The Emperor's New Groove 117
I'm betting I had the same impression as most of you when I saw the ads for Disney's new Emperors's New Groove flick. Frankly, It made me quite ill. It sounded quite stupid. The other thing that was different about this movie is that I've watched so much anime, that I hadn't even tracked Groove's production. All the animated features released in the last decade I researched quite extensively. Voices, songs, writers, directors, who was animating which character. In most cases I even bought the sound track and was right there singing along. This time I knew nothing.
So, it's a good movie. Despite the stupid name, it's very fun. Of course it has a wicked villian and her henchman ... at least one of them isn't a trio of singing wise cracking henchman. The sidekick is Crank, (rhymes with Bonk) and he's probably the highlight of the film. Voiced by Elaine's boyfriend from the last season of Seinfeld (I think that excluding maybe Terry Hatcher, every actor who did a guest spot on the show will be known in terms of their Seinfeld character instead of their actual name). He's right on the money as the big goofy sidekick. They poke fun at some many conventions with this guy, I laughed out loud countless times.
The star, however, is of course David Spade, who besides starring on the vomit inducingly bad Just Shoot Me sitcom on NBC (god bless Tivo) hasn't been doing much since Chris Farley died. Fortunately the writers apparently gave him room to read funny lines, but also improvise. Not since Robin William's Genie have I seen an actor more accurately have their comedy animated by Disney. Then again, if you loath Spade's whiney sarcastic stand up, you're gonna hate this movie.
The animation is really quite good, although during the Emperor's stint as a llama, he's very disturbing. They handled him well, but man, with that long neck and that stretched out face and Spade's voice, well, it's a crazy creature.
It looks to me also that Disney shaved the budget down to nothing compared to other recent theater outings. The special effects in this film are virtually nil. No wild panarama shots. No amazing CGI. I mean, the fx are there, but they are relatively subtle, and never jaw-droppingly impressive.
And the music: What's a Disney movie without a rousing musical soundtrack? Well, I guess its Groove. It isn't a musical. Tarzan was different as far as musicals go, but it did feature a great soundtrack (despite winning a grammy against South Park which frankly pushed the envelope much more entertainingly the little old Phil "I wish I was Peter Gabriel" Collins ever could have). Groove does have a reasonably cute Tom Jones Disco bookend, but its nothing that you'll leave be talking about when you leave the theater. And my last comment on sound, usually I see movies like this in a theater with a good sound system, but I caught this one at the local Holland 7, which boasts a sound system with approximately the same fidelity as a realaudio porno stream. So take this with a grain of salt: I thought the sound was lame. The voice acting was nice, and the surround sound was used nicely, but the music and sound effects never just got into your skin like Mermaid, Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, Hunchback, Hercules, and Tarzan did. It's flat. Then again, when the DVD is released I'll watch it on my home system and maybe rethink this judgement.
I'll leave the story summary short, because if you're still reading, you'll probably wanted to see the movie before you started reading my little review ;) Spade is the spoiled brat emperor. He wants to build his new summer home on a Peasants hill (played blandly by John Goodman). He runs amuck with his evil Jafar/Cruella advisor and is transformed into a llama. Thanks to Hercules style sidekick incompetance he accidentally ends up with the Peasant, and must work through his spoiled nature, turn himself back into a human, and reclaim his thrown.
As you might have noticed, there are so many pre-fabbed molds used in this movie that you might have expected me to hate it. But I didn't. The comedy is the fastest of any disney movie ever (even exceeding Aladdin which dragged until the Genie came along). The pacing is obviously designed for children, with major jokes and changes occuring constantly. It always feels rushed ... but it never gets boring.
If you like silly animated adventures, or just need a movie to take a kid to, this will do nicely.
Disneyfication (Score:1)
Reclaim his thrown *what*? (Score:1)
Why I am not the MPAA: legality vs. ethics (Score:1)
My actions are illegal but ethical. I challenge you to find a single entity in the world which is materially harmed when I freeload a movie that I wouldn't have watched anyway without the freeloading. And of course even this argument is a moot point, because I don't freeload anymore -- I've been boycotting the MPAA for two years and counting.
Illegal actions should not be confused with unethical actions. When Rosa Parks refused to yield her bus seat, what she was doing was very illegal, but also very ethical. Sometimes when the law is unjust, honesty actually demands that it be broken.
Re:Why I am not the MPAA: legality vs. ethics (Score:1)
As I said I have been on complete boycott for two years. My "freeloading" suggestion was meant as an alternative for those who might prefer it over a complete boycott.
