, Miguel would be more unbearably dumb- it would've been a force fit.There is a very adult and reality based approach to a kid media and I think that doesn't resonate with those who are used to animation being made in a more traditionally juvenile way. The jokes stand well on their own, its a fine film, and has some really fun and realistic character depictions.
For me personally, the banter in this movie is second to none. I know it all by heart and I just love their delivery of every line.
Emperor's New Groove is up there banter-wise as well, but agreed. Love the delivery here.
@@jbearclowater oh don’t get me wrong, I love the banter in both movies. And I like both movies equally.
“I’ve fought your sister, that’s a compliment.”
@@Trigger99X “Back to Spain? In a rowboat?”
Was basically coming here to say the same thing! I'm constantly quoting this film (similar to Emperor's New Groove)!
I think the funniest thing in the plot is how the chief seems to actualy know those two are NOT gods (as seen by the end of the movie) but also how he could've know since the beggining but was so fed up of the Shaman when he saw the later was falling for it, he was like "ok, I can have the time of my life if I play along..."
agreed. I personally think he knew during the scene where they were talking about building the boat. His lines were kinda like, "Do you really expect me to believe that?"
As one who doesn't have the Road To movies in the back of my mind, I actually find this movie to be refreshingly unique. Also, I felt like most of their jokes landed.
To me this is one of those classic animated movies that I enjoyed a lot more than the ones most other people praised. People always fell in love with stuff like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, etc, but I could never get into them as a kid. Stuff like this, Treasure Planet, and Atlantis always really drew me in though, because they felt more like an adventure and like they were showcasing what animation could accomplish when showcasing new "worlds".
I always liked that the chief found out that they were not gods, it shows that the character is smart and kind, only wanted someone to put the high priest in his place and come on he lives in a city made out of Gold and they throw it away, 2 random guys taking a little bit of it is no big issue
I know right, the priest was way too bloodthirsty even for their society's standards. 2 random guys showing up and making the lives of his people less bearable makes the revelation that they are not gods somewhat fine. Miguel and Tulio did not really do any real damage to the city (except destroying the 2 pillars), all they did was host a party, participate in a sport, interact with the citizens as equals (Miguel mostly), fight a deranged priest and sealed off the entrance so that no colonizers can wander in pose as gods. They did more good than they realized, and as you mentioned, the city has so much gold to the point where they can toss it in a giant water vortex and be fine with it, sparing a few gold for their heroes is no big deal.
He saw the bigger picture. He'd realised that Miguel and Tulio weren't gods, but also the positivity and longevity their presence had brought to the city, which to him was probably worth more than any amount of gold they'd intended on leaving with :)
The concept art for Chell must’ve been insane.
If *that* is the family-friendly, toned-down version of her, I'd really like to see the early versions of her design. 😏😏
I've looked it up and while it is adult (she basically wears _nothing_ except a very short poncho), it is somehow still _less_ sexy than the Chel we got. So nothing of value was lost, IMO.
@@DarthBiomech I disagree. For context, this concept art of Chel is basically the same Chel, but she sits on a chair. No, I mean, like, she *SITS* on it. I've never felt like a chair could be that comfortable, or that lucky, or want to be a chair that much. I've never seen a real life woman sitting so sexily. This art is insanely sexy, incredibly effective for just a few frames of pencil drawn animation. Chel just exudes raw powerful sexiness. Yes, they did tone it down a bit to keep the film family friendly, believe me.
@@leovk5779 Her sexiness is *OVER 9000!!!!*
I'm as old as NC, so i was a late teen (18) when this movie came out. Only difference is i adored it. The animation, the voice acting, the script, the pacing, the songs, the OST... It's all amazing. I know you're not a fan of the characters being "too realistic", but in my opinion, it works in its favor. The realism gives it a charm and uniqueness that most animated movies can't pull off. Not that they need to, mind you. It's just that RTED can pull off a great comedy without needing over the top animation to accomplish it. Their expressions are expressive enough to convey their emotions very well, even during a comedic moment. Also, if the line deliveries had been terrible, the scenes would've flopped. But every VA and animator put in 110%, which helped each scene get across exactly what it wanted.
