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Disney's
last big animation Dinosaur had huge budget written
all over it. Posters, television advertising, the pre-publicity
was very much in your face.
The
finished product didn't live up to the hype.
The
Emperor's New Groove seems to have slipped out almost
unnoticed. Compared to Dinosaur the finished product
is far less slick to look at. It's almost as if this is
Disney done on the cheap (if a modern day movie can be
done on the cheap).
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| That's
another fine mess you've got me into |
But
if evidence was needed that you don't always have to throw
millions of dollars at a product to make a good film then
here it is.
The
storyline is simple. Emperor Kuzco is pampered beyond
belief and firmly believes the world revolves around him
and no one else.
It
something of a shock when his aged chief advisor, Yzma,
turns him into a llama. He should be so lucky - she was
hoping to kill him!
Alone
in the wild Kuzco is befriended by Pacha, a peasant in
danger of losing his home, since Kuzco's decided it would
be the ideal location for a summer swimming pool.
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| What's
a nice boy like you doing reading this? |
An
uneasy friendship develops. By the end of the film the
Emperor has learnt it's best to think of others before
yourself. All very laudable and I'm sure children across
Nottinghamshire will take that on board when they watch
the movie over half term!
There
are some great scenes - Yzma's descent to her laboratory
is straight out of Batman and there's a wonderful slapstick
routine in an Inca-style McDonalds.
John
Goodman brings life to Pacha while Eartha Kitt is great
as the evil would-be empress Yzma.
The
top and tailing of the movie with songs sung by Tom Jones
and Sting only adds to the gloss of the event.
A
sure fire banker to keep the kids happy this half term.
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