I value your responses very highly and I am definitely re-evaluating my opinions to take your points into account.
Re:Disney and the MPAA (Score:1)
I do not recommend watching Hollywood movies at all. This position should have been abundantly clear from the rest of my post.
However I realize that the practical reality is that many people cannot live without their Hollywood movies. If they don't care about MPAA issues, then fine; but if they do care, theater switching may be a viable alternative to total deprivation.
It is slightly dishonest, and I would not recommend this procedure for the Abe-Lincoln types out there. However, like most americans, I have no moral objections to freeloading something that has near-zero marginal cost, especially if I wouldn't have paid for it under any circumstances anyway.
My last question is, if theater switching is "empty" and "pointless", then why do you care so much?
It could also be... (Score:1)
Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:1)
My problem with Disney is that the overall animation quality has suffered lately. The last film they made with animation quality in line with the classics was 'Beauty and the Beast', IMHO. When 'Hercules' came out, I was shocked at how poor the animation was. It was very blocky, lots of straight, simple lines and appearing to come out of some animation factory. This movie seems to be drawn by the same group of artists. I can only hope that Disney puts a stop to this team before they draw again. I miss the rich, extremely detailed animation of old.
Re:Need a proofreader? (Score:1)
Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:1)
Yeah, right. You haven't paid much attention to Bugs Bunny, have you? The real, original scripts, had plenty of adult references along with the slapstick for the kids.
You might also look at things like the Flintstones; it was PRIME TIME and not just aimed at kids. It's schlock, but not any more so than any other sitcom of its era. That's not the same thing as "just for the kiddies."
As far as it goes, I'd say that a number of Disney's classic animation stories had plenty to chew on for the adults as well. Bambi's mom dying is "just for the kiddies"?? It's a story, and it is more than just some juvenile slop, unlike a lot of the more recent output from Disney.
You're right that Japanese animation gets more into adult themes, but US Animation is not so devoid as you might say in comparison.
Great movie (Score:1)
2) I hate David Spade's whiney sarcastic standup thing, but this movie put it in the right context, and made David Spade bearable. My new theory is: "David Spade should be heard and not seen."
3) Get someone to proof articles before they get put up in front of thousands of readers.
4) Don't say "Granted, I was in a movie theater with crappy audio, but man, did that movie have crappy audio." The audio was fine; there's lots of nice subtleties like branches cracking at strategic moments... and I'm glad that for once there was a Disney film where they weren't breaking into song every ten minutes.
5) John Goodman was anything but bland, and you forgot to mention his extremely funny wife (even though she had only a bit part).
My take on this is it's the renaissance of Disney animation; this is the first really clever, emotionally engaging non-piece-of-crap to come out of Disney in a long time.
Disney for chrissakes (Score:1)
Yep, a couple minor characters. (The kids were more cute than beautiful.) But no animal sidekick, for a change.
Nope.
I left the theater with a big grin on my face, because it was funny, something that most Disney movies aren't.
I'll agree with the general principle here. But this is a movie that was basically scrapped and restarted halfway through production--it may not have been as "designed from the ground up" as your average Disney feature.
It's got a zaniness, at least, that we haven't seen for a while. Robin Williams's improvisations in Aladdin were fun, but embedded in a treacly story. The Emperor's New Groove has clever and silly things going on at every level.
Re:Taco's living in the 70s (Score:1)
Re: Give kids more credit (Score:1)
Robert Dumas (robertdumas@hotmail.com)
Re:Where is Taco? (Score:1)
bored with the life in the City of Gold,
he left and let nobody know...
not a musical? HOLY SHIT! Might have to see this (Score:1)
Nice to see them make such a radical, gutsy change as to drop the musical part.
Re:Disney and the MPAA (Score:1)
I don't know if it's whether I necessarily "care" all that much, I just think that if one is going to boycott the RIAA and MPAA for idealistic reasons, then one should boycott the products entirely and not do a sneak around the end zone, so to speak.
That's all.
Pope
Freedom is Slavery! Ignorance is Strength! Monopolies offer Choice!
Re:Sting? (Score:1)
Re:Need a proofreader? (Score:1)
Follow the link, and you'll see:-
"This is the usage of
Re:Why I am not the MPAA: legality vs. ethics (Score:1)
That's a tricky little phrase.
It allows you to watch your movie without feeling any guilt. Its an old argument. "I am against paying for this service/item, and wouldn't do so anyway, so I'm not morally compromised by taking it." Shoplifters use this argument all the time (yes, I know that material harm is done, but to most large corporations, the actual damage done is insignificant).
