The Road to El Dorado

Plot synopsis:
In Spain 1519, two con artists, Tulio and Miguel, win a map to the legendary City of Gold, El Dorado, in a rigged gamble. After their conning is exposed, the two evade the guards and hide aboard one of the ships to be led by Hernán Cortés for the New World. During the voyage, they are caught as stowaways and imprisoned, but manage to break free and take a rowboat with the help of Cortés' horse Altivo.
Later, they land on an unknown shore at the edge of Mexico, and Miguel begins to recognize landmarks from the map, leading them to a totem marker near a large waterfall believing it to be a dead end. They encounter and discover a native woman named Chel being chased by the guards. When the guards see Tulio and Miguel riding Altivo as depicted on the totem, they escort them to a secret entrance behind the falls, along with Chel, and into a city truly made of gold, El Dorado. They are brought to the city's elders, kind-hearted Chief Tannabok and wicked high priest Tzekel-Kan. Tzekel-Kan, seeking to seize the city from Tannabok, insists that the two, mistaken as gods, demonstrate their powers. Tulio and Miguel bicker between themselves while a nearby volcano begins to erupt. When Tulio yells at Miguel to stop pestering him, the volcano suddenly stops erupting and the citizens take it as proof of their godhood. Celebrations are held, and the pair are given luxurious quarters to stay, along with charge of Chel. Chel discovers the two are conning the people but promises to remain quiet if they take her with them when they leave the city. The two are showered with gifts of gold from Tannabok, but disapprove of Tzekel-Kan attempting to sacrifice a civilian as the gods' ritual.
Tulio asks Tannabok to build them a boat that will allow them to leave the city with all the gifts they have been given, which will take three days. Miguel explores the city, allowing Chel to get romantically close to Tulio. Miguel comes to appreciate the peaceful life that the citizens seem to enjoy, and joins in with some of their activities. When Tzekel-Kan sees Miguel playing a ball game with children, he insists the gods demonstrate their powers against the city's best players in the same game. Tulio and Miguel are far outmatched, but Chel is able to substitute the ball with an armadillo named Bibo, allowing them to win. Miguel spares the ritual of sacrificing the losing team and chastises Tzekel-Kan, much to the crowd's approval. Tzekel-Kan notices Miguel received a small cut and realizes the two are not gods, because gods do not bleed. Tzekel-Kan conjures a giant stone jaguar to chase them through the city. As Tulio and Miguel argue over their differences, they manage to outwit the jaguar, causing it and Tzekel-Kan to fall into a giant whirlpool, thought to be the entrance to Xibalba. Tzekel-Kan then surfaces in the jungle, where he encounters Cortés and his men, thinking Cortés is a god. He offers to lead them to El Dorado.
With the boat completed, Miguel states his intention to stay in the city. Tulio and Chel board the boat, when they see smoke on the horizon and realize Cortés is close. Tulio and Chel make a strategy using the boat to ram rock pillars under the waterfall and block the main entrance to the city. The plan succeeds with the citizens pulling over a statue in the boat's wake to give it enough speed. As the statue starts to fall too quickly, Tulio has difficulty in preparing the boat's sail. Deciding not to stay in the city, Miguel and Altivo jump onto the boat to unfurl the sails, assuring that the boat clears the statue in time. The group successfully crashes against the pillars, collapsing the cave but causing them to lose all of their gifts in the process. They end up near the totem and hide, just as Cortés' men and Tzekel-Kan arrive. When Tzekel-Kan finds the blocked entrance, Cortés accuses him as a liar, and Tzekel-Kan is taken prisoner as they leave.
Tulio and Miguel, though disappointed they lost the gold, take off in a different direction for a new adventure with Chel, unaware that Altivo still wears the golden horseshoes he was outfitted with in El Dorado.

Tags: cult, action, entertaining

Review:
One of the few more-modern animated films I still enjoy; maybe that's because it doesn't happen to revolve around "The power of friendship/love/whatever" and isn't some sappy love story, like many of Disney's drek has been (though it does have a minor, slightly sleazey love-ish story in the background).
Dreamworks is a breath of fresh air in times like these, it would seem.The plot works on many levels; it's straightforward enough for the general kid to understand and enjoy, but is piled under levels of wit and more jokes that rely on understanding more of it, making it balanced and still funny the 150+th time I watch it.The songs are catchy (as can be well-expected from the good man Elton John), the characters are lovable yet total sleazeball con-men, and the humour is on many levels; and with it, it brings many good, memorable lines ("'For three days?!' 'YES!
