Toon Talk Mailbag
Page 4 of 7

(c) Disney

The Emperor's New Groove, posted May 4 and 9, 2001:
This two parter covered the standard DVD and The Ultimate Groove DVD set.
Probably the most scandalous column to date, due to my B- review of the film.
Click to read article: Part One • Part Two

"I noticed at the beginning of your very in depth article that you said Emperer's New Groove was the 39th animated classic; do you know where I could get a list of that?" -- James

Laughing Place has a list, located at http://laughingplace.com/Info-ID4000100.asp

These are what are known as the "classic animated features".   Basically, the full-fledged, full-length animated features that are traditionally done by the Disney animation department.

No all-CGI (Toy Story, Dinosaur), live-action hybrids (Mary Poppins, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), inexpensive animations (A Goofy Movie, The Tigger Movie) or stop motion (Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, James & the Giant Peach).

"I absolutely loved this movie.. it was hilarious!  I was sore from laughing so much!  It's about time Disney got some nerve and made such a fun film.  Sure, I love all the classic Disney formula films, but this one is for the modern age. Hope they make more just as funny!" -- Pamela

I have a feeling that Lilo & Stitch, due next summer, will be another fun departure from the Disney formula.

"I don't agree with you about this movie.  I loved it, despite all the flaws you mentioned.  I know its not a Disney Classic, but I though it was great fun.  It is a lot more like a Warner Brothers short than a Disney movie ...
I think I know why Kuzco's nastiness didn't bother me like it bothered you.   When I first saw the movie I immediately identified Kuzco as a negative character.   For me Pacha was the movie's hero, since he saved and redeemed Kuzco through his efforts.  So I expected Kuzco to be bad, and it was great when he became good." -- Lee "Mousebear" Suggs

I know I would have liked the movie more if Kuzco was more likable earlier in the film.  What really turned me off was when he callously left Pacha to die hanging from the rope bridge.  That was the make or break moment in the film for me.   If that scene had been different in some way, I would have had a different view of his character and the movie as a whole.  I felt that way when I first saw the movie in December, and again while preparing this review.  I still enjoyed the film to a certain degree, and I don't necessarily consider 'B-' a bad rating.

And now for my favorite letter so far:

"Plenty of people think Tom Jones is one of the best pop singers who's ever lived, and he deserves better than the phrase "underwear magnet."   Perhaps you're jealous women don't throw their underwear at you?" -- Richard

My use of the phrase "underwear magnet" was in reference to Jones' pop culture status and wasn't intended to comment on his talent as a singer.   As I mention in the review, his singing "Perfect World" was one of the highlights of the movie, and it is included in the Top 101 Disney Songs as well.

And no, I'm not jealous. I wouldn't want anyone to throw their underwear at me.

(c) Dreamworks

Shrek, posted May 22, 2001
The DreamWorks film, which has since become the most successful film so far this year,
garnered a C- from this reviewer, who was not especially amused by it's unoriginality and crass humor.
Click to read review

"In your review you comment that "an oddly French Robin Hood introduces his Merry Men through song".  Although most people would think that it was odd that Robin Hood had a French accent, I found it an interesting choice.  While it may not have been done for this reason, the actual person who is the foundation for the Robin Hood legend was a French nobleman who considered England to be a barbaric country.  As a matter of fact the Kind of England at this time considered himself more French than English." -- John Gutknecht
 
I wondered if something like this may have been the case.  However, I still find it strange that they chose to present him as French, as every film incarnation of Robin Hood to date has had him definately English, including Kevin Costner's ill-advised accent in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

"At last!  Someone who thought this film was as much of a disappointment as I did.  Reading reviews this past week, I've begun to wonder if I saw the same film as everyone else.  All of the "comedy" fell flat, and even the humorous moments in the trailer didn't come across in the film, mostly due to bad timing.  The animation wasn't entirely breakthrough.  I keep hearing, "Even the grass swayed in the breeze."  Hello, I know Dinosaur was a pathetic excuse for a movie, but they did the grass thing last year.  As for humans in computer animated films, stop doing it.  It looks weird.  All this hype, and positive buzz this film has received, is un-deserved." -- D

Shrek certainly had the most overly-enthusiastic notices I have ever seen for such an undeserved film.

"Although creative and very funny, the movie destroys its entire send-up of the fantasy genre with its horrible fairy tale ending.  I think that the ending needed a dramatic rethinking so that it ended the movie on a proper note.  I was horribly dissatisfied that this picture turned away from its central premise to satisfy some sort of unwritten, cliched ending clause.  Movies, no matter what kind they are, must keep their stride and flavor throughout the film.  This one fouls up in the home stretch, leaving a bad aftertaste in your mouth." -- Bryan

The filmmakers sure tried to have their cake and eat it too.  Like I said in my review, they attempt to send up the fairy tale genre but end up with the typical "happily ever after" finale, one that was telegraphed from the moment we find out Princess Fiona's "secret".

"We're in full agreement on this one ... This movie had its moments ... however, the story and pacing were mediocre (and) the gross parts were unnecessary.  We'll see, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Shrek's numbers fall like a stone now that so many people have seen that its not all it was advertised to be.  Of course, I thought this would happen with The Grinch too." -- Lee "Mousebear" Suggs

And we all know now how it has turned out ... unfortunately the mediocre movies always rake in the big bucks, thus
paving the way for more mediocrity in the future.