I trust you know that an actor's salary is sometimes based upon their movie's profits? Same with the director, and the producer. By not paying for the service they provide, you are ripping them off (and yes, had you not been sitting in that movie theatre chair they wouldn't know the difference, nor would they miss the money).
In Hollywood, an actor/director/producer's success is based upon ticket sales. More success == more movies. By deeming the movie (and therefore the work of all involved) deserving of your eyes (by sitting in the movie theatre seat), you should be deeming their work worthy of your money.
You're right. The MPAA has acted immorally - they can be downright evil at times (but, you also have to remember that they have a legal resposibility to their shareholders - to maximize their profits in any way they can... and they are doing a great job at that). But that doesn't justify "freeloading" off of them. Two wrongs DO NOT make a right.
Re:Why I am not the MPAA: legality vs. ethics (Score:1)
I realize that you are on a complete boycott. But, this being a public forum, I felt it necissary to flesh out our respective opinions; I hope that we both (and hopefully someone else) have learned something.
PS. Sorry if I came across harshly. I just feel very strongly about these issues.
Re:Disney and the MPAA (Score:1)
He also assumes (rightfully so) that his readership has at least some capacity for independent thought (although that may be too much to ask of your everyday SlashBot).
I don't think that Rob should be asked to censor himself because his words might somehow affect how someone might live their life. That's absurd.
Re:Knead uh Pruffreeder? (Score:1)
Words that are spelled and/or pronounced the same but have different meanings are known (in English) as "homonyms", "homophones", or even "homographs". None of the dictionaries I use knows what a "homogram" is, although somebody mentioned singing and gay people...
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Why Sting is not a big fan of the film (Score:1)
I just read something about this in the Palo Alto newspaper:
IMHO, The Emperor's New Groove is just another lump of manufactured Hollywood bullshit.
And, no, I haven't seen it, but come on, it's Disney for chrissakes -- it will always be:
OK, it's early, my cynicism runs a bit hot before I've had my coffee...
- jonathan.
The Moral Majority was disbanded in 1989
Need a proofreader? (Score:1)
"Elain's boyfriend"
"This time I new nothing."
"reclaim his thrown"
Re:Knead uh Pruffreeder? (Score:1)
Re:Llamas (Score:1)
People who've seen it know what I'm talking about.
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Re:On Lamas (Score:1)
Perhaps we should define lllamas to be those people who mess up a good game of Quake?
Re:Oh darn. (Score:1)
Re:Slashdot theme song (Score:1)
Fantasia / Fantasia 2000 are the only films to feature Mickey, and it's been a while since there's been a mickey short film or cartoon series
Re:Taco's record is 250 hrs of anime... (Score:1)
Is this the 1st 'kids story' from Disney (Score:1)
Most of the story line you can find in many old stories....but I am un-aware of any where the selfish are turned into a llama.
Re:I think the Dali Llama would disagree. (Score:1)
Besides, to return to the original point of this thread, Scooby-Doo teaches skepticism and empiricism. These are not hard-hearted; they are a prerequisite to being able to help people effectively.
- Michael
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Go ahead, blame me... I voted for Nader!
Re:It's too bad (Score:1)
]$`};L(;/proc);[I(;];<C{;};1S[;`\/while=1E1L[`\p roc{>=
Comparisons... (Score:1)
Thank you for that highly accessible comparison. Not that this is critical to the review, but I'm not sure how many of us reading this review know what kind of fidelity a realaudio porno stream has. Frankly, I'd rather not.
-J
Sting? (Score:1)
BTW, next time you have a chance to mention you've watched 250hrs of anime , don't :)
Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:1)
Time for a remedial "Intellectual Property" class (Score:1)
When (if) the copyright on the old Mickey films runs out, anyone will be able to print new copies to sell. No one will be able to create new "Mickey Mouse" movies except Disney, because he is a trademark of the company. Of course, we will also see the Diz try to stop people from selling ex-copyrighted works on the basis of these trademarks as well.
There are three real reasons Disney doesn't make a "Mickey Film":
Firstly, they never have. Mickey evolved as a character in comedic shorts. He never made the jump to features for the same reason the early living short film comics never really did, there's just not that much character to work with. The first Disney features were all to serious to support the light characters from their short films. Now it is a tradition for Disney to create their features along the same lines, telling cinematic stories using characters that don't already have "baggage."