Of course, i was missing it too, until about fifteen minutes in.Okay -- the title is "THE ROAD TO El Dorado"  Hands up, everyone with whom that rings a bell.No?Okay -- its stars are two fast-talking con men who get out of trouble by faking fights with each other,and who *almost* play pattycake at a point.Still no bells ringing?How about if i point out that, at one point, our heroes' images are briefly morphed into the faces of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby for about two frames?Right.This is a tribute to/animated version of those hilarious (if you're in the right frame of mind) "B" comedies starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby (and Dorothy Lamour in a sarong -- does Chel look any more familiar, now?), all of which were entitled "The Road to..." somewhere or other.Nothing in them was meant to be taken seriously, and very little in this film is.I have to agree with a number of reviewers who say, with varying degrees of indignation, that this is not a kids' film.Duh.It wasn't meant to be.
"Akira" or "Fantastic Planet" or "Heavy Metal"."Road to El Dorado" is an excellent all-ages film, (with the caveat that is IS a PG-rated one, and that you ought to think about what you want your kids to watch) and anyone who sees anything bad or prurient in the scenes that everyone has been complaining about should take a close look at themselves....
The Road to El Dorado kept me hooked right from the very start, proving to be an amazing adventure filled with action, comedy, color, breath-taking imagery and music.
I didn't exactly love the character design for Tulio and Miguel but that's just being incredibly petty....All in all, The Road to El Dorado was very refreshing and a welcome change from the usual Disney-formula-based feature.
You probably think the one line summary of this comment is a bit strange, since The Road to El Dorado isn't in fact that old, but what I meant by it is that they do not make feature films like this anymore.
Technology and computers have brought animation to new heights of excellence."The Road to El Dorado" is no exception.There is a scene in which Cortez' ship is bearing down on the  boat that Tulio (voice of Kevin Kline) and Miguel (voice of Kenneth Branagh) are escaping in -- Miguel looks up and, just before their boat is capsized, yells "HOLY SHIP!"Some parents grabbed their children and stormed out of the theater because of what they THOUGHT they heard.
If you are going to watch a movie -- PLEASE pay attention and do not jump to erroneous conclusions.The soundtrack with music by (Sir) Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice has Oscar nomination written all over it.Rosie Perez as 'Chel' is magnificent -- giving just the right amount of innuendo (so the parents will get it) without it being blatantly obvious.
All too rare for an animated film "The Road to El Dorado" has a cohesive story and a real plot.While it does drag a bit at times the music helps to move the story along and is always a pleasant diversion.Some of the story was fairly predictable.
The animation stunned me, even though the movie had been more than 5 years old when I saw it the first time (perhaps showing Dream Works animation superiority over Disney?) I would definitely recommend it for if you are looking for a good laugh..
We know from the Lion King, which is not only one of my favourite animated films but one of my favourite films ever that Elton John can write good songs.
Or at least they definetely didn´t saw the same movie i did !Is there an "european" version or something  playing here in Europe ?...Anyway i went almost dragged to the cinema by my kid this saturday afternoon, and now i´m glad i did,  for it´s realy the best animated film i´ve seen in recent years (as good as TITAN A.E. and Princess Mononoke).And for someone like me who got a little bit disapointed with Chicken Run, and annoyed by yet  another politicaly correct animated feature in Disney´s Tarzan, EL DORADO made me think that there is still magic and thrills in modern animation.I started to suspect that this movie was going to be diferent, when i got in the theater, and i noticed that at least about 80% of the room was filled with an adult audience, and very, very few children, wich for a Saturday afternoon matinée of an animation movie is a particulary strange setting.
The plot altough aparently common for this type of story, ends up being much better than it seems at first glance, because of the characters development and the little details around them all, wich i won´t reveal because part of the pleasure in this movie is exactely the discovery of those scenes.
EL DORADO doesn´t treat kids like braindead morons but instead presents a good original story in wich they even have to think to realy apreciate the movie wich can only be a good sign.A good detail , is that, there isn´t realy a "bad guy" so the children can´t separate right away all the plot into good guy Vs bad guy as usual, making them pay more atention to the story to discover what is happening.I don´t want to spoil anything, but go watch this movie , and notice how the character of Cortez was presented and used in the story without falling into the usual trap of the Disney style villain, and giving  a very authentic historicaly correct feeling to the plot Another good twist, is that there is another "bad guy" in the EL DORADO story, but not another abstract villain placed there just to fight with the heros and loose.