It's one one DW's best, imo. A classic that will never age like milk. Everyone can enjoy this movie.
I’m not sure if anyone else has pointed this out yet, but your observations on the animation is actually quite interesting when you learn WHO is doing the animation. One of the lead animators for the movie is a man named James Baxter, and he’s known for doing REALLY smooth animations and camera turns. That shot of the camera panning down onto Belle and Beast as they dance, Quasi as he climbs up Notre Dame while holding Esmeralda and shouting “sanctuary”, and like literally most of Prince of Egypt (but SPECIFICALLY the whole ass burning bush scene) are probably his most memorable and iconic pieces of work, but he’s done a LOT. But notice something similar in the examples I pointed out? He’s all about making the animation smooth and very human in motion, NOT cartoony. Which works great for a dramatic musical like Hunchback or Prince of Egypt, but maybe not what you’re looking for in terms of an animated comedy. I agree with some of the commenters that say that most of the comedy is heavily relying on the dialogue and circumstance. BUT I’m also inclined to agree with you that watching really realistic animation does make it feel like the movie doesn’t take true advantage of being animation when being a comedy (outside of Its Tough to be a God).
I think that’s the one thing people overlook about this movie. Yes the movie does have banter and one liner humor but half the time it’s also trying to use visual humor which unfortunately just doesn’t work with this style of animation. Or at least, not the way it’s being used. It needed to be more exaggerated and fast paced if they wanted the visual jokes to work.
A Interesting Fun Fact: Compared to everyone else in this animated film, Tzekel-Kan has his teeth individually carved out instead of a white line. This was intended to make him appear more life like, thus more intimidating.
His teeth were always so freakishly noticeable to me in this film. I guess that's why.
I never noticed, meaning they failed.
That's a great fact! But less terrifying words than "teeth individually carved out" could have been chosen.
@@PikaLink91Your observation is not everyone else's.
Interesting, I never noticed that and yet the effect worked on me all the same.
This is such a great film, one of DreamWorks' most underrated. And you gotta respect the amount of adult jokes they were able to slip in. It’s unfortunate we never had a sequel as planned, I would have loved another adventure with this trio. Especially Chel. No particular reason.
"Where did you get those?"
"Where was she hiding those?"
Agreed
I love this movie so much and I'm curious about what was that sequel were there originally planning but got canceled?
I still can't believe they got away with the blow job joke.
@@watershipup7101I know, right?
I think the nostalgia takes hold of this one. I do agree where you're coming from in that it has more potential, but there's so much love in it. To be honest, El Dorado and Emperor's New Groove WERE my go-to childhood comedies.
16:30 The difference between the two is that Tulio is more serious and the one who comes up with the plans while Miguel is more energetic and childish but has good heart and genuine desire to learn more about El Dorado and it's people.
It's fascinating how the animators animated Chel with just one hand, a truly remarkable talent 😁
Lmao
Simp army, assemble
@@DeadPollo Here and reporting for duty, Sir!
💀💀😅😅
With their left hand or right hand?
Surprised he didn't mention anything about the horse Altivo; it's like one of THE most expressive horse designs in animation, and I thought he would mention it in his argument about the animation style here being too realistic and grounded
Yeah, I feel like the horse in Tangled was heavily inspired by Altivo
I love how, as they first enter El Dorado, and Miguel and Tulio whisper the name in wonder, Altivo is mouthing along with them. That, plus the fact that he manages to get them the keys to the brig on the ship, shows that he's a fairly intelligent, almost human animal character, which is more impressive given the realistic tone of this film
Yeah, he missed like three important things in this movie. 😂
@@deuceydee3506hands down one of the funniest bits in the whole film. Same with the keys. "...well, it's not a crow bar."
Erm... Altivo is a stallion/gelding, not a mare.