Secondly, ol' Mickey is now an important mascot for Disney, sort of a figurehead. If he starts playing in the mud and showing up in new films, there is the risk of failure or tarnish on that image.
Finally, Mickey represents the continued presence of Walt's ghost in Disney. Aside from a brief attempt to dress him "hip" in the eighties, Disney chooses to keep Mickey relatively timeless for this reason. (Have you seen that a lot of the new paraphenilia has gone back to the old "pac-man" eyes?) We are far more likley to see Goofy and Donald Duck in features than we are to see Mickey Mouse.
Re:Consistency? (Score:1)
Coming soon to theaters: "How the Emperor Got His Groove Back"!
And the first thing they do is turn the emperor into a llama?? This movie is more perverted than I thought! Someone alert the ChildCare Action Project [capalert.com] immediately!
Geez Taco, learn how to write (Score:1)
Re:Great movie (Score:1)
FYI, imdb.com lists the name as "Kronk". And he's easily one of the funniest Disney characters, if not THE funniest Disney character, since Williams as the Genie.
Chris Tembreull
Web Developer, NEC Systems, Inc.
Re:Not to overreact, but... (Score:1)
Exactly. Lighten up.
Here's a quick quiz for you: where in the movie, promotional materials, or anywhere else does Disney state where and when this movie supposedly takes place? The answer, while you scratch your head, is "nowhere." The movie is pleasantly ambiguous about all that. Are they Mayans? Incas? Aztecs? And if they're in South America, why are there European-style cottages in Pacha's village? Why is Yzma's dress straight out of 1920's American flapper culture?
And so on and so forth. Perhaps in all our Slashdotty desire to be gritty and accurate and hypersensitive, we've completely forgotten that this is ENTERTAINMENT, not meant to be taken seriously - hell, I doubt if it's even POSSIBLE to take it seriously. It's a goddamned cartoon. Lighten up.
Oh, and how exactly are the Transformers "positive subject matter?" They fight and kill each other because they just simply don't like the other faction. That's a positive thing in your world?
Fucking sad. Go watch Schindler's List or something, and please leave the cartoons for those of us still young enough at heart to actually enjoy them.
Chris Tembreull
Web Developer, NEC Systems, Inc.
Re:Taco's living in the 70s (Score:1)
Re:I saw the movie yesterday (Score:1)
Disney does do Anime (Score:1)
Re:Disney and the MPAA (Score:1)
Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:1)
Besides, I'm always kinda fumed by posters who say "well wouldn't it be nicer if this were done by hand". Try it yourself, then see how much you say "goddamn I wish a computer would do this chicken shit!". In-betweening is one of the shittiest jobs on earth, and although it is helpful in giving an budding animator practice and experience, it is by-and-large a simple grunting pain in the ass.
Animators will go back to traditional approaches when all programmers decide to work exclusively in assembler.
On Lamas (Score:1)
Ogden Nash
(1931)
The one-l lama
He's a priest.
The two-l llama,
He's a beast.
And I will bet
A silk pajama
There isn't any
Three-l lllama.
Sorry, I hate to engourage this sort of thing, but I love lamas the're so cute.
Re:Need a proofreader? (Score:1)
Robin William's" - Williams'
On a proper name [bartleby.com], you use the full "apostrophe S". So you would use "Robin Williams's".
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Not a musical (Score:1)
Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:1)
If they didn't have computers doing it people would be saying, "What's with the hookey colors and stuff? Why does it take years for Disney to put out a new animation? With computers around it shouldn't take them anytime at all!"
Diz
Slashdot theme song (Score:1)
In relation to the movie: Anyone notice that all the Disney movies have moved away from touching films with cute, cudly, loveable characters? And what happened to Mickey Mouse? Anyone seen him lately?
Oh well. I'm off to watch my daily showing of the Matrix :)
It's all about the Karma Points, baybee...
Moderators: Read from the bottom up!
Knead uh Pruffreeder? (Score:1)
"Lama" is completely and utterly wrong. It's spelled "LLama" (two ells, dammit!), and is properly pronounced by Andeans as "Lyama", not "Lama" like in the Tibetin monks. Between Americans not being able to spell and their electing Bush as President, things are gonna (sic) get just worse!
QP
Dogpile on Taco (Score:1)
Re:I saw the movie yesterday (Score:1)
What's wrong with Scooby Doo? As Carl Sagan correctly points out in 'A Demon Haunted World' Scooby Doo teaches skepticism. Skepticism is good.
