1 Funny Disney, especially for adults
When the movie starts you see a sad lama sitting in the dark. Then you hear the voice of David Spade and the fun starts. Animations are always mentioned in the lists of movies actors have made and deservedly so; ever since 'A Bugs Life' and 'Ants' have the on-screen animated figures started looking like the actors themselves, including the humor and antics.
The story is the usual Disney. Good people vs Bad people, cool animations, a lot of songs, and a good dose of humor. Provided in the most part by David Spade and Patrick Warburton, you may remember him as Elaine's Boyfriend Puddy in Seinfeld or a small part in a few episodes of 'Newsradio', his dry, dumbwitted remarks are hilarious and the best thing about this movie.
The theme song by Tom Jones is also funny (he is credited as 'theme song guy') and has the great line "an enigma and a mystery, in Meso-American history".
Even as an adult I had to laugh out loud sometimes. You can say what you want about Disney, they can deliver movies that suit 3 year olds through 103 year olds.
2 Too good for words!
This movie is great for kids of all ages! I'm fifteen and i still love this movie with all my heart. This is not your typical disney movie! This movie ROCKS!! You can watch it over and over again without getting tired of it! I confess, I have watched it so many times i know all the words by heart and can recite it to you. But thats okay since all my friends know the words by heart too! Never have i seen someone who watched this movie and didnt like it. The best thing is that it never gets old. It's one of those movies where everytime you watch it you notice something new. You will not regret getting this movie!!
3 Disney's Last Gasp
How in the world did something fun sneak out of the Disney studio? The story of an utterly self-absorbed king brought down to earth is common enough, but in Last Groove the story is made FUN. Disney movies should be FUN. This one is great for all ages. My kids enjoy it and the dialogue is witty enough that I can handle the constant replaying--that's a tall order for any movie.
The movie has an originality about it that is lacking in recent Disney movies (Lilo & Stitch excepted). In fact, it could be described most appropriately as a 2D Pixar movie. One measure of a fine movie are how many quotable excerpts survive and incorporate themselves into the family discourse. "Llama Face" "How Long Has That Been There" "Hate the Hair and Let Me Guess, you have a Great Personality" "Uh Oh, Let me Guess Huge Waterfall [Yup], Sharp Rocks [Most Likely], Bring It On." and many, many more. Like "Lilo & Stitch" this movie doesn't try too hard and ends up succeeding on all levels.
If you have to buy a movie for a young relative that you know you will be trapped into watching--make it this one.
4 The funniest Disney movie in years!
This movie is hilarious.
The film is basically about a spoiled prince that is turned into a Llama by a witch and gets abandoned near a large water stream. Upon his drifting, the prince finds himself seeking help from the one person he can trust, but that guy hates him for wanting to tear down his village. After working out some type of agreement, the two wanderers set out on an adventure to restore the prince to his throne and avenge against the evil witch herself. This film doesn't have the charismatic charm most Disney films have, and it does fall into some cliches. If you're looking to find an original movie from Disney, then I highly recommend this one.
5 Llama Face
I am with the majority of the reviewers of this movie - it is one of the best comedies I have ever seen. Like "Groundhog Day", I could (and have) watched this one over and over again. This movie is laugh out loud funny no matter how many times I've seen it.
It's not a misleading tear-jerker like "Bambi" (hunters are not all bad people!), nor is it an inappropriate love story like "The Little Mermaid" (a 16 year old girl falling in love and leaving her family forever? Is this a good lesson?). The villianess Yzma isn't terrifyingly scary like so many of the others in Disney movies. This is definitely one I love to watch with my 4 year old daughter.
6 funny and touching from start to end
great story. great characters
great cast
great plot
great comedy
great touching story movie
watched it 9 times on my dvd player already
I laugh harder and harder every time I see this movie
it's really a great Disney movie
if Walt were alive today
he'd be proud of this
and other ones in ode to him with his Signia. or insignia
see this movie
I saw it once on tv on channel 4. and said to myself "I have to get this on dvd it's a really really really funny movie. and you know something. I was soooooooo right
7 Living proof that Dinosaurs once ruled the earth
Emperor Kuzco (who thinks, "It's All About... me") is turned into a llama by his ex-administrator Yzma, and must now regain his throne with the help of Pacha, the gentle llama herder.
The Emperor's New Groove is an extremely underrated Disney movie. It is extremely fun, funny, entertaining, and short. Wait, short was the only negative aspect of the movie I wanted to place in my review. The Emperor's New Groove was only 77 minutes, which is extremely short for how good this movie was. I could easily watch a 90-minute version of this movie with its wonderful characters.
David Spade plays Emperor Kuzco, who cares nothing for his people, and only of his own simple entertainment, luxuries, and the fact he is indeed the Emperor. The Emperor's New Groove is about his transformation (in multiple ways) to becoming a good emperor and good person. Spades melodramatic voice was perfect for the part.
John Goodman plays the role of Pacha, the llama herder. He is a simple man, with simple expectations in life, and a wonderful family. He starts the movie by wanting nothing but to serve the emperor, and finds himself trying to change the emperor mind, while making him a better person. Goodman's jolly personality, again, made him the perfect voice for the character of Pacha. He was good enough in The Emperor's New Groove for Disney to invite him back for Monsters Inc.
Eartha Kitt (Boomerang) plays the evil Yzma, has a wonderful voice, very snake like. Her characters face in the cartoon has very distinct characteristics to her own. It's almost uncanny. Also, her ingenious colleague, Kronk, played by Patrick Warburton (Men in Black II, The Tick, Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, Joe Swanson in The Family guy), was my favorite character. Warburton has a brilliant voice, and always sounds serious, which made this role brilliant, as Kronk is anything but.
In all, The Emperor's New Groove is one of the more under rated Disney movies of all time in my opinion. It is definitely worth watching, and in my opinion belongs in your DVD collection. I feel it is a movie that not many have given a chance, and surprises me how many people tell me they have not seen this movie. Give it one good rental, you'll like it.
Grade: A-
8 You will be quoting lines from this one...
This has got to be our family's favorite new Disney picture. My husband, a working bass player, plays the theme song over and over. My 5-year-old laughs so hard she gets hiccups, which makes it funnier for us, her parents, because we know she isn't getting half of the jokes. And this cast, it is just perfect for this movie. I have lent this movie out to people who have never heard about it and they cannot believe they never heard of it. The artwork is lush, the characters are out of this world, and, believe it or not, the lesson sinks in. True definition of a sleeper. See for yourself.
9 One of their best
I have four needs ranging in ages from nine down to two. What this means is that I have seen pretty much every Disney flick over and over and over again. While I like many of the more recent crop (starting in the early 90's), this is definitely one of my favorites. For some reason, it seems to have been pretty much ignored by the Disney marketing machine, actually being released in November, but it's crisp dialog, fantastic vocal work (David Spade and Patrick Warburton are standouts, but the entire cast is very good), fast pace and beautiful scenery not only keep my kids interested, but also have enough to make it palatable for adults. My criteria for a good kids movie is one that I don't mind watching more than once. This one definitely passes. It's a choice that you won't be disappointed with.
10 Disney?
I am not a Disney fan. The only Disney film I have unconditionally liked is Sleeping Beauty. I barely tolerated The Beauty and the Beast, and hate most of the rest of the bunch.
Why, I definitely loved this movie, which does not look at all as a movie for children, being full of historical, ethnografic, social, sexual, political, zoological references which should be lost on them. Strangely enough, my four years old son is crazy for it too.
11 Great Movie...But is it truly for young kids?
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The humor was so amusing, and it was just a quirky and loveable tale. However, I notice older audiences enjoy it much more than kids, whom this movie is intended for. It isn't inappropriate, or crude, but some of the dialogue and humor is just over their head. None the less, it's a movie you must have. I was disappointed this did not turn out as popular as I felt it should be---there is a lot of controversy about it. Anyhow, this is a fantastic movie, and it Will make you laugh!
12 How much longer can Disney churn out the same characters?
I can't say I was particularly jumping over the moon to see this. I haven't seen a Disney animation since Pocahontas, and don't particularly care to see one ever again, apart from the old classics, like Cinderella, Snow White and Peter Pan. (Just don't sit me down in front of Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty or any of the Fantasia stuff).
The characters are all like previous characters in previous Disney animations. Kuzco was a longer haired version of Aladdin, the male characters apart from Kuzco all had the square jaws reminiscent of the guys in Pocahontas, and Yzma is a mixture of Snow White's evil stepmother and Cruella De Ville. And some of the landscapes look very familiar.
I did like the ending, but the rest of the movie didn't really do it for me. And I nearly died when it started, you know a film's gonna be bad, when Tom Jones does the title track! Considering the makers of the film originally wanted to get Sting to sing the opening song but he said he was too old, they need someone more hip and younger. So they went with Tom Jones. Sting is in his 50's, Tom is in his 60's.
This is also the first Disney animation to show a pregnant woman, that being Pacha's wife. Never mind falling slightly behind the times, there's also all the hooha about Kuzco and Pacha being slightly more friendly than kids will understand!
Like many other Disney films, this one contains a number of hidden Mickey Mouse images. One is in the bushes when Kuzco gets pulled from the water and another is Yzma's head and earrings (upside down).