The writers really confused Hernan Cortes with Francisco Pizarro. Cortes would be more similar to Tulio in personality , he even married a native.
I think the Critic was caught up on it thinking it's supposed to be ONLY a comedy, instead of treating it like an adventure film with comedic elements
Fun fact about Miguel and Tulio being a couple: During recording, Kenneth Brannagh had the habit of calling Tulio "darling." The directors told him to stop because they didn't want anyone mistaking the two leads for an item. Brannagh (bless his heart) seemed confused by this, as he was convinced that they were.
Because two dudes can't just be friends apparently. It's like everyone being convinced that Roxas and Axel from Kingdom Hearts are gay couple because of this one scene where Axel cries for him. Yup... must be a couple... not just really good friends. Sheesh.
Men can absolutely be friends. But come on dude, they queer baited the fuck out of this two. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but it is there.
@PikaLink91 Hon, there's fangirls projecting, and then there's THESE TWO.
While yes, a lot of straight girl fans who are into male/male stuff often see things that aren't there for basically the benefit of getting their own rocks off (which, as an LGBTQ person tends to be *very* annoying, as objectification and fetishising are *not* the same as actual support!), Miguel and Tulio are a classic example of "queercoding." Aka, "We want to make this/these characters LGBTQ, but would get the absolute shit hammered out of us by The Powers That Be and the censors, so we have to keep things on the down-low. Those who know, will know."
So, yeah, as a fellow bi, I can confidently say that Tulio is also supposed to be bi, and he and Miguel were definitely an item. They just had to be very subtle about it because it was 2000 (hell, even today they would still have trouble having them just be out and a couple).
@@gantzllatqueer baited? theres no hints at all of them being a couple, They all talk and banter towards each other like old friends. I feel like every time someone mentions “queer baiting” its just people overthinking the littlest of shit.
I don't see any problem with that. 😍🏳️🌈
When my cousin was younger and just learning to speak this was one of her favorite movies and she would always ask, "Can we watch the Road to Colorado?" It was adorable.
Aww, that's so cute! 🥹🥹🥹
8:45
No, that is the face of someone who wants to go to Cuba in 1519.
That is the face of an optimist.
I can honestly think this movie deserves a series in today's times. You have a lot you can do with this trio of characters.
But like, a proper series led by one lead creative,
Not a 5 episode """"Epic"""" tv show only on HBO MAX or something
It goes without saying that "The Road to El Dorado" is an underrated classic! It may not have been as successful as other DreamWorks films like "The Prince of Egypt" but Road to El Dorado has it's own unique charm to it! Especially because it's all about adventure!!!
I do like how Tulio and Miguel are the protagonists despite being comic relief that would normally be the bit part side characters is interesting if not used to it's full potential in this movie.
They remind me of those 2 guys from Jack Sparrow’s crew
Miguel and Tulio are protagonist partners who believe that the other is their comic relief.
I was a young teen when eventually saw this movie though I knew of its existence for a while. Honestly it was the design, characterization and scenes of/with Chel that were literally the only thing that stuck in my memory. I remember actively not rewatching this movie because I thought i was watching something 'un-family-friendly' with my young baptist-christian mind during a time whenever 'those urges' were too uncomfortable to handle. years later now, I'm honestly surprised there isn't such a large presence of her online in that corner of the internet....not that I go looking or anything...
I think this was the non-Disney cartoon that I watched the most as a kid. The songs was absolutely a reason for that and Chel may or may not have played a part in my rewatches
This movie has my approval for the simple fact that it avoided the “liar reveal” trope.
Also, “It’s tough to be a god” is a total banger!
Anime movies thankfully avoid this trope like the plague. Even Summer Wars handled this trope really well without dragging it on. Anime movies regardless if they are targeted to kids, teens, or adults defy the generic tropes of animated movies from the West and do their own thing. Anime is often considered the go to for those who are starved for mature storytelling in animation and\or are constantly let down by western animation. And I am glad that the Demon Slayer movie was a hit at the box office because it shows that anime can dominate the box office in the West and show serious competition. I still like Dreamworks and Sony though. Even Illumination has 2 movies I actually like. Mainly Despicable Me and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. As for Disney, till Wish comes out it's dead to me.