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Re:I saw the movie yesterday (Score:1)
Well, it teaches kids to be potheads, like Shaggy and Scooby. (Why do they always have the munchies anyway?)
And isn't Velma a dyke?
Llamas (Score:1)
Re:Not a musical (Score:1)
Re:Knead uh Pruffreeder? (Score:1)
You're right in that the word is spelled "Llama" and not "Llama," but you're wrong on pronounciation. The Spanish language pronounces the double-L (Ll) with a "y" sound. Thus, "Llama" would be pronounced "yama." There might exist some difference in the Andean dialect that would cause them to pronounce it incorrectly, but that's no reason to teach the rest of the world the same incorrect pronounciation.
As for Taco's spelling, I think people should really lay off. Why do you give a damn? You're not his English teacher or his employer. I'm sure if Taco were turning in a term paper or something that needed to sound professional, he'd spend a little more time on spelling and grammar. This, however, is just Slashdot... wut duz it matter if the speling iz off? so long az U kan reed it, rite?
Where is Taco? (Score:1)
For her merchandise, he traded in his prize...
Wow, we can argue about music on
Haven't seen it yet (Score:1)
Ever heard of Kiki's Delivery Service? (Score:1)
Do you know what movie was released the same year as Kiki's Delivery Service? The harolded Little Mermaid. And I'm sorry Kiki's Delivery Service puts the Little Mermaid to shame! Miyazaki is the same guy that brought you Princess Mononke (which I didn't think was Disney but some one mentioned up above it was I not sure on that one. My guess is maybe a Disney pawn but not Disney directly.) The scenes in Kiki's Delivery are absolutly amazing. There is so much emphasis put in story and detail! And you know how long it took to make Kiki's Delivery Service? If my memory serves correctly 7 months! Maybe our animaters should go study over in Japan.
Re:Trolling is losing its character (Score:2)
These got people's attention because they were not even remotely related to the articles being discussed. To get attention, you just had to be off-the-wall weird. Pretty soon, pouring hot grits down your pants stopped getting a rise out of people and we saw the rise of a more modern breed of trolling that seeks to directly make people mad by being as beligerent as possible.
However, as before, the "arms race" continues. We're getting apathetic as fast as the trolls get offensive. At first, an ASCII picture of a guy's anus is pretty shocking. But after not too long, you just yawn and hit the page down key again.
I'm not sure what ways there are left to get attention by being a troll on Slashdot. Troll technology seems to have stagnated for the moment.
Re:Not to overreact, but... (Score:2)
I watched the movie. There was not one mention of any culture other than the Emperors. I don't see where this complaint came from.
I saw this movie as a celebration of the uniqueness of the culture.
Maybe you are thinking of the Road to El Derado...
My review (Score:2)
I think this movie reminded me more of a Disney want to be and not a true Disney movie. Other "childrens" movies I have seen got many more laughs (such as Chicken Run, Toy Story 2).
Will the movie do well? I think so, the Disney marketing machine has been in full gear for a while, so people will go see it. Will they go back a 2nd time... probably not. They may buy it though because of lack of quality children videos.
I went in hesitant because of what I saw as over marketing. The game was over advertised and it came out before the movie. Always a bad sign.
I will have to say that I was more disapointed with Dinosaur than with this movie.
If you have kids, go see it. If you don't... it is up to you... maybe a matinee.
The reason why you haven't seen a Mickey Movie... (Score:2)
This way, they will retain copyright on them longer.
Maybe there is a lesson in this from Sonny Bono:
Pander to a corporation's interests instead of the people's and you die in a skiing accident.
Oh wait, that's not the lesson otherwise we'd have politicians dying right and left.
blame pixar (Score:2)
Re:Taco's living in the 70s (Score:2)
Regarding integrity, most of Gabriel's solo output wasn't really any more progressive than "I Can't Dance". Just well-produced, intelligent pop. (Featuring Tony Levin, which is always a plus!)
Re:Disney and the MPAA (Score:2)
And how, exactly, does this make a stand?
If you want to go see a major motion picture, fuckin PAY for it and enjoy it (or not).
If you want to go see cool indie file, fuckin PAY for it and enjoy it (or not)
Empty gestures like theatre switching are pointless, and more to the point, dishonest.
Pope
Freedom is Slavery! Ignorance is Strength! Monopolies offer Choice!
Re:Need a proofreader!!! (Score:2)
I think the Dali Llama would disagree. (Score:2)
I agree it is an important concept, but remember we are talking about lessons for children here. Children have a very self centered world. The first step in teaching children compassion is teaching them they are not the center of the universe. This is what the Emperor's New Groove attempts to do.