In the scene where Yzma is searching through the various potions she says, "Lions, tigers and bears...oh my!" a line from The Wizard of Oz. According to producer Randy Fullmer and director Mark Dindal, they were forced to use this joke, which they detested, by then-head of Feature Animation Thomas Schumacher.
There's one great line I really did like, you'll probably have to see the film to enjoy it (not that I'm condoning that you understand): "Who's in my chair..?" "Ooh, ooh, I know! I know! Yzma's in your chair!"
There's loads of extras on this DVD, if you can actually have the time to watch them all. Frankly, they all look frightfully tedious, but if you're into that kinda thing, then goody for you.
I really can't recommend this DVD, but I'm still giving it a semi good score. If you wanna see it, go knock yourself out. Kronk by far overshadows Kuzco. And the ending's funny. That's about it.
13 Funny as all git out
This may be my favorite Disney movie ever. (I normally prefer Pixar.)
The reviewers who did not like it clearly expected something for small kids. It is not. It is very abstract in places, especially the art, which is really quite amazing. Watch for the design of the panthers, and the bats. And the landscapes. Wonderful stuff.
And the dialogue and the delivery especially is just hilarious. How you can get such delivery in an animated film is beyond me.
Warmly recommended for mature viewers with an edgy sense of humor.
14 Slapstick Genius
I love Disney anyway, but actually wasn't that excited when this film came out, nor did I hear anything spectacular about it. That was probably only because my friends at the time were all college students without kids and nobody had seen it, oh but when we did... we laughed ourselves hoarse! It's just one laugh after another, pretty much non-stop until the end of the movie, at least it was for the 6 20-somethings I saw it with. Loved it!
15 very disappointing
Unlike the other reviewers I do not like this Disney film as the main character is not someone you can indentify yourself with. In my opinion the love of the public for the main figure (Pocahontas, Tarzan, Aladdin, Belle, Simba, Nemo, Dorey, etc.) always is the key to the success of the film. In this film I do not have any moment I feel pity of the character or do I really get into the story. Like Lilo and Stitch this is a film very unlike Disney and in my opinion worth to be forgotten very soon.
16 great movie for kids and adults
I really liked this movie because it has some great music in it. I'm not sure that most kids really would get this movie. My Sons favorite part is the monkey that eats the lady bug.
17 Cuzco
I love this film. It is funny, light hearted, and pays homage to the actual Incan empire. What I thought was most Ironic is that Cuzco is the name of the old Incan capital and as such the named the Emporer Cuzco in this film.
Anyone who has had to work in a kitchen or on a wait staff will also love Cronks take in the kitchen as a short order cook. It is delightful and funny.
P.S.: The irony is that this was a question on my geography final and I almost doubled over with laughter thinking about the poison. The poison made especially to kill Cuzco.
Enjoy with laughter:
David
18 Awesome movie!
My kids watch this one all the time. My youngest just loves it, she laughs through the whole movie (and so do!) David Spade is hilarious as Kuzko the self obsorbed Prince turned Llama, and John Goodman plays a heartwarming Pacha, the peasent who's home Kuzko wants to destroy to make his dream vacation spot.
Two thumbs way up!
19 Talk about baseball instead
This movie stars David Spade as a "llama." Who cares about a llama? Well, he does not start out as one. The movie is about an emperor who gets a spell cast on him. This movie is lame.
20 Ho-hum Disney Flick
The Emperor's New Groove never gets your pulse up. You never care about any of the characters. It would have been ok as a Saturday morning cartoon special, but is unworthy of the title "Disney Animated Feature." David Spade stars as an Inca king who is turned into a llama to teach him a lesson on kindness. John Goodman voices his best friend. The villian looks like an anorexic Cruella DeVille with disgusting spidery eyelashes.
Endless babbling and anachronistic cultural references made me weary. I was glad when it was over. I know that the destruction of the Inca civilization at the hands of the Spanish conquistadors was one of history's greatest tragedies. But if I were Pizzarro, and the Incas were this annoying, I would have annihilated them, too! I recommend Disney's 2003 "Brother Bear" instead, as a wonderful film for both kids and adults.
21 One of the funniest Disney films ever.
It may not be worthy of Masterpiece status, but The Emporer's New Groove will always be remembered as the funny Disney film. It is very alike Saturday Night Live in the way the humor plays out. The voices are great, as well as the animation. See it. I highly reccomend it.
22 Hilarious addition to Disney's All-Star Lineup
When I was a kid, Disney's movies were enjoyable for me to watch, but not really funny (the "Little Mermaid" is a good case in point-I love the movie, but there was little ha-ha humor in there.) But, over the years Disney has slowly gotten funnier; they had already perfected the dramatic moments. Now, you have to look at each movie individually. "Aladdin" was meant to be mostly funny, which is why they contracted Robin Williams to play a major part. Likewise, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" was meant to send you into giggles at random moments, and it is my opinion that the gargoyles and Phoebus pulled that off perfectly. But "Pocahontas" and "The Lion King" were mainly dark, introspective-sort of pieces. Some humor, but when you have star-crossed lovers in the midst of a war and a sympathetic character death, the humor is lost.
However, the "Emperor's New Groove" is a laugh riot. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard at a Disney movie. Even though he spends most of the film as an absolute jerk and a spoiled brat, Kuzco is absolutely tongue-in-cheek hilarious. And the witch and her henchman had me holding my sides several times. Even Pacha's family was funny! I especially love his wife-she was really on top of things, even though she was pregnant and trying to control two small children and help outwit the bad guys.
The animation is superb! The colors are bright and clear, and the movements are very fluid. I had to suspend belief with the llama's movements, but he was a talking llama, so who am I to say that he can't sit like that or walk on two legs.
The voices were entirely appropriate to the character; Disney did a fantastic casting job. John Goodman did an excellent job with the calm, down-to-earth llama herder Pacha, David Spade is probably the only one who could have pulled off Emperor Kuzco, and Earth Kitt was the perfect choice for the put-upon, cynical advisor Yzma.
All in all, this movie is another in a very long line of Disney Greats.
23 Demon Llama!!!
On of the best Disney movies EVER!! I have watched it over and over, and I'm still not tired of it. I loved Lion King and Alladin and some of the other Disney movies, but I couldn't watch them over and over again like I can this one. Never dissapointed when my daughter pulls this one off the shelf to watch!
24 A quality movie with HILARIOUS scenes
I love watching this movie for the wit and humor. Kronk is just the most valuable sidekick. It is a cut above other Disney movies because it lacks a pyscho villian, death, and other thematic elements. This is just a funny film for the entire family!
25 Good but not Classic
I am puzzled by the many 5 star glowing reviews this movie received here at amazon. 257 reviews at Yahoo give it a B+ which feels about right. Its good, but great?? There is a reason this movie wasn't all that successful at the box office. Its funny at points, and teaches a good lesson for kids. But its not as funny as classics like Aladin, Toy Story (either) or Monsters Inc to name a few. And it has only one song, which is fairly forgettable although well done. Nor does it have gorgeous visuals like the Lion King. And the movie starts a bit slow -- it doesn't really start to shine until the Emperor gets turned into a Lama, which is almost a 1/2 hour in (may be off by a bit). While the movie has some charm, it doesn't excell in this area the way say, Finding Nemo or Monsters Inc. does. None of which takes away from the fact that this is a feel good flick worth a watch with kids of any age. No one's parents die and there are no innappropriate aspects for young kids.
This *is* a movie adults can enjoy, but I don't have any real desire to watch it again. Much of the humour is physical humour. More polished then the physical humour in the cartoons we grew up with, but it didn't make me laugh. At the same time, the movie did have a certain charm, and I wouldn't be unhappy if my daughter wants to put it on.
I can easily see kids enjoying the movie much more then I did. My daughter didn't appeciate it, but she is only 2 and is very picky.
Bottom line: rent or tape before buying.
26 Buy it, you wont regret it
I can't begin to put into words what this movie means to me, I love this movie so much that I really don't understand how someone could give it a terrible review. I guess the only reason not to like it is when you dont give yourself to the movie and take it for what it is, sure its not the typical disney "lovey dovey" type movie, but thats whats so great about it....its almost a breath of fresh air with its quick wit and sarcasm. Don't get me wrong I love disney movies immensely and I can guarantee you will love this one and watch it more than 25 times.
27 DON'T BE STUPID!!!!
Don't be stupid and waste your time reading this and just buy this movie. by far my favorite and funniest movie made by disney to date. I've seen it many times and it just keeps getting better. Whoever gave this movie a 3-star review was just using big words and trying to sound smart, so don't listen. This movie isn't a "oh one line was funny" movie, it's a "My god I can't remember all the times I was laughing movie". I won't explain the plot because you should have already bought it by now and you'll be seeing it soon. what makes this so great is the fact that all the scenes are funny and get funnier as the movie goes on (last scene will stick in your head for a long time). If none of this has made since to you, it's because it's hard the write well when you're still laughing...
28 This movie ROCKS!!!!
I LOVE this movie!!! I watch it over and over and OVER and I can't get enough of it... um... did I mention that I'm 28 years old? =) OK, it's the story, the humor, the writing--it's all great and the actor's are soooo funny!! Yes, folks, this is a Disney cartoon movie I'm referring too but my goodness... it's so cute!! I love Kronk, Kuzco, Pacha and even Yzma ... I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who wants a good laugh. I can't pick an absolute favorite part because I love the whole film but one part that always gives me a laugh is when Kuzco discover's he's a llama and throws a tantrum.... he's hilarious!! I also like when Kronk's a chef and tells Yzma he has to charge her for the potatoes.... and when they are playing jump rope w/the kids.... oh man, I can go on and on.....