I'd say it's the same as I'll Make a Man out of You, takes the film from fine to pretty good.
@@arilumani6194 Thank you for mentioning Summer Wars. Film is absolutely fire.
I like how some of the critics critiques of the movie, such as the more realistic movements, are what I like about the movie. Definitely one of my favorite animated movies.
Yeah honestly that zaniness would have just made it silly in way that would have made it just another New Groove kinda story. I like that movie, but this one wouldn't have worked with that.
@als3022 thank you, that's exactly what I was thinking.
I used to watch this many times on my VHS as a kid. Even as a kid, I knew this film looked amazing and had decent voice acting. And now when Doug points it out, yes, a lot of jokes won't land for adults but will for children. Lastly, I totally buy the chemistry between the two MCs.
You may not be overly fond of the film as a whole, but I already know what soundtrack I'm putting on at work tomorrow. Also, I always thought the film implied Chel wanted to leave because the high priest either abused her, sacrificed someone she loved, or employed her and she stole so she could support herself when she planned her escape
I’m pretty sure the difference between Miguel and Tulio I’m character is that Miguel is more optimistic, outgoing and very energetic as seen with his guitar playing and kickstarting the adventure, while Tulio is more realistic bordering on pessimism, reserved and tries to keep everything in check to where he is quick to panic if one thing is out of his control. To me, they’re definitely not the same kind of character aside from being con men. That’s at least the first impression I got out of them, even back when I was a kid.
Ah, a Dreamworks classic. Not their best but it’s so unique and lovable.
💯👍. Pretty much
Enjoyed it
El Dorado will always have a special place in my heart. When I was a kid, my toe gut cut open by some rusty metal and it got infected. The infection was crawling up my leg to my knee. While I was in the hospital I got to watch El Dorado for the first time. I loved it so much and watched it over and over again. Apparently when my dad called my mom she could hear me laughing. This really helped me through a scary time where I almost had to get my leg amputated.
The Road to El Dorado has always been in my top 3 favorite animated movies. I loved it as a kid and still quote it as an adult.
Glad to see this movie getting some recognition over the years
He already reviewed it ages ago though.
Kevin Koch, an assistant animator on Chel's character, mentioned on his Synchro Lux blog that he had mixed feelings about the final film, particularly that the film's direction was unfocused due to a case of it having too many cooks in the kitchen.
“For me, there were two major problems with The Road to El Dorado. First, it was a period piece set in Latin America - I thought at the time that that combination would be box office poison. There are certain settings and time periods that I don’t think modern audiences are interested in, even if the film is fantastic. Second, the film didn’t know what it wanted to be. Buddy movie? Action-adventure? Romantic comedy? Musical? Historical tragedy? Romance? For adults? For kids? I think the project was like the proverbial elephant being examined by the blind scientists. Different directors, writers, and producers all tried to make different movies, and it ended up a mish-mash."
Honestly, I have to agree. This movie feels like it has an identity crisis.
Same.
For a mish mash, it's an amazing movie
That may all be true, but imo they still did a pretty great job at putting it all together and making a good film of it. I never thought it was overloaded with too many different styles or story lines, I thought it all blended together really well.
The part about the priest thinking Cortez is a God is surprisingly accurate. The Aztec had a prophecy that their gods would return the same year Cortez arrived and they would be light skinned men with beards.
Tulio and Chel, in my opinion, really work as a couple. Tulio comes across as an arrogant slick who thinks an inexperienced young girl cannot outwit him, but she's actually very smart, sneaky and has a few tricks up her sleeve, like when she snatched his dice. And that's one of the reasons they feel a connection between one another.
A lot of the problems he pointed out are there for historical accuracy. The ball game, the priest gunning for human sacrifice, the mistaking anyone with a horse for a god, even the crosseyed children are all true to life in one degree or another.