As an adult, of course the goal is to temper personal satisfaction with compassion for others is a reasonable goal. But without learning the fundementals as a child, achieving this is nigh impossible.
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Here's why. (Score:2)
Personally, I put "Be nice to others" earlier in child rearing than "Be skeptical of others".
You are right it is important, but IMHO, somethings, like kindness, need to be taught first.
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Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:2)
You know, like Anime is a different animation style?
As far as I can tell, in any of Disneys future movies, anything with detail will be done by computers. That kind of detail is very expensive for animators to do.
Out of curiousity, how much does it take for Disney to make an animation movie?
Later
Erik Z
Not to overreact, but... (Score:2)
The Spanish conquistadores completely eradicated the great Inca and Maya civilazations through war, horrendous plagues (like smallpox) [iastate.edu], and rape. On one occasion, the conquistadore Pizarro captured the Incan king Atahuallpa, ransomed him for a large dining room's worth of gold and silver, then killed him anyway. (It's all told in a great book, Guns Germs and Steel [samizdat.com].
"So, it's just a cartoon, lighten up!"
I know it's just a cartoon. I think that infusing our children with a candy-coated, competely inaccurate view of the past is irresponsible. I'm not advocating that Disney put the destruction of the Native peoples by systematic warfare (Pocahontas anyone?) in their next movie, I just think that maybe they ought to pick more positive subject matter. Like Transformers. They're cool.
Why does the slashdot crew bother to review movies (Score:2)
Re:I saw the movie yesterday (Score:2)
Not any more. The "Zombie Island" and other new movies produced by Cartoon Network have made the monsters real. The Skeptical Newsletter had an interesting editorial [csicop.org] on it a while back.
Ho Hum (Score:2)
Re:Here's why. (Score:2)
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Go ahead, blame me... I voted for Nader!
Re:I think the Dali Llama would disagree. (Score:2)
Hey, what are you trying to pull? I checked the website [go.com], and the emperor's name is Kuzco, not Dali. Anyway, what does this movie have to do with Buddhism?
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Go ahead, blame me... I voted for Nader!
Re:Knead uh Pruffreeder? (Score:2)
It's not la-ma it's ya-ma.
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Re:Consistency? (Score:2)
It wouldn't suprise me if he did. He's into litigation. Penrose once sued Kimberly-Clark [parascope.com] because they used something that looked like Penrose tiling as a pattern on Kleenex Quilted Toilet Paper.
Re:Consistency? (Score:2)
Did that hurt? I'm sorry.
Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:2)
Reminds me of a short I saw on (IIRC) Saturday Night Live... it was some kind of superhero story, and the current crisis was a citywide animator's strike. EVERY scene was either completely still, or the back of someone's head.. you get the idea.. no? It was way funnier than I'm making it out to be....
Sean
Consistency? (Score:2)
Coming soon to theaters: "How the Emperor Got His Groove Back"!
/* Steve */
Kronk, not Crank (Score:2)
Songs... Why don't they rock (Score:2)
Re:Just Shoot Me Good. Disney Bad. (Score:2)
Animation is losing its character (Score:2)
I remember when I was a child, watching such classics as Bambi and Dumbo, which were lovingly handcrafted by teams of patient animators.
Nowadays, I feel that the computer has removed the character, if not perhaps the personality, of these old classics. With the ability to easily knock up an animation that modern technology brings, doesn't the ease bring a certain lack of attention to detail?
I just feel that modern animations, such as Toy Story and the like, lack the interest of the old, and have a patina of artificiality. Some would say that this is because of soulless modern commercialism, and this may be true, but it is also, IMO, sue to the very techniques used in modern animation.
Give me old-fashioned hand crafted efforts any time.
KTB:Lover, Poet, Artiste, Aesthete, Programmer.
Re:Oh darn. (Score:2)
Additional Information (SPOILERS) (Score:3)
The major voices are John Goodman (as Panco), Eartha Kitt (as Yzma), Patrick Wharburton (aka Puddy from Seinfeld, as Kronk), and of course, David Spade (as Kuzco, the emperor turned llama). All are exceptionally perfect for their roles, and are drawn true to character. Wharburton is easily the comedic star of the film, from his opening appearance to right before the closing credits.