29 GRRRRRRRROOVY!!!!!!
This movie is so funny. Think of roll-around-on-the-ground-laugh-out-loud-Jim-Carrey-style funny. Then add a talking Llama, a peasant, an evil demented psychotic mad man/woman, her thick headed bufoon-like right-hand man Krunk, and an outrageously stuck-up emperor all rolled into one thrilling DVD/VHS that will keep your kids entertained for hours on end. A MUST BUY FOR ANY FAMILY!!!!!!!
30 Are you SURE this is from Disney?
Yeah, I know it's a Disney film. But if the screen credits didn't say so, I'd swear it came from Warner. It has that great anarchic Warner-style humor that makes Bugs, Daffy, Wile E. and the gang so much fun to watch. I don't know why this movie wasn't a bigger success in the theaters, but it's a real treat. Stylish animation, great dialog and voice work ... a welcome change from the treacly pap that Disney usually churns out. Five stars all the way!
31 Woofie! Can we talk any more, and yet say so little??
First, I want to congratulate the excellent Disney animation staff for doing an incredible job at acting and moving the drawings in this movie. Some of the best I've seen recently from the House of Mouse.
However, among other things, this movie just HURTS. It reminds me of stale Disney animated films from my childhood (Robin Hood) when the creative direction at the Disney studio hit serious speedbumps. Notably, SO much meaningless dialogue. Serious boredom for most kids, I would think. The beats of the story, and the contrasts of characters and situations were shrouded in a haze. Also, the designs of the backgrounds and color choices made the entire film a kind of cartoony malaise of images. Why can't Disney juxtapose designs and contrast characters, dialogue and sequences to keep the audience in awe anymore? I want the keen Disney sensabilities of Jungle Book or Little Mermaid back in full gear, not sloppy journey's through incoherent fantasy realities beyond public perceptions or common archetypes. And on a filmic note, why can't the story guys at Disney establish things with wide shots and sweeping pans anymore? Or use terrificly thoughtful transitions (there were a couple nice ones in GROOVE, tho)? And why is the camera always locked in some of the most boring positions that careras were set in before the age of cranes and dollies?? The flat film negating perspective (thus believable reality) is annoying for such a brilliant crew of art talents. Disney has so much possibility, but so little is used.
Overall, this film was pretty hard to watch in one sitting as scenes drug on and became self indulgent fun. But, it wasn't anything most viewers would notice consciously. I hope the talent making the movie gets restructured around better scripts and storyboarding to raise the flag of excellence flying half mast at Disney these days.
32 Great for kids and adults and everyone in between!
This movie is really a "buddy" comedy in the best sense of the word. Kids love it and it makes teens and adults grin and laugh out loud.
This movie has a subtle zaniness that entertains and an intelligent humor quotient that is sure to grab just about everyone.
The plot is well... plotted. The cinematography adds superbly to the whole package. The voice actors are all absolutely perfect in their roles. My favorite is probably Patrick Warburton (from Fox's short-lived "The Tick") as Kronk. Absolutely hilarious.
Smart, fast, and funny.
Plus, any movie that has Tom Jones singing a song written by Sting... I mean, come one! :) If you're looking for traditional Disney fare, this isn't it. But if you put aside your preconceptions about what Disney normally produces, sit back and just soak it in, I believe you WILL enjoy this movie.
33 New Groove is Groovy!
This film was not on my list of must-see or even want to see, but I watched with my children when it came home as a rental. I loved it for the humor (Kronk is wondrous!) and Eartha Kitt as the voice of Izma is marvelous (what happened to my voice? Oh well..)
I enjoy the humor which is not slapstick and not the Simpsons, but somewhere in between. The story line revolves around the arrogant, spoiled emperor and ends with a friendship that is unlikely but enjoyable by all.
34 Do The Llama...
Disney's movie The Emperors New Groove was a great movie that was hilarious. When I watch new animated disney movies, usually I really don't like them, I really only like the classic animated ones like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. But, this movie definetly didn't fall under the list of bad movies. This is a great comedy that parents and kids will love...
Kuzco is an emperor who gets what ever he wants and only cares about himself and no one else. So, when he desides to build himself his own pool he finds a location thats home to dozens of people, one in particular is Pacha who's family has lived on the hill for hundreds of years, when he comes to visit the emperor he finds out about Kuzco's plan and is furious. Later when Ezma an old "Scary Beyond All Reason" advisor to the emperor is fired she must get back at him. So, she decides she will poisen him and then become empress herself. So, Ezma at dinner tells her flakey sidekick to give the emperor his drink which of course has poisen in it. When he drinks it he doesn't get poisened he gets turned into a Llma. When Ezma's sends her side kick to get rid of the emperors Llma body...He does...but, Ezma said to finish off the job which ment to kill the emperor...but, of course her sidkick doesn't, and both the emperor and Ezma go on roadtrips to find one another, (Kuzco looking for Ezma for help changing him back while Ezma plans to kill him). This was a great movie that was funny and everyone in the family will love it.
35 The Forgotten Disney Film
"The Emperor's New Groove" is a unique film in the vaults at Disney. It plays with the audience instead of in front of the audience, and the burning sarcasm of the emperor's character isn't found in any other Disney flick. Unfortunately, this movie seems to be cursed by the idea that any Disney movie has to be done on a grand scale and end with some great moral truth. Why can't a Disney movie just be fun?
"The Emperor's New Groove" doesn't seem to draw as much attention as other Disney fare. It just kind of quietly appeared and then went away. That's a shame. It got the same treatment from Disney that a lot of their direct-to-video/DVD movies received. At least "Hercules" got headlines for its bad, although undeserved, reviews. "Hercules" has always been erroneously treated like a red-headed stepchild compared to other Disney movies, "The Emperor's New Groove" is treated like an abortion. You rarely here anything about this film. Like "Hercules," it doesn't fit the bill as a standard Disney movie. It doesn't try to force it's morals upon you, and you won't be enlightened by any of the dialogue, but you will laugh. Kids will love it for the emperor-turned-llama silliness and adults will love it for the relationship between Spade and John Goodman. Eartha Kitt is glorious as Yzma, the villain in this tale. Patrick Warburton is perfect as Kronk, her sidekick.
Spade talks directly to the viewer as he narrates his tale, and makes sure throughout that you know the story is about him, and no one else. There is also a lot of adult humor in the film as well, much like in "Hercules."
So, this movie is a fun-time film. You won't be sorry to watch it, and your kids will love it as well. They may not be drawn to the characters as much as they would to a Belle, Snow White, or Simba, but they will enjoy this story. So will you.
36 A wacky adventure about working together
First of all, the voice cast of this movie is amazing. Eartha Kitt is the heart of the movie, at least for me. The spoiled selfish emporer Kuzkoh gets what was coming to him. Yzma's left hand man of the moment Kronk is hilarious and kept me laughing the whole time.
37 A really funny movie!
I love this movie because you can watch it with the whole family and everyone will love it. It's good for kids, but there are many jokes that will be even funnier to adults. It's not at all the standard Disney movie, it's a little more low budget but in return, they have an ALL-STAR cast of voices (I think John Goodman is one of the best new Disney VA's in recent years and I love his work so far, esp in this and Monsters, Inc.) and make up for it in the amount of laughs in this movie. There are so many quotable lines. Perfect movie for a rainy afternoon.
38 Not Disney's best, but great for what it is...
This movie almost never made it to the theater. After scrapping and redoing the entire storyline and much of the animation, it was salvaged by two directors at Disney who gave it a much lighter touch and less serious approach then was originally envisioned. Spade and Goodman are great voice talents and the movie is endearing, but certianly doesn't stand out like Lion King or Alladin. The story revolves around Spade's character, a young South American Emperor who is spoiled beyond belief. He informs Goodmans character, a local farmer that he'll have to move his small house and farm to make room for his new Jacuzzi house. The tides turn when the Emporer's aide accidently changes him into a Llama (instead of poisoning him). He is forced to get help from the farmer who he almost evicted. I recommend this movie with 4 stars. It's entertaining and has good lessons for kids about treating people equally and in a manner in which you want to be treated.
39 You'll laugh, you'll... well, you'll LAUGH!
The Emperor's New Groove is a hilarious tale of a spoiled Emperor by the name of Kuzco, who fires his long-time advisor, Yzma ("living proof dinosaurs once roamed the earth" says Kuzco in the introduction), who, angered by the disrespect, plots to kill Kuzco and take over the emperor, with her dimwitted sidekic, Kronk. Fortunately for Kuzco, through a mix-up, Kuzco is turned into a Llama instead, and his only chance at survival is a kindly peasant, Pacha, whom Kuzco had just days earlier told that his house was going to be destroyed to make way for Kuzco's summer house.
Madcap adventure ensues, completely differing from Disney's usual style, making this my favortie animated feature of all time.
The voice acting is perfect--Eartha Kitt and David Spade really shine in their roles... really getting into the character, and breathing life and hilarity into them. Patrick Warbutton's character, Kronk, is an absolute scene-stealer, and has many funny moments.