Which is weird because he clearly did some research on this. 😂
The basketball scene was a great way to reference how a similar game exists in ancient South America...a natural way of incorporating modern elements to a period story IMO.
2:24 Glad to see the Critic recognizes the influence Bob and Bing’s Road movies had on this film. I mean, when you think about it:
Bob Hope = Tulio
Bing Crosby = Miguel
Dorothy Lamour = Chel
Agreed! There is even in the "It's Tough to be a God" song an homage to Crosby and Hope. Their faces appear in a reflection of the alcoholic beverage punch bowl.
And if anyone wants easy access to one of their films, I recommend searching “The Road to Bali” - it’s in the public domain, so it’s free to watch anywhere.
Me and now wife, Laughed hard when we first saw the shark eat the seagull, the expression, I think from the horse, was 👌 or it was the sudden shark, it was 23 years ago, the songs I remember and the animation was great. Agree with Chel (Rosie Perez) comment, she had great expression and she did her character👌This review actually makes me want to go watch it with the family. Great review 👌🧡
The chemistry of Kline and Branagh really makes this for me. I love the animation and think it evokes old swashbucklers well, which it couldn’t if it were totally looney Tunes. We’ve got Emperor’s New Groove in a similar setting already, so I’m glad this one is itself.
I never grew up with movie but I ended up loving it as an adult. The banter is good and it made me laugh. I think what stuck with me the most is how well the animation has aged. Also, the development issues explains why Chel has a lot of sex appeal for a kid movie. I actually liked her character outside of her also being eye candy.
yes! Shes so spicy and nothing like how most women are portrayed in animation during the time. Shes shady, quick witted, and into sex and just feels realistic.
Yeah! She was the first female character I saw as a preteen that openly lusted after a guy just because of how he looked, and that kinda taught me that girls can just enjoy casually pursuing their physical interest in guys without necessarily being in love with them. That as a girl you can just enjoy sexy stuff for sexy stuff without it having to have a deeper meaning for you. Then she fully turned me into a lesbian, but that's another story 😅
@@beabea5985Now I'm fully invested in that story! Well, with Chel it's no wonder tbf. :P
@@beabea5985 Imagine a pornstar dressed as Chel.
People fail to realize that this isn't an animated film for kids, but one for adults thus all of the adult jokes and of course Chel!.
Plus it is a great Road to style film that I wish we'd been able to have had those planned sequels of them off looking for more treasure.
Real talk, I love the character development of Hyper Fangirl having her own lil group, a loving husband and friend who back her up in his crazy schemes, it’s sweet
I love it from the moment it was released. The comedy timings were on point and extremely funny.
Man, this film is the epitome of CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED. It's fun, adventurous, heartwarming, and, at times, surprisingly mature. I wish that films like this, "Titan A.E.", and "Treasure Planet" were made again.
We've had 80s pandering, 90s pandering, what about 2000s pandering now? 🤣
STOP SAYING UNDERRATED! What is everybody’s infatuation with calling everything “underrated?” Do you guys just love the word “underrated?”
If there was ever a Disney movie that ACTUALLY would be good for a live action remake, it'd be Atlantis.
I loved Treasure Planet way more than the (lack of) attention it got.
@@ShadowWolfRising Yes, with the lenght it was supposed to have and more foreshadowing about Rourke's real motives
Such an underrated film, it’s a shame it wasn’t a huge hit. The song: ‘Someday Out Of The Blue’ by Elton John from this movie is one of my top favorite songs he has ever done.
Agreed. I loved how the video for this song had Dreamworks animate Elton John and insert his animated character into scenes from the movie.
Sometimes the best stuff goes unnoticed, like Treasure Planet. I grew up on the Danish version btw with songs by our late national treasure Flemming Jørgensen.
I know, whenever I watch the movie, I have to watch the music video right after, such a beautifull song, would even say it was the one that introduced me to Elton John
I always connected this movie with The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery and Michael Caine. Two guys find a lost civilization and are thought to be gods, with one wanting to stay and one wanting to leave.