Well...this time...go watch EL DORADO and you´ll be surprised how cleverly the story uses both "villains".This is one of the best, surprising and most inteligent moments in this excelent underapreciated film as it connects perfectely the fantasy with the historicaly events of that time.But there is one thing i can bet was responsible for the faillure of this movie in America.
I'd've loved to have been in on the recording sessions these two did (and, unlike most voice acting, they *did* act together, at least part of the time).The story, about a couple of hapless 16th century con men who win a map to the legendary city of gold in a dice game, and go on to be mistaken for gods by the city's inhabitants, is a great hook to hang Kline and Branagh's talents on.
The team of Elton John and Tim Rice, who dreamed up the brilliant soundtrack of the "Lion King", really never deliver a solid song that your kids will be singing weeks after the film.
The soundtrack isn't quiet as strong as Lion King either, but then Phil Collins won the Oscar for the song from Tarzan, so Elton may well have a shot again...It's a movie in the style of the Crosby-Hope Road Trip movies, and it does fine job.
Filled with catchy, spur-of-the-moment songs, bright stylistic animation, and an immersing storyline, it majors in the field of uncompromising fun.The film's lead characters, two extremely hilarious ones, are Miguel and Tulio (voiced by Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline), two con-artists who rig gambling games and deliberately turn the tables on unsuspecting folks so they come out on top of everything.
Obligatory subplots involve Tulio falling for a native to El Dorado (Rosie Perez), who is aware of the two's secret, and the thought that both Miguel and Tulio will grow angry at one another and contemplate going their separate ways.While in some regards the story of this film is standard and somewhat foreseeable, it's nonetheless a competent, potent production.
A similar style was used in Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, when Disney took a shot in the dark, attempting to usher in a fanbase that wasn't so reliant/content with songs and candy-coated colors.This is one of the first animated films in a long time that doesn't use big-name actors to market its story, content, and animation.
Because of this, it's nice to hear voices that are not plagued by celebrity recognition and familiarities, so there's an easier transition to believing and knowing the character.The Road to El Dorado is wonderfully scored and livened by Elton John, whose song "It's Tough to Be a God" is one that will not leave my head soon enough.
Simply put, this movie is fun, with delightful characters, a terrific soundtrack by Elton John, and an exciting plot.
They make for an immensely entertaining film, which doesn't pad on any cliché 'celebration of culture' theme such as Disney's "Pocahontas" or Dreamwork's lack luster "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmeron", but allows the story and characters to speak for themselves in a genuine way.
This movie, and Titian AE, are part of an interesting new trend- animated films that appeal to teens and adults.
ROAD TO EL DORADO is the latest with Dreamworks animation films, it has a impressive animation, funny and witty scenes, and a very good score.
The main characters are believable, colorful, and provoke some interesting and funny moments.Miguel and Tulio stumble upon the city of  gold after meeting a seductive and mysterious young woman named Chel.
The movie never explains a few crucial plot nuggets, however, like why the natives presume Tulio and Miguel to be all powerful gods, or El Dorado's reason for existence.
Previous achievements in DreamWorks' animation include "The Prince of Egypt," and "Antz." Although "Road To El Dorado" is not as mature as "The Prince of Egypt," it still offers an acceptable variety of humorous moments and entertaining characters.
Second big-screen animated tale from SKG/DreamWorks with Disney echoes about 16th century Hope/Crosby set up with two con artists who wind up on the path to the mythical jungle city of gold en route w/Cortez and finding that there's more than meets the eye (individuality and friendship are more important than all the wealth they discover).
It knows just when to deliver the comedy, capitalise on the films adventurous aspects and when to let the characters breathe.Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh seem like the perfect pairing for the two leads, and many ways they are just that.
One of the best films at showing this is Road to El Dorado, with a unique setting and a sense of adventure unlike any put to animation before.After winning a map to El Dorado in a fixed game of dice, Miguel (Branagh) and Tulio (Kline) search the city of gold.
The film even has some great musical moments with a soundtrack by Elton John and Tim Rice (both of whom worked on the Lion King soundtrack).
Road to El Dorado is a film that is fun from start to finish thats good for all ages..
This movie had impressive dialogue and Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline did a good job of the character's voices.
It also was surprisingly funny and wasn't just a kids movie as it had some older humour in it.The storyline was also somewhat original for an animated film.
"The Road to El Dorado" is a wonderful adventure movie with great music and tons of humor that are good for more then a few laughs.