I hgihly reccomend this movie to... well, ANYONE! If you haven't seen it already, you must listen to what you have been hearing about it, and rent it! Or, better yet, buy it!
40 Surprise Surprise
Reminds me of why I watch chartoons, the movie is by far one of the funniest movies ever. It's not stupid funny either, it actually has a crazy plot that the story revolves around. I really don't want to spoil the movie, it makes it so much better if you see it for the first time not knowing anything about it. I will just give you a run down that this movie has no faults, it's well scripted, well voiced and well drawin. There's nothing wrong with the movie, I would buy it twice but then that would be useless... Okay... but I like it a lot and I highly recomend it.
41 MY FAVORITE DISNEY MOVIE
This is a story of a spoiled brat that you love to laugh at because of all the crazy mistakes he makes. I never get tired of watching this movie with my son. My husband even watches this one without the ever common "Not this again!" The supporting characters make this movie. The one liners are great even after watching a few dozen times.
42 That Reddish Squirrel is a Kinkle-esque School Shooter
Disney must not have had their collective claws too deep into the creative process of this flick, cause The Emperor's New Groove is so funny that David Lo Pan forgot about his fetish for green-eyed babes. Wow. It's not Spade or Goodman or whoever plays Kronk that's responsible for this epic work, it's just the animators and the writers. Double Wow. Everything from the sadistic squirrel to Kronk's guttural noises while pouring poisoned wine to Izma's belly-botton-level bosom is classic, sheer classic.
That squirrel is hiding some kind of revelatory cinematic secret, the kinds that are evident in the "Indeed!" sequence from Capenter's Big Trouble in Little China and the Lamp Dance Trip Out from Raimi's Evil Dead II. Note that the squirrel looks into the camera FOR ONE FRAME just as the camera begins to pull back and just before he finishes his balloon llama. He is sadistic and strangely omniscient. And he knows I am telling you his secrets.
I must flee.
43 I can see Bob Hope in this movie
This movie is hilarious. Anyone any age)who is a fan of the old classic slapstick comedies (think "Road to...")will appreciate this clever and entertaining flick. My son is 3, almost 4, and it is entirely age appropriate for him, as well as us adults! Rent it, buy it, just see it!
44 Not as good as expected.
It was an okay movie. Some funny moments. But with David Spade and John Goodman in it, I just thought it would have been better. It is a good kids movie - I guess it was the adult in me that was disappointed. Usually these movies appeal to both kids and adults. This one didn't do that. My kids don't ask to watch it too often either. Maybe they didn't like it as much as I thought either!? Rent it.
1smileycat :-)
45 The Funniest Disney Cartoon I Have Seen In A Long Time!!
IF YOU ARE DEBATING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO PURCHASE THIS MOVIE, GET IT!! YOU WONT BE SORRY!!
I purchased this movie here at Amazon[.com] for my 2 1/2 year old son. Boy am I glad I did!! A friend of mine was visiting when it arrived in the mail. So we just popped it into the VCR and we were going to chat while my son watched it but WE couldn't keep our attention off the movie!! It was SO cute!! We really just couldn't quit laughing! One of the lightest, funniest films Disney has made. Very entertaining movie and my son just adores it!!
46 Boom, Bab y!
This is my second favorite Disney movie (Aladdin is my first). What I like about this movie has mostly to do with the slapstick comedy. Not too many Disney animated movies have this much slapstick in it. Even my (soon-to-be) two year old son laughs at it. He loves when they show Yzma explaining why she "has gotten into this bad habit of running the country behind my back" (Kuzco's words), and they show a close-up of something that was stuck between her teeth!
Yzma has to be my favorite Disney villain. Sure, she's "living proof that dinsaurs once roamed the earth", but it's due to the fact that she has to be the most humorous of all the villains, other than Jafar from Aladdin. Also, I think that Kronk is hilarious as her right-hand man.
I also like the character Pacha. He didn't want to help the emporer in the first place (the emporer did want to destroy his village and put his summer home--Kuzcotopia--there), but he did it out of the kindness of his heart. I always like characters like that.
If you are a big Disney fan, you should get this even if you haven't seen it. Or, if you don't want to buy it, rent it. I guarantee you'll be laughing!
47 Emperor's New Groove
Awesome movie! Something that the entire family can enjoy for sure, ...just absolutely adore this movie. David Spade and John Goodman did a wonderful job with these Characters! Great Flick!
48 Hillarious Disney Comedy
Of all of the animated films Disney has released in the 21st century, "The Emperor's New Groove" just might be the best thus far. The story centers around a young, self-centered South American emperor named Kuzco who rules his kingdom with the motto "it's all about me!" Kuzco's perfect world is shattered when his disgruntled former advisor, Yzma, casts a magic spell on him that turns him into a llama and plans to do him in. To regain his human form, he must work together with Patcha, a humble and steadfast peasant, and get back to Kuzco's palace before Yzma finds them and finishes the job. The result is a fast and fun irreverent comedy with a smart script and great acting. Eartha Kit and Patrick Warburton, who play the evil Yzma and her dim-witted sidekick Kronk, are a highlight of the film. Both bring the characters to life wonderfully and provide some of the film's funniest moments. While not the most artistic or technologically advanced film Disney has ever released, it is certainly one of its most fun. I would recommend this for just about anyone looking for a great comedy.
49 "Why do we even have that lever?"
Kuzco is a spoiled ruler. He wants to build his pool on top of a hill which is home to a village. Kuzco is turned into a Llamaa and he needs help to get the evil advisor who turned him into an animal.
The story is told by Kuzco's point of view and you'll get the jist that he's spoiled and self-centered. However, Kuzco does changes his mind about building his pool on the village at the end of the movie.
50 Disney meat, Warner spices.
I haven't enjoyed a Disney animated feature this much since ALADDIN.
Instead of a single standout performance (Robin Williams in ALADDIN) carrying the show, this one features an outstanding ensemble voice cast supported by some of the most frenetic animation ever to come out of Disney. This just might be my favorite animated film, ever.
Definitely a Disney film at heart (no jabs at anyone are intended to be taken seriously), THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE is peppered with the kind of sight gags, action and dialogue that we're accustomed to seeing in classic Warner Brothers Looney Toons--it particularly shows in the diner scene, complete with the monotone career waitress who wouldn't get excited if her hair was on fire, the disgruntled chef who's heard one too many critiques of his greasy-spoon cooking, and heroic, sweet, dimwitted Kronk taking over in the kitchen in the midst of flapping doors and shouted orders.
Credit goes to David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton for making this odd collection of circumstances and locations pull together into a madcap film the whole family can enjoy. It all feels like the animation is there to support the great performances--to deliver on the promise of the masterful voice tracks. Of particular note are Kitt's wonderfully manic Yzma and Warburton's Kronk...the huge, hapless, genial guy who just happened to end up working for the wrong side.
Ultimately, this oddball buddy picture feels like something out of the Hope & Crosby heyday, poking fun at itself as it goes and firing off throwaway gags that hit more often than they miss.
It ends with the requisite Disney happy ending with moral, but it handles it with subtlety, without leaving that cloying Disney after-taste.
Not to be missed, but not for everyone: people who like this one tend to love it. If your tastes run to the wacky side, this one's for you.
51 a "looney tunes-walt disney-ren & stimpy" mix
After the "Lion King", i watched Disney movies like "Hercules", "Atlantis" and many others, and they lack the same feeling of "Aladdin", "Beauty and the Beast", "Lion King" etc.
This movie breaks with everything that you expect from a Disney feature; it has so many laughs that if you didn't see the "Walt Disney Pictures" logo, you should think that this is a "Merrie Melodies" cartoon, or something from the hand of Spumco (Ren & Stimpy), this movie is great for kids, and the adults will enjoy it like kids, even you can find some humor, that only adults can understand... the only problem with this movie is that is very short.
The DVD has great sound, great picture and a lot of extras (that i hadn't reviewed yet).
As an adult, you will love this flick
52 Funnier than "Aladdin" and that's saying a mouthful
"The Emporer's New Groove" is a laugh riot with great voiceover work by David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warbuton, grandly hilarious as "Kronk".
Relying heavily on swift pacing and a marvelously witty script, the film works on many levels.
It is cool enough to be appreciated by adults, small kids, and the most critical of all: teens.
"Yzma's" (Kitt) final "transformation" brings about a major "guffaw" from those that witness it.
53 Bring it on!
Emperor Kuzco is a spoiled brat and has been since birth. His will is supreme in his kingdom, and all who interfere with his life are punished immediately. When he catches the royal advisor doing his job for him, he quickly fires her. But Yzma doesn't take it easily and hatches a plan to poison the emperor. This doesn't quite work, however, and Kuzco is turned into a llama. Accidentally taken out of town, he finds his only hope of regaining his kingdom is to work with the peasant whose village he's just threatened to destroy.
This movie is a comedy in the truest sense of the word. I laugh so hard every time I see this movie, as does everyone I see it with. There are many one-liners in the movie and in Kuzco's voice over. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the hilarity that Kronk adds as Yzma's dim-witted assistant. His scenes with his shoulder angel and demon are priceless.