You will definitely laugh if you go see this movie (I guarantee it) and there's one reason for it: Disney designed it to be a comedy (mainly because of Spade's pushing). Originally, it was supposed to be a Prince-and-the-Pauper-set-in-Tenochtitlan type movie, with a number of song-and-dance routines written by Sting. Well, Disney execs decided that wasn't where they wanted the movie to go and scrapped the whole thing, but Spade, who had been brought on to do Kuzco, told them rework it as a comedy, scrap the musical crap, and bring in Tom Jones for any music. One of Sting's songs made it into the closing credits (a real sappy POS) and two or three others made it onto the soundtrack, but the whole thing was real messy (apparently).
The end result is an animated feature written to be a complete comedy, like the old-time Roadrunner cartoons, full of semi-slapstick action, great fast-paced lines, and a simple plot that allows the comedy to flow without getting bogged down in details.
In short, it's a joy, and yes, it's not typical Disney fare, mainly because they brought a very atypical Disney voice (Spade) into the project.
Taco's living in the 70s (Score:3)
Schmuck.
Need a proofreader!!! (Score:3)
It made the article really jarring to read. Hey, guys, can we at least have marginal grade-school spelling standards in the posted articles?!
Reading
Get a clue, guys, read some books for a change!
Rick
BTW, it's "Teri Hatcher".
Re:Disney and the MPAA (Score:3)
I'm sorry, but I feel that this is holding the Movie industry to a higher moral standard than the one to which you hold yourself. You expect the MPAA to be honest in their business affairs, but you think its ok if you sneak your movie fix "through the back door".
This is dishonest (even immoral) behaviour.
Comments like these are exactly the ammunition the MPAA can use to their ends ("Look and what one of these hackers said: (insert your comment here). They steal from us! And they'll use their computers to do it more!").
This is one of those times where it's all or nothing.
Chuck Jones would love it (Score:3)
It won't corrupt any kids, but it also doesn't beat anyone over the head with a moral. It has a very small bit of music, but it isn't a musical. There are some bad guys, but only one of them is bad and they are both more funny than anything else. If you like goofy "toon" humor, go see it!
One example. The emperor is walking, and he decides to walk straight instead of turning right; a swarm of workmen appears, and with furious speed they build a new entrance to the palace and then fall on their backs gasping. The emperor walks straight through the new door. Total elapsed time: about three seconds... there are a lot of goofy throwaway gags like that in there.
I plan to buy a copy. It's the first Disney movie in a long time I have liked that much.
steveha
Re:sp (Score:3)
Sorry, but you're overreacting. (Score:3)
The Emperor's New Groove does do a bad job of accurately depicting ancient Peruvian civilization, to be sure. But it's supposed to be that way. It's funnier that way. Disney hasn't accurately depicted anything since they began producing animated movies fifty years ago, and everyone knows it.
Relax. There's nothing to be offended by here.
Re:Disney and the MPAA (Score:5)
How can one decry corrupt laws like the DMCA and at the same time continue to line the pockets of the very corporate special-interest groups that bought the law in the first place?
I can understand watching an occasional movie--it's not like there are many alternatives to the major studios out there on the movie scene--but posting movie reviews and recommendations for one of the worst companies in the bunch (i.e. Disney, purchaser of the Sonny Bono copyright extension) is beyond me.
I personally am in the midst of a three-year long boycott of all RIAA record labels and a two-year long boycott of all Hollywood movie studios, and I urge other like-minded readers to do the same. Note that the boycott does not mean I am depriving myself of all records and movies. Much as it may surprise you, not all music is RIAA, and not all movies are MPAA. While individual tastes differ, I'm sure that anyone who has bothered to look will agree with me that there is a lot of high quality material out there from independent studios.
Finally, a word of advice to anyone who doesn't want to support Hollywood, but wants to watch a Hollywood movie: Find a theater that shows independent films and also shows the movie you want, and buy a ticket for an independent film. Then once you're in the theater switch over to the movie you want to see. That way you get to see the movie but the Hollywood studio doesn't get anything for it. If theater personnel catch you, speak to the manager and explain what you're doing--the two times I've had to do this, the response from the manager was very positive.
I saw the movie yesterday (Score:5)
Like most movies designed for kids, it's a bit simplistic. What would you expect? Keeping a 4 year focused for 90 minutes is a tough thing.
The story is about learning the importance of putting other's needs ahead of your own. A good lesson for everyone in this day and age. The bad are all punished and the once narcissitic emperor is rewarded with caring friends after learning to help others. As a parent, I'd much rather have them watch this than Scooby Doo.