The working-out of the plot--which takes nearly three-fourths of the film--is both predictable and tedious.Part of the problem here is that DreamWorks is well on the way to having created its own "feature animation formula." What appeared to be original and inventive in "Prince of Egypt" is already appearing hackneyed, even self-parodying.
I don't doubt for a second that Dreamworks have put out a new brilliant animation feature film, like the incredible Prince of Egypt, but did they really have have to fill it to the brim with Elton John's lack of poetic sense and chewed out songs from the early 1980's?
Following the musical triumph of "The Lion King," and the sheer magnificance of "The Prince of Egypt," there should have been a lot of enthusiasm about their creative meld - "The Road to El Dorado."	But the genius of Elton John, Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer (all who won Oscars for original music in "The Lion King"); and Dreamworks' animation division (who received critical acclaim for "The Prince of Egypt") don't bring enough to "The Road to El Dorado" to make it a movie worth watching.
Personally, I think he is the most memorable character in the movie even though Miguel and Tulio have a charm to them.
tangled in an action-adventure story, sustained by computing animation inventions - a brilliant tale of the quest for the most precious thing in live - a livelong friendship, is what this film in script, songs and performance reveals to the openhearted part of the audience, with such power, that your heart feels golden like the butterflies of El Dorado, and will help you fly on in the grey reality of your life searching for your own true friends.
DreamWorks' "The Road to El Dorado" was a lot more comedic than their last film "The Prince of Egypt".
The movie is filled with songs, which is great for any animated film in my opinion.With memorable characters, smooth plot, music that makes you wanna sing along, and above all the animation that just hooks you to the screen is worth every minute of it.
The hand-drawn animated film was called, "The Road To El Dorado".The story is about two con artists that are mistaken as Gods after finding the lost city of gold, El Dorado.What I love about this movie is the animation is great and colorful during the song, "It's Tough To Be a God".
The voice acting was also good because Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh do great jobs as there characters, Miguel and Tulio.
The song's were good because they were done by Elton John and Tim Rice, they were both known for doing the song's for the Disney film, "The Lion King".The thing's I didn't like was that the plot was pretty simple and the character's, Chel and Tzekel-Kan were weak."The Road To El Dorado", is one of Dreamworks Animation's best movies and it's worth watching..
There are so few movies that both adults and children of all ages will likely and the Road to El Dorado is one of them..
The Road to El Dorado is an underrated Dreamworks creation which came out and left in haste.The plot centres around two tricky Spanish swindlers, Tulio and Miguel, who manage to get their hands on a map of the City of Gold, ElDorado.
And speaking of him, there are some interesting characters, like the good Chief, who cares about the people, Cortes, the terrifying conquistador, the two main heroes themselves, who have different views, but one goal and Tzekel-Khan, the religious fanatic who strongly believes in sacrifices.The animation is superb, El Dorado is extremely well done, a colorful Utopia with unique wildlife, along with the surrounding jungles.
After the epic "Prince of Egypt", "The Road to El Dorado" is a more simple, lighthearted animated feature, but it's a hilarious and very fresh movie and it's keeps getting better and better for every time I'm watching it.
The quite opposite to Disney's "Pocahontas" (when the two main characters in the movie doesn't understand each other in the beginning cause of the issues of language)SPOILERS OVER.But hey, "The Road to El Dorado" is a fresh and good film, who is actually very funny and exciting at times.
How refreshing to find a good animated movie coming from somewhere other than Disney!
My husband made the comment that his is the first animated movie he's seen that is directed like a live action film.The complaint about nudity is ridiculous.
The Road to El Dorado is a decently entertaining animated film that is good for a casual watch, but one that will be forgotten with time..
The Road to El Dorado is a good example of what happens when you put strong characters in a weak story.
This film, though it doesn't follow DreamWorks' formula when creating animated movies, works.
This is a very funny animated film about two Spanish outlaws (although they've done hardly anything bad), called Tulio and Miguel who find themselves on a ship bound for South America and El Dorado.
The two friends find themselves on a fantastic adventure - and a horse is included as well..!I like this film because it is very funny, the characters are well developed and interesting, the plot does well, the animation is good and there are good Elton John songs included!
"The Road to El Dorado" combines vibrant animation, lots of fun and adventure, and bits of suggestive adult humor as expected of a Dreamworks film.
is very disappointed this animated version of dreamworks I just couldn't believe if dreamworks try to compete with Disney this is not the ROAD when they use this title you hope the children can learn something about the legend of El Dorado like prince in Egypt but this is so....
Not Disney, But Not Bad. The animated feature, The Road to El Dorado, was fast paced, funny, and entertaining.