As always, Disney does it right for this 2 disc collector's edition. The film looks sharp in its widescreen aspect ratio and sounds wonderful. And there are so many special features you can spend hours learning about this movie and animation in general. Of special note is the information about "Kingdom of the Sun," the original story that was gutted and turned into this gem.
Critics were harsh on this film, and I must admit that I didn't appreciate it the first time. But on rewatching, my love for this movie has definitely grown. I highly recommend it for those times when you need to forget everything and laugh. It'll have you smiling again in no time.
54 Not a typical Disney cartoon movie. Great for adults.
More so than other Disney cartoon movies, this movie is enjoyed by adults. The movie does not have the typical anorexic-looking young female character who needs to be rescued by a man.
It is pure comedy.
55 Hilarious!
I can't believe this Disney pic got panned by critics- although my views on "movie critics" is that they have the cushiest job in the world- oooh, I'll just sit here with my popcorn, watch a movie, write about my honored opinion and make loads of cash off of it. Blah! If a movie catches your attention, go see it. But I digress...
Emperor Kuzko (David Spade) is a spoiled brat who doesn't care if building his new "Kuzko-Topia" summerhouse will make an entire village homeless. Kuzko's advisor Yzma (played by the fabulous Eartha Kitt)had just been fired after too many attempts to rule the empire behind Kuzko's back. Yzma and her hunky henchman Kronk ("Seinfeld"'s "Putty", Patrick Warburton; imagine a brunette version of Johnny Bravo), plot to poison Kuzko, but Kronk accidentally puts extract of llama into Kuzko's drink instead. After Yzma orders Kronk to "take him outside and finish the job", Kronk accidentally dumps him onto the cart of peasant Pacha (John Goodman). Llama Kuzko still expects Pacha to take him back to the palace, even though Pacha knows of Kuzko's plans to obliterate his village. The movie follows their travels back to Kuzko's palace, with Yzma and Kronk in hot pursuit to try and finish Kuzko off. David Spade is his usual sarcastic character, except this time in animation form, but I found it was Patrick Warburton's Kronk that made me laugh the most.
The DVD includes behind the scenes extras, a rough draft deleted scene, a fun interactive game, and the "Walk the Llama" video where kids can follow along with the little dancing dude who's doing "the llama". A fun, hilarious flick.
56 BEWAREEE OF THE GROOVE!
One of the best movies i have ever seen! I lauged until my sides hurt. It's a great disney movie but is great for everyone. Its one of the only movies i will never ever get sick of! if you like funny, buy this baby!!
57 Let's Ride The Groove!
Oh Yeah! The Emperor's New Groove is the "grooviest animated trip since Alladin." This is a great movie. That is why it has the honor of being a collector's edition DVD set. This 2 - disc edition is one of the best disney ones avaible. Lets start at the beginning.
To start, read the letter by Thomas Schumacher. It sums up the features contained here. Then pop in the DVD and watch this hip, funny, and sassy movie. After this head over to bonus features on disc 1. (It is the Extra Gravy menu.) Here, you should start by playing the "Emperor's Got Game." This game has two parts. First, you answer five questions from the movie. Get two wrong and you have to start over. Then, you go into the secret lab and mix a potion that will turn the emperor back into a human. There are three potions and one combination of all three. Find it and win!
The second feature is the fabulous audio commentary. This audio commentary featrues the director Mark Dindal, producer Randy Fulmer, Supervising Animators Nik Ranieri and Bruce W. Smith, Art Director Colin Stimpson, Character Designer Joseph C Moshier, and Head of Story Stephen Andersen. This will give you a great look behind the scenes of this movie. Another feature is the Rascal Flats music video, "Walk the Llama Llama. Learn how to dance the Llama Dance! Then, pop this disc into the DVD-Rom drive of your computer and you could play three games: The Emperor's Got Game, The Emperor's Adventure Game, and Groove Center. Also, watch the movie, go to weblinks, and register the DVD. And this is just half of the fun.
Now, we ride the groove. Randy Fulmer and Mark Dindal's intro is hilarious on disc 2. They will tell you what's on the disc. Then, they will get you past the security guard to get into the top secret studio. When you reach the Secret Lab menu, begin at "Get Into the Groove." I like to start at the "Studio Groove." You will run around the studio learning about how a film is made. You dodge one close call when an animator almost catches you. The second groove, "The Animation Groove," is a series of split-screen comparisons.
After this, head to the Developement menu. Start at the featurette on the Developement Process. There is a featurette on the reasearch trip as well. You will get a chance to read the story treatment and look at concept art of the movie here. Learn about the original idea for the film named "Kingdom of the Sun." Look at concept art for this as well.
Groove on to the story and editiorial. Watch the featurette on The Story Process. Watch three different story pitches for a scene, and watch a featurette on putting storyboards up on reels. Also showcased here are three deleted and unused scenes. The first one is about the Destruction of Pacha's Village, Pacha's Family, and the Original Ending. Each of these has an introduction as well.
Next stop, Layouts and Backgrounds. Begin on a featurette about the Layout and Background Departments. Then go to the Scene Planning. Watch the featurette on Scene Planning then watch a storyboard to background comparison. Then look at the workbook gallery. Finally, look at the three layouts and backgrounds galleries.
Groove On! Next comes animation. Watch the featurette on The Animation Process. Begin with a featurette on CGI Props. Go to clean-up animation. You get a comparison for rough animation to clean up animation. Then look at the model sheet gallery. Next comes Character Animation. Learn about the Character's voices, watch a comparison for background to rough animation, then check out the Character Design. The First character is Kuzco. Here is a gallery and test animation. Then Yzma, Kronk, and Pacha all have rough animation. Then the next galleries are on Pacha's Family and other characters. The final animation feature is the production progression reel.
Keep on groovin on the Putting it all together. Begin on the featurette on Ink & Paint/Compositing. Then watch the clean up to final film comparison. The final feature here is the color models gallery.
Then, Music and Sound. Watch the featurette on the creation of the music and sound effects. Watch Sting's Music Video: My Funny Friend and me. Try out mixing your own sound effects of a scene on the Mixing demo.
Finally, go to Publicity. This is the final features. Watch the two theatrical trailers and the three T.V Spots. Then look at the gallery of posters and ad compaign. This set is Groovy.
This movie is created directly from the digital source, so it is in perfect picture and sound. This movie and the bonus features are funny. So I give it five stars. S0..................
Grooce On!
58 This is such a fun movie!
When I first saw this, I watched it with two of my fellow camp counselors and my six campers. I was laughest the loudest out of all of them. Then my councelors came next. This is great for adults as well as kids. Why? Because of Kronk. His jokes are mainly adult humor oriented and man are they hilarious. David Spade's sarcasm is easily discernable by both kids and adults. Tom Jones's song to begin the movie is a fun song that gets you ready for the movie. Sting's song to end the film is touching and kind of a cool down after the exercise session that was The Emperor's New Groove. When I bought this, I watched it twice a day for about two weeks straight, it's just that mich fun to watch over and over again. Buy it and watch it and you won't be able to get enough of it. Wendy Malick and John Goodman are perfectly characterized on the screen as the simple townspeople and Eartha Kitt is a wonderful villian, one of Disney's best villains. She has a perfect voice for a bitter old lady. All in all, this is a very satisfying movie. Adults and kids alike will love it. Buy it and watch it as often as I do, you won't be able to help yourself. This film gets my highest recommendation.
59 Fast paced movie
Emperor's new groove is a break from the traditional Disney animated features. This movie is more like the studios animated shorts. "The Emperor's new groove" is a fast paced slapstick movie about a vain emperor, named cuzco, who is turned into a Llama by two servants. He recieves help from a large kind hearted peasant named pacha in returning him back to human form. The movie is pure silly and never takes itself seriously.
60 Funniest Disney Movie I've Seen
I really thought this movie would be so dumb, but I about die laughing every time I see it. It is just so hilariously random! I mean, who comes up with these stories . . . A prince who gets turned into a llama? Weird, but SO funny! I don't even have kids, but I had to get it anyway.
61 Never Too Old For Disney
I'm fifteen, and I just love The Emperor's New Groove. It's destined to become a Disney classic.
62 I love the movie but...
The movie is great! For those who want to know whether or not to buy the movie I would recommend it. I bought it the second it came out on video. However, when I decided to upgrade to DVD I had to decide whether or not I wanted to fork over an extra 10 dollars to get the two disc version rather than the standard DVD. I bought the ultimate groove and I regret it now. I would have been much happier if I had chosen the regular dvd. The second disc is loaded with behind the scenes features which are explained by the director and producer. I hate to be mean but after the first five minutes their attempts to be entertaining become cheesy and redundant. Maybe if I was a little kid I would appreciate it more, but then the behind the scenes footage probably wouldn't hold my interest. It gets repetitive after a while. For all the time they take explaining the processes of animation they could have spent a little more focusing on the actors and/or how they came up with the idea for the movie. It is all very dry and technical. In the end they kind of took the fun out of the behind the scenes features. You would probably be more satisfied with the other version which seems to have all the other features this one has.
63 Light, silly, very funny
This film is much lighter than most Disney films. Yes, they're fun too, but most feel some obligation to act as though the story could be happening. The Emperor's New Groove looks into the camera, winks at the audience, and plays by other rules.