The animation and music are on average for a Disney movie. You can tell they tried to keep the action in three places for simplicity, the castle, the peasant village, and the road between. There are none of the surperb background animation pieces found in Little Mermaid or Pochohantas. BTW, the preview for Atlantis looked promising, Jules verne style submarines, yum!
The are several cameos by other Disney characters to keep the adults chuckling. Adults that enjoy other Disney animation will enjoy this movie. the voice acting of all involved is good. Personally, I can't stand David Spade, but not seeing his alien-like RL body made it passable.
Overall, it's a good children's film that's worth catching on a matinee.
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Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:5)
ok Kiss, you're building up quite a career being a neo-luddite. John K would be proud... you never disappoint
Computers don't 'do' the animation any more than your car 'drives' you to work. I'm just boggled that people think this. That's like implying that your computer balances your checkbook. Or the computer 'made' the mp3 that you're listening too. Computers are tools, thats all. Lets quit personifying them and giving them abilities far beyond being really fast abacus'.
Computers don't write the story. Computers don't insert the mindless sidekicks with their anacronistic references, the painful sappy tunes, or the Happy Meal tie-ins. And there my friend lies the tragedy of most modern animation. It isn't the technology, it's the lack of creativity and merchandising and drive for the bucks.
>I remember when I was a child, watching such >classics as Bambi and Dumbo, which were lovingly >handcrafted by teams of patient animators.
Have you worked in a current, feature animation house? I have. Guess what - animation is STILL handcrafted by teams of patient animators. Who do you think does it? Who lays down the poses - does the inbetweening, does the background painting? It's people. Computers have only replaced the mindless background tasks that were dying to be automated.... ink-n-paint, compositing and some special effects that could never have been done by hand anyway.
>I just feel that modern animations, such as Toy
>Story and the like, lack the interest of the
>old, and have a patina of artificiality.
I've been to Pixar. I have several friends who work there. Every frame of their movies is handcrafted with tons of sweat and tears. The story is substantially and thoroughly developed (unlike the cookie-cutter stories coming out of elsewhere). If you don't like the visual look - fine, that is an artistic choice. But it doesn't LESSEN the work that they are doing. Most ANIMATORS that are hired at Pixar have never used a computer before. They are hired because they can ANIMATE, for no other reason. You can teach anybody how to operate a computer, but animation is a SKILL. You don't just buy some boxes from SGI and get the talent. It's the same if you're producing acetate cells or doing stop-motion. But you probably think Chicken Run is modern and evil too.....
By this is Slashdot. Don't let not knowing anything about how animation is really produced stop you from participating...
j
Re:Animation is losing its character (Score:5)
>You are right that computers don't write the
>story. However, they do a lot of things that
>used to be done better by people. For example, >an animator will draw two scenes, and the >computer will fill in the missing frames. Great -> from the point of view that it is cheaper and >faster. Not so good from a qualitative point of >view though.
Um, no. Computera aren't used for inbetweening (thats that it's called). The lead animator will draw the main poses, and then a secondary animator will fill in the middle bits, just like it's always been done.... This is all STILL done on paper. At this point the cells will be scanned in and inked/painted, cleaned up, etc etc.
Computers ARE used in inbetweening in places like saturday morning animation, where they're pounding out tons of animation every day. But thats fine - there the are going for quantity over quality. Remember the old spider man TV show - where at least half of the show was generic 'spidey flying between buildings' shots that were constantly recycled, or scenes where none of the characters moved except for their mouths? That is the alternative..... which i don't think is any worse.
Computers DON'T animate... people do. The only people who think computers DO animate are people who have no idea how the animation industry works....
j
Disney and the MPAA (Score:5)
As most of you know, the MPAA case against 2600 had many people in the sub-culture of Slashdot demanding that there be a boycot of the MPAA until such a time as they dropped the case, etc. Since that time, Rob has certainly [slashdot.org] not [slashdot.org] boycotted [slashdot.org] very many movies at all.
However, all of the above are excellent films, and as a result, I find that somewhat forgiveable. My problem, at this point, is that now, Rob is giving his Gold Stamp of Approval to a movie he even admits is somewhat mediocre! If we actually listen to him is irrelevant. The point is, he's a well known figure in the community, and it's assumed that we at LEAST take his advice into account when making decisions.
So, while we watch Rob tell us all about the Emperor's New Groove, the MPAA sits back, knowing that they're still more than content with their profits. I'm not trying to beat Rob up here. I'm not trying to paint him as a hypocrite. What I