I don't see how one couldn't tell the difference. They are both fun and charming in their own personal ways.
This movie was my childhood growing up as a kid in Mexico and it was one of the reasons to me for being a writer❤ Also the mexican dub really improved the movie and it was funnier.
Y las canciones dobladas me gustan mas!
Yes exactly
Mexican dub or Español Latino? 😅
TO THIS DAY
The songs are stuck in my head
I loved watching this as a kid and one of the other movies that got me to look into ancient cultures
The opening song is always in my head
I grew up on the Danish version. Great songs.
The worst hot take is Critic not getting the difference between Miguel and Tulio. It’s kind of easy to get if you are engrossed in the movie. They are both con men but their difference lies in what they want out of the con. Tulio does it for money and wants to grab and go and play as safe as possible. Miguel is in it for the adventure and where it will take him. Hell the story starts with a bet that Tulio was ready to walk away from with his winnings while Miguel just HAD to see the map to El Dorado.
11:40 you mean like in Rapunzel
I remember watching our VHS copy with my older sisters all the time. I absolutely loved it as a kid and now that I’m a theater nerd in adulthood, I have an appreciation for Tim Rice’s work here (and of course Elton John).
I’ll definitely say I love that scene between the chief and Miguel. It’s genuinely touching to see him recognize that they’re not gods but still see the good in them.
I remember watching this film as a child and not being phased in the slightest whenever Tulio and Miguel were nude a couple of times and the sex jokes in the film definitely went over my head. As an adult, I'm actually surprised when people watch it for the first time as adults and freak out over those things in this film. Maybe I'm just weird I don't know.
I will never get over the concept somebody once pitched about redoing this movie with Neil Patrick Harris and Robert Downy Jr. There's a live action remake I would pay good money to see!
El Dorado will forever live in my top 10 movies I love. The music is a banger the jokes are funny and the characters are all likable
I feel like this one has stood the test of time mainly bc you understood why both main protagonists felt the way they did and why they had a fallout. It actually ended up being even stronger than the storyline with the main villain.
It's really become a cult classic the same way "A Goofy Movie" did. Neither was portrayed as being completely in the right and it works so much better that way while also finding an effective way to resolve the conflict that doesn't feel artificial.
A really good underrated Dreamworks movie.
Armand Assante’s performance as Tzekel Khan was so great that he earned an Annie nomination for best vocal performance
Great to see a comment about Tzekel
I've loved this movie intensely for the past twenty two years. Love the animation and the music is great, but the heart of the movie comes from amazing voice acting and lines that are heartfelt or hilarious. I know it by heart and I can watch it anytime.
This movie is one of like the three movies that has SUCH A GOOD SCRIPT in spanish. And the VAs are FANTASTIC. the songs translate beautifully and are still great jams.
An underrated classic, to be sure! It's so sad that it's been lost in the shuffle of early 2000s Dreamworks 2D animation. This, along with Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, might not be as great as, say, The Prince of Egypt, but they've got a lot of solid elements and work put into them that's worth checking out.
20:18 that’s not all, reportedly Chels original introduction was a Nude Bath with all of her goods being barely covered by regular objects around the bath as she walked around Austin Powers Style.
16:18 The difference between Miguel and Tulio is that the former is more whimsical and go-with-the-flow while the latter is more devious and entitled.
Its actually pretty well known that the original premise for this movie was about Chel. It kept going through alterations.
I am so glad this movie finally gets the love it deserves
I think it's those three different flavors being brought together that make it so endearing. Sure it's not as great as I remember it, but damn it's production history makes it stand out. If it got a sequel you know it would be a highly polished and focused version of what this movie was trying to achieve. Also that rumored attempt to make a crossover with Atlantis: The Lost Empire would have been wild.