I'm not a big David Spade fan, but he is perfect as Cuzco. John Goodman is both funny and endearing as Pacha. Pacha's family is hilarious, and the scenes with his kid's show how funny a movie can be when it abandons reality and only lives by cartoon rules (i.e. no rules). Eezma and Kronk are also very good.
Like all the best cartoons there is plenty of humor here for the adults, and my kids love the film as well. Great movie, great DVD. You can enjoy the 'normal' version, but the Ultimate Edition adds a good deal more, include a short quiz, jokes you won't see in the film itself, and lots of background. It's good to know that Sting chose not to do the theme song because he felt he was too old, at fifty, and so they got...Tom Jones!
64 A 5 For Humor, But Just a 3 For Quality
THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE opens with the introduction of Kuzco, an arrogant ruler who accepts his self-centerness with pride. People find it hard to accept him as a good ruler because of his arrogance, and when Kuzco fires Yzma from her position as Kuzco's advisor, Yzma becomes fed up with her ruler. So, with her clumsy partner Kronk, she decides to poison Kuzco and thus take over rule of Kuzco's empire. But Kronk somehow gets Yzma's potions mixed up, and when Kuzco drinks the apparent death beverage, he instead turns into a llama. Yzma orders Kronk to finish the death job, but Kronk is hesitant to kill Kuzco, and Kuzco instead ends up at a small cottage in the middle of the woods. This is where Kuzco meets Pacha, a peasant whose house Kuzco wishes to demolish and build his own summer home of "Kuzcotopia," much to his pleasure and his pleasure alone. Even though Kuzco thinks of Pacha as a low person because of his being a peasant, he slowly realizes that he needs Pacha's help in order to get back to the palace and turn back into a human again- especially when he eventually finds out that it was actually Yzma and Kronk who gave him the potion, not Pacha, as he first thought it was. But Kuzco and Pacha's quest back to the palace is not easy, especially since Yzma and Kronk are trying to find Kuzco and kill him.
This depiction of the plot to THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE may give the idea that the movie is more geared towards adults, but that is not the case at all: the entire movie has a humor baseline that depicts this story as a wacky trip, yet it still provides just enough sentimentality and feeling to show Kuzco coming to his senses over his wrongdoings. This movie is worth noting because it goes away from Disney's recent trends of portraying legendary characters in their movies (from POCAHONTAS to TARZAN) and returns to the jolly humor that gave ALADDIN a sizable anchor, only this time, the humor revolves around just about the entire movie. And the ways the humor is used is at times very interesting. For instance, even Yzma herself wonders why there is a trap door near her laboratory that leads to a pool of snapping crocodiles....
Yes, this movie can be deemed very silly, and to a certain extent, stupid. But those humorous charms work to the movie's advantage, for they never let up steam, even when the movie is at its climax. That does not mean the plot structure is very strong, and that turns out to be the film's main fault. The evolution from to the film's first conflict (Kuzco's turning into a llama) to the climax is poorly paced, and Kuzco's infrequent narration in most of the movie is an annoying misstep. And even though the actors do give very good performances of their characters- especially David Spade's take with Kuzco- none of the characters are really that memorable, largely because of the plot's weaknesses.
However, THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE is still actually better than all of Disney's most recent animated projects, and it is probably their best animated movie since THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (for the record, the computer animation movies are not considered in this equation). Why is it better than MULAN or TARZAN, you may ask? Because despite its weaknesses, the plot still does not seem as tired and predictable. Even though this change of plot structure did not necessarily result in huge sales- the film barely made half of what TARZAN did at the box office- this change is still a step in the right direction for Disney to take in order to get their animation train back on its track. And for that, THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE would not be a bad investment towards a kid's film collection.
65 1.66 is NOT WIDSCREEN
Some people consider this widescreen. This movie was in the theater at 1.85. This movie is PAN SCANED to the 1.66 aspect ratio. Sure this is better then full screen but it still is not widescreen since it is not how the movie was showen in the theater. For those who don't like widescreen this is not for you either. Since there are still black bars. They are just slightly thiner. Release it in its proper aspect disney.
66 THE KIDS LOVE IT
We not only have the DVD but the books on CD as well. We listen to it in the car and watch the DVD. It is great when the kids pose and say BOOM BABY. They really have fun with it. The extras on the DVD was the selling point. Even dad loved the game.
67 pay attention to the details
This movie goes a little different from what you usually see in Disney. First, it has a great economy of characters, basically the entire plot is supported by 2 heroes and 2 villains -proof that a good story doesn't need a novel-like cast. Then, it's much lighter than many others. Remember how dramatic "Tarzan" was? Or "The Lion King"? Nothing like that: this one is sheer comedy, strictly to laugh, and that doesn't mean it's less artistic: cartoons are allowed to be simply funny. Artistic it is: I can tell you, I've been myself to Peru to study Inca world quite closely, I can see they took their time to research what they were going to draw here. The drawing line is also lighter than other movies, much in the Aladdin style, far from Poccahontas, where you can see the difficulty of the design, still the animation is as good and sophisticated as ever. As for the characters it's the typical Disney style: there's the lovable guy (in this case, sidekick Pacha), the modern "groovy" guy is the star, Emperor Kuzco, (in the smart-guy style of Aladdin's Genie, or the Lion King's Timon, or Mulan's Mushu) and the villain team made of the Evil One, that can be calm like Jaffar or hysterical like Cruella, in this movie, Yzma, the criminal master mind leans to the second choice, and her right-hand man, the silly, stupid guy, Kronk, that continues a tradition going as far as Pinocchio's team, the fox and the cat. About the plot, it's quite different from what we usually see in a Disney feature, much lighter too and very simple, but interesting enough to keep your attention to the end: the young ruler is a selfish brat and his evil assistant wants him out of the way, but in trying to kill him she accidentally turns him into a llama and he must overcome his spoilt obnoxious self to get out of his tragic situation, learning in the proces how to be a more likable person. For those that say this film is out of the usual Disney style I'll point out a few things: as always, they took a careful research for the environment presented (if this is not Inca world I don't know what it is!), the star is still cute and funny (even as a brat you have to like him) and he'll be the good one at the end. The humor can be striking at times and very refined others, just enough to keep you smiling, but all along! In this movie, we go back to old classic cartoon jokes that seem a little odd in a long feature, but work well for being so unexpected. And there are only as many songs as needed, (nothing can be more annoying than a song out of place that only seems to intrerrupt the story instead of working with it). And still it is very different from what we've seen so far. The story is not a love plot, the star doesn't pursue life-longed dreams and he's not Mr. Nicest Guy In The World. This is the story of a naughty conceited boy turned into a good person (in fact, what the original story of Pinnochio or Aladdin are really about, but Disney didn't use in the movie version) And, of course, there is a moral at the end: be good and you'll win -the typical Disney message. In it's roughness and apparent simplicity, "The Emperor's New Groove" is a real gem! The proof that a movie doesn't need to be overdone, that a Disney cartoon doesn't have to be a superproduction to be a masterpiece. It's as simple as a Pluto short film, and yet as exquisetely worked out as Aladdin. A great combination! And to laugh your head off!
68 Entertaining Over and Over Again
I was more than pleasantly surprised when I watched this movie. The mix of comedy appeals to kids with more veiled humor for adults. And this isn't just a one-time movie - I've watched it a dozen times and it's just as entertaining every time. David Spade is very funny and Eartha Kitt, John Goodman, Wendy Malik, and Patrick Warburton only add to the entertainment.
I, like many, had given up hope for another truly comedic and enjoyable Disney movie after Aladdin, but this has restored my faith in Disney's ability to create a movie fit for all ages. There are so many different levels to this movie and many quotes from the movie will stick in your head after the movie is over. Enjoy!
69 The Groove In This DVD Is Great!
The Emperor's New Groove is a fun frolic of wit and humor. This film relies mainly on the quick verbiage and dialogue to get some really interesting humor. David Spade plays the Emperor Kusko and John Goodman plays Pacha - the man he befriends in order to get back home.
Get back home you say? Kusko is transformed into a llama thanks to his ever-evil advisor Isma. (Played brilliantly by the voice talents of Ertha Kitt. With her sidekick - Kronk, Isma turns Kusko into a llama - by accident. Her intent was to originally kill him by its Kronk who makes the wrong choice.
The story then moves in two directions, Pacha, who learns that Kusko wants to destroy his village must convince the Emperor that this is the wrong thing to do to his people and a Kusko must get home and try and become human again thinking Isma is on his side. Later Kusko learns Isma wants to kill him and therefore the race to the secret laboratory is on.
The visuals are fun and interesting and the colors are very pastel like and everything has a hard edge to them. Not like the other rounder Disney films have been.
The DVD Extras are the best I have ever seen. There is a complete walk through with the Producer and Director from everything from concept to theatrical release. They have script-to-screen comparisons, music supervision section - complete with Sting as well as the interviews with cast, crew and artists. There are many hours of viewing on this DVD. Also the CD-Rom features are very good. Great for kids and adults alike. I liked this movie in the theatre and I love the DVD even more! You will too! 8-6-02
70 Funny
It was a very good movie. Capturing the funnies and the seriousness of people trying to kill the king. It isn't very serious however it is a very good movie.
