Product Description

Follow two con men on their quest to find a lost city of gold in this animated adventure, featuring and all-star voice cast and a musical score by elton john.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9557 in DVD
• Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2000-12-12
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 89 minutes

Amazon.com
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 Thomas

Additional Features
The usual extra fare found on DVDs takes a back seat in this family film. The main feature, a fun game for kids 6 and older, contains puzzles, math problems, and crafts projects. The player follows a map not unlike the one the characters in the movie use to find El Dorado. The only thing missing is a kid's favorite: coloring pages. Also included is Elton John's amusing music video and a PC game demo. For older folk, a short documentary on the film and a ho-hum commentary from the filmmakers (which would have been better if the troubled production history of the film had been discussed). --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

DreamWorks First Animated Gold
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!

Exploring the Road to El Dorado
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!

Wonderful Adventure Tale
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."