I wouldn't say the villain is the classic villain that wants powers. He did what he did because he truly believes in that
My friend and I rewatched this yesterday ironically enough. While he's a bigger fan than I the movie still sits on that shelf of "the nicest treat I had to sit through" the songs are catchy enough and I didn't have the same problem wrapping my head around a "realistic animation" direction and actually started chuckling at one point when Miguel is visibly trying not to lose it while they're BSing the chief. Even today if you get a chance to see it I'd say it's still worth a sit down and watch with a couple of friends
Seriously more people need to watch this film because it was ahead of it's time in so many ways
Fun Fact I once watched this movie every single day for a month straight. Sometimes more than once a day. Probably drove my family crazy lol, but ever since I've had this movie memorized. I LOVE this movie. Plus the soundtrack is great.
I only discovered this movie because of my wife. She showed it to me a couple years ago while we were dating as it’s always been one her favorites. I think it’s pretty good overall. I like Miguel and Tulio, there are some good songs by Elton John, and it’s got a cute little story. Worth a watch and I now own the Blu-ray.
Of course Doug isn't alone in his assessment of this movie, and I must admit it is a movie I grew up with, but he also clearly didn't get the movie. You can't tell Miguel and Tullio apart? Miguel is motivated by the adventure, Tullio is motivated by the goal(gold) of the adventure. It's not deep, but they never break from that and it's clear through the whole movie who is who. Miguel isn't going through an arc of when he goes into El Dorado and fails to lie low, he's living his dream of getting to see and be in a place that's as made of dreams as he is. It's what motivates him to stay there, and give up on the plan with Tullio. It's not about him learning to "not be so bossy." That's such an out of nowhere take on that moment that I have to wonder how on earth you came to that. Also, I get it, Miguel and Tullio are gay. It doesn't matter to the story, and the endless jokes say more about your struggle to say things about this movie than about the movie.
tl;dr - Your bridge burning hot takes aren't what makes me dismissive of this review, those are fair. The fact that you failed to actually understand what's happening in the movie beyond seeing the animation is what makes me dismissive. If I heard that you had it on while you cooked a Hello Fresh meal and only looked up every couple minutes, I'd believe it.
That’s crazy! I literally just watched this movie this morning to see if it still holds up and not only does it hold up, I miss when dreamworks did 2d animation! For some reason I thought it looked nicer than Disney’s 2d projects at the time. Really fun movie from my childhood
There were so many hand-drawn animated films in the late 90s/early 00s that were way better and more creative and aimed towards a more adult audience that what Disney put out at that time: Not only the DreamWorks ones like El Dorado, Prince of Egypt and Spirit, but also Anastasia, Titan A.E., The Iron Giant and some more. Great era for animation, such films are really missing today.
A History Fact: The name of the Spanish General in the movie is Cortes, but in real life, the man who tried to find El Dorado was Gonzalo Pizarro.
My childhood best buddy and I as kids adopted Miguel and Tulio's secret handshake and would do the handshake every time the school bus dropped me off at my stop (causing the bus driver to yell at us to hurry up a lot). Good times. :P
14:50 Oh don’t worry. That song lives rent-free in my head, albeit in a slightly higher key. I was actually thinking about it a few hours before I saw this.
You Too
I already love this movie…but when you pointed out how “safe” and “restricted” the animation is and your personal opinions on the songs and Chel as a character…I was like, “Huh! I never looked at it like THAT before.” “Oh yeah, NOW I see it…” it only strengthened my desire for a Broadway adaptation of “The Road to El Dorado”. That’d be really fun!
Call up Elton John and Tim Rice, a Broadway version of El Dorado needs to happen!
Ah this takes me back!
20:25 This woman beat all of us over the head with the puberty stick!
Actually I never caught that Miguel was saying "I've been giving a lot of orders" and then changing his tune due to him going through character development. As a kid I thought he was implying that Tzekel-Khan was giving out orders on his behalf and that he'd never made such tyrannical rules in the first place. This actually makes the movie even better in my eyes. Miguel and Tulio were inadvertently being tyrants while they goofed around and enjoyed their "paradise." I had been misinterpreting it for my entire life but now I feel like that scene (Without Question) is a lot more meaningful.
❤