71 Surprisingly good
I wasn't expecting much from this movie since it seemed to have disappeared without much hype from the theaters. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to find that this is one of those Disney movies that not only appeals both to kids but to adults as well. In fact, it compares very favorably to both Shrek and Aladdin in this regard. The movie is perfectly cast, with Patrick Warburton (Puddy from Seinfeld and the Tick) as Kronk, a big oaf sidekick who hums his own theme music and talks "squeakety-squeak" language to squirrels. Most amusing.
I bought the collector's edition, and while there are plenty of extras included on the second DVD, I'm not entirely sure that they're worthwhile over the regular DVD release. Of the 3 deleted scenes, only one is animated - the other two are mainly storyboard composites with audio tracks from stand-in voice artists. If you're like me and jump all over deleted scenes, you'll probably be disappointed here.
72 WHAT A BORING COLLECTORS DVD!
I like this movie do not get me wrong! I think it is very funny and is great but come on Disney! WHO ARE THOSE 2 BORING GUYS IN THE COLLECTORS EDITION? HOW BORING ARE THEY? I had to turn it off because they are a waste of time! They try to be funny when they are not at all! The mess up the whole Collectors Edition! If you try to make jokes, at least let them be funny! Not so boring and corny that you want to brake your DVD! Sorry, I just did not like them, even though they meant well! It was very boring! They should have been in just one part of the DVD not the whole thing, so I could have not turned them on! THEY WOULD STAY OFF LOL! That is why this movie gets 3 Stars because they are so boring!
THANX! :)
73 Funnier since Aladdin!
The Emperor's New Groove is funny including the cast: David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warburton, but this time you should rate it PG for Crude Humor and Mild Cartoon Violence. I give this movie 5 stars.
74 Love it!
I absolutely loved this movie! Disney has redeemed themselves! This movie if full of humor for both children and adults. I haven't seen this much creativity out of Disney in quite some time. Now...as long as they don't make a sequel to this movie, I will continue to love it!
The basic run down....the emperor is a big jerk, who is selfish and only thinks of himself. He wants to build a pool house on the top of this mountain and kicks the inhabitants of that land out. Little does the emperor know, but his assistant and her stupid side kick are plotting to kill him. Instead they turn him into a llama! He ends up in a bag on the top of the wagon of one of the citizens he has kicked out. The two end up having to work together to try to find their way back to the castle so the emperor can reclaim his thrown.
Will they work together to make it back? Or is the emperor to stubborn to get along with someone who is willing to help? I don't want to give away the ending, so I will let you see for yourself! Trust me...you won't regret the time spent watching this movie!
75 The Emperor's New Groove--A Groovy Movie!
The Emperor's New Groove is a very interesting movie. Viewers will have a comical experience, typical of Disney movies. The animation of this movie is also excellent, showing details that really make the movie shine. The music is wonderful, contributing to an overall outstanding movie.
This movie is fun for all ages, clean for a child safe movie and comical enough for the adults. Join the arrogant Kuzco as he learns a lesson in hospitality, he won't soon forget. Prepare to meet Pacho, the villager who unwittingly will teach him that lesson, and a score of other interesting characters. This movie had my interest from start to finish.
The Ultimate Groove has special features like you wouldn't believe. Did you ever wonder how a Disney movie was made, or what goes on behind the scenes? Prepare to have these questions and more answered as Director and Producer take you behind the scene, on your choice of tours. Play a game, and help Kuzco get to the castle, but beware. Danger lurks right behind you.
This game was fun, but not that fun. I would not spend too much time on it. Overall, I vote for the Ultimate Groove for the backstage tours and commentary. If this does not sound like your interest, the normal version is an absolute must.
76 Laughed Til I Wanted to Pee My Pants
Okay, I have seen many many Disney animated films, and this is one of the best. It's hysterically funny, with great characters and an enchanting plot.
The movie starts off with a spoiled-rotten emperor, Kuzco. He wants to get of rid a quiet village on a hilltop to make way for his personal resort. Pacha, a man from the village, comes to hear the news and is sent away feeling confused and hurt and angry. In the meantime, Kuzco has fired his advisor, Yzma. She is VERY upset. She and Kronk, her henchman, make plans to get rid of Kuzco and take over the empire. However, things turn sour when Kronk confuses poison with extract of llama. Kuzco is then turned into a llama, and Kronk is sent to get rid of the body. The body then ends up on Pacha's cart and goes home with him. Kuzco and Pacha end up on a crazy adventure trying to get back to the palace to reverse the spell, while avoiding Yzma and Kronk.
I highly recommend this DVD to all lovers of comedy and animated films. I especially recommend this version of it for people interested in the making and behind-the-scenes activities of animation.
77 Very Charming And Very Modern!
The Emperor's New Grove was a little of a refreshing change from the typical fairytale adventures of fictional animals or people. It had the 90's sense of humor.
Mainly because of the quick wit and energy of the talents of David Spade. I have to believ a lot of what he did - or rather the way he did it - was improvisational. He had to have made it up. John goodman is good as the innocent bistander and who could forget Ertha Kkitt as the evil temptress. Konk is very funny too.
The story is simple, the action is funny and the situations are amazing. (Tittle song by Tom Jones himself!)
The DVD Extras on this film are wonderful. The behind the scens of storyboarding and record the voices and music are great. Even Sting is on this one.
The technical aspect of putting this together must have been a challange. There is even a game for the kids to play (and me too).
Overall this DVD is pretty good and because it is the collectors edition - the extras are worth it alone.
78 The Hippest and Funniest Llama Flick in Ages!
In the last decade of the last millennium, the people at Disney had huge marketing campaigns for every one of their films with one exception! The EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE didn't enjoy the media saturation of the others. Maybe it seemed to simple a film? Maybe because the final film was so different from its initial storyline when it was titled KINGDOM OF THE SUN? Who knows? Box Office numbers aside, GROOVE is ironically the most successful film amongst viewers. Disney films seem to have a polarizing effect, but this films positive reaction was pretty unanimous.
The Emperor Kuzco always gets his way. After all, he is the Emperor, Hello? So, when he eyes property he wants for his summer home, he summons the landowner, Pacha to tell him the bad news. In the meantime, the Emperor's evil advisor Yzma has a plan of her own. She wants Cuzco dead. But when her numbskulled assistant mixes up the potions, Cuzco is turned into a llama instead. And what a bit of irony, Kuzco now must rely on Pacha to help him regain his spoiled human form.
GROOVE enjoyed a much simpler artistic style then the extremely ambitious films of Disney's recent past. But, the resulting film is in no way lacking. The character designs are serviceable and funny, especially when Cuzco is in his animal form. The llama is fun to animate. The few remaining songs by Sting are window dressing and in no way emulate the musical offerings of the Ashman, Menken, Schwartz and Rice era. The voice characterizations are stellar. Normally comic John Goodman actually becomes the straight man to the antics of David Spade's caustic Cuzco. Even in Llama form, his sharp sarcasm is funny stuff. Eartha Kitt is the evil Yzma, her grating voice supporting a villainous that never seems too dangerous. (Even young kids will not be frightened.) Patrick Warburton steals every scene his numbskull character Cronk is in. He brings believable stupidity to a new level.
This great film flew under the public's radar and so is worth checking out. There have been two DVD releases to date. The loaded Special Edition is similar to other Disney Specials. Loaded with interactive material, simple making of material that traces the creation of a feature, commentaries and games. But, much of that stuff will only get one viewing so consider your own interest in that material before paying the extra few dollars. A great film for the whole family.
79 Being this funny should be illegal
This is not a little kids movie--yes, the tods and tykes will love it, but I showed this movie at my sixteenth birthday party and had college-aged kids holding their sides in pain from laughing so hard.
It's Goodman and Spade making jokes the entire time.
SO funny. You'll love it.
80 a load of fun and a barrel of laughs!
Disney outdoes itself with this story of a selfish emperor of long-ago Peru; it will leave you laughing as Emperor Kusko turns into a llama and takes on an adventure with the lovable peasant, Pacha. Eartha Kitt is just right for the role of Yzma. And Kronk will leave you in stitches! This is a fun movie; I just loved it!
Oh - and the kids will like it, too!
81 Respect
It's incredible to see such a mistake. I want to think of it as a mistake and not of a lack of interest in history. All the story happens in the Andes and all the names are Quechua (pacha) or peruvian cities (cuzco). But there are several parts of the movie that they mix the peruvian history with the mexican history. You can also hear mexican music and mexican accent in the way they talk. As a peruvian I felt very disappointed when I saw this movie. We latin-american countries are not all the same. Peru is very different from Mexico and they have to respect the history of each country.
82 VHS-The Emperor's New Groove
I love it! It was shipped quickly, case and movie both in excellent condion, couldn't be more pleased.
83 Don't Throw Off The Groove
Disney has done it again.
Not since the first Aladdin movie have I enjoyed a Walt Disney cartoon so much. Nor have I laughed at one so hard.
As with most cartoons, the voices behind the characters will either make or break it. I have always liked David Spade's voice better than him himself, and he very much delivers here. His voice has just enough edge to it to make his character, Emporer Kuzco, grate your nerves to the point that you hope his adversary does manage to do him in, but not so much that you are ready to do it yourself.
For me, however, the best is having Eartha Kitt as the voice of Yzma. Ever since her days as CatWoman on the TV series Batman, I have enjoyed her sultry voice. Yzma may be old and wrinkly, but her voice makes you forget all about that. You almost want to help Yzma yourself, a definite credit to Kitt.
The gags are hilarious, the action is almost nonstop, and the laughter coming from you will be geniune. Disney knows how to make kids movies that adults can enjoy, and this adult has enjoyed the movie many times (and not once with a kid in sight).
84 Hilarious...
It's hilarious all throughout the movie. It bases on lifes features. How man's nature really is toward having so much ambition and temptation to have more. But there are situations where life cycles around and changes the perspective of man. Ovearll it is a recommendable movie for the whole family. It will keep you laughing until the end.
85 Another groovy review, giving it a 5!
Okay, let me say first that the goal of this film, other than providing a good story, is just to make you laugh! No complicated jokes, no articulate quotes, no subplots, no songs that slow down the pacing, and the fewest details in the look of the characters I've witnessed in any Disney film since Snow White!
I think, by seeing that there have been 170 other reviews, that I don't have to go into detail here. Those people who gave it a 5 are correct! One thing that never fails to crack me up again and again is Yzma's attempts at trying to kill Kuzco, all ending up as disasters, getting worse and worse! It's as if she's breaking the fourth wall, because near the end of the film, she acts as if she knows she's under the mercy of REALLY bad screenwriters who have complete control of her fate! "WHY do I even HAVE that lever?!" :D
And Kronk will be an instant hit with kids!
The somewhat disappointing music video "Walk the Llama Llama" is the only bad thing I can find here- I'll bet even the kids will think it's lame. I have not brought the Special 2-Disc Edition of this film, but it doesn't really matter. The bonus features provided here are just enough to satisfy your quest for extra information.
86 Clever kids movie fun for adults too.
This is a story of a selfish young emperor who is transformed into a Lama by his recently-fired assistant, Yzma, and her henchman-hulk Kronk. He accidently gets rescued by the "folksy-peasant type", Pacha, who is a good hearted family man and the unwitting participant in the whole episode. Lots of subtle quips and tongue in cheek humor for adults to catch. Great voice talent. Lot's of range of expression. Quick pace, snappy dialoge, memorable scenes. My nine year old has the entire movie memorized.
87 This Disney film was SURPRISINGLY GOOD!
Okay, I have to admit that sometimes I judge animated disney films by the looks of the characters; like I did with "The Emperor's New Groove". I didn't even plan on watching this. But, my uncle had the DVD, so I decided to give it at least a try. It was one of the greatest Disney films ever! The plot wasn't boring at all, like I thought it would be. The characters were really entertaining. Especially Yzma's dumb sidekick, Kronk. This film was so touching. You know, Koozko risking his chance to become a human once again just to save Pacha from falling. This film ended with a great song that had a touching message.
I even cried a little at the end of this film. :)
88 Just when I began to think the "Disney Stereotype"...
I was getting pretty darn tired of all the other Disney movies: sappy songs every five seconds, convoluted romance...then I happened to "throw off the Emperor's groove". If this movie can make someone like me laugh everytime she sees it then this has some sort of magic to it. Kuzco (David Spade) is the typical teenager (being Emperor has nothing to do with it!)...and when he becomes a llama he finally begins to see that the whole world won't always involve a "snap of his fingers" like in his palace. This will definitely be a favorite of mine for years to come. Oh...and Kronk is hilarious. No words could describe him. Just see this movie for yourself. Trust me!
89 the "new" Disney
In an attempt to be hip and with the times, Disney has developed a cynical, dry humoured, and witty film. IT'S ABOUT TIME. While the fantastical romance attributed to most Disney films is a beautiful and wonderful thing, once in a while an animated film needs to TRULY appeal to "all ages" and truly be "fun for the whole family." I don't know whether it's David Spade's voice, or if it's the little old man saying "Beware of the Groooooooooove," but either way I thought it was hilarious. It might be a bit too dry for the younger generations, and I don't know about the rest of the world, but I think little kids are getting too cynical these days! In any case, it has the slap-stick appeal for the four year olds, and the dry humour for the adults that accompany them in watching. I'm very fond of this film, because it quite simply makes me laugh. It's a refreshing break from the unattainable fantasy world where all the birds in the forest will come sit and sing on your finger and the princes all ride white horses that anyone can enjoy.
90 Excellent collector's edition for Disney fans
The Collector's Edition of The Emperor's New Groove contains material that every Disney fan/collector will enjoy. It's worth the extra money to upgrade to the collector's edition of this movie.
91 This movie grooves like no other!
"Emperor's New Groove" is one of the funniest movies I've seen in some time, which is especially surprising considering it seemed impossible for it to be good given the clumsy concept and horrible title. Disney scrapped the singing animals for once and just went for outright laughs, and they scored big in this tale of an emperor with an attitude that gets taken down a peg when he gets changed into a llama.
Casting Patrick Warburton (Puddy from Seinfeld) as the Cronk, the lackey to Ertha Kitt's Yzma was sheer genius...if it was possible to receive an academy award for voice work in an animated feature, he'd have it locked up. Though truly all of the voices are perfect in this movie, and it really does add so much to it. I know that it hasn't been as successful at the box office as some of the other recent Disney films, and that's a shame, because it deserves more recognition. I wish more movies like this were made.
92 This movie ROCKS!
The Emperor's New Groove is such a funny movie! I'm a college student and my friends and I love it. The lines are hilarious and are very quotable. I'm so glad that movies like this are made for all ages.
93 Not your average Disney film
We all know Disney for giving us such "masterpieces" such as the Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen cartoon, The New Doug, & let's not forget Pepper Ann. well, if you're thinking this movie is just another happy-happy not funny, musical with annoying characters- YOU'RE DEAD WRONG. this movie has to be one of the most hiliarious animated films ever. i won't spoil any of the jokes here, but it is IMPOSSIBLE to watch this film without cracking a smile. a MUST BUY.
94 Not Your Average Disney Movie
So we all know the typical Disney story. Lots of magic, even a few tear jerker moments, a theme song, and let's not forget lots of singing in between. Now, for those of you who actually like the songs every 5 seconds (but hey I actually like Disney songs) you might not like this movie because I can easily recall there being only one song with 2 different versions one at the beginning and one at the end. So what makes this movie a non traditional Disney movie in my opinion is because there is a lack of songs (because being older now you do notice a trend), and the humor of this movie is very hard to explain. It's just so different. This has honestly got to be one of the funniest Disney movies I've ever seen. The animation is wonderfull, the characters are so lovable (yes that includes Yzma), and yet Disney still manages to make sure you know it's still a Disney movie. So while it may not be your average Disney movie, it's still has that charm...and yes, there is a theme song towards the end. Don't think they'd let you get away with that :)
95 Great film, but preschool parents beware......
The message is a good one. Basically be kind, or Karma will catch up with you, the golden rule, etc. To any mature mind, this is easy to spot. However, for the younger audiences, preschool and under, this may need some explaining. Emperor Kuzco is only nice for the last few minutes of the film and never really says that he learned from his mistakes or that his poor treatment of others was wrong (unless he is tricking them). Parents of little ones may need to add their own narration while watching the movie to help insure that preschoolers don't just assume Kuzco's rude behavior is cool (like mine did). Overall, this is an extreamly enjoyable film. I highly recomend it. It is funny enough to watch over and over with your child. Just be sure they understand the theme.
96 Surprisingly Good
I have to admit, when this Disney animated movie came out, I had no intention of seeing it. Why? David Spade. He's just one of those guys that gets on my nerves so I try to avoid his work. But when Emperor's New Groove came out on video, someone gave it to me as a gift, knowing I collect all the major Disney animated releases.
Well, I laughed and laughed a lot. The story is simple, but hey, it's a kids movie. But it is one the adults can enjoy. I thought John GOodman also did a good job.
97 hilarious
I admit I am a BIG Disney fan, which means I love most everything the studio does in animation. For some reason, however, I failed to see this film in the theaters. When it came out for home viewing, I rented it, watched it, took it back to the video store and ran out and bought a copy pronto! This is easily the funniest, not-taking-itself-seriously, enjoyable romp to come out of the Disney studios. From the opening selection screen with the dancing Kuzco, to Kronk's lovable idiocy, to Yzma's hysterical over-the-top rage, this film packs more than a few horse-laughs. I literally had to pause the screen a few times to stop laughing out loud so I could pay attention. It's not the Lion King, or Beauty and the Beast, but it's certainly worth having in your collection, right beside the best comedies you can think of!
98 Incredible Movie
I know that its "just a cartoon" but it was made so well. The comedy in it is great. It is one of my husbands favorite movies and we watch it all the time. Wether for a child or child at heart this is an excellent movie. I really recomend that you see it!
99 Groovy Disney Movie!
This one is great, it has John Goodman with David Spade and Eartha Kitt. It's about a Emperor who is turned into a Llama
and want to be human again if he can reach his home again from the evil Xzma. Wanna know more? rent this one.
100 Lightweight Disney fun
Well, it's Disney, so it can't go too wrong even as a piece of lightweight fluff. I read a review of the movie that said it was originally intended to be a far more complex "quest" epic, but it was scaled back partway into production. Watching the film, you can totally picture the director saying, "Forget all that stuff, just make it funny." The result is a bunch of the most mono-dimensional characters you've ever seen running around doing completely improbable things, but so what? It makes for a hilarious ride.
Warning to parents: Kuzco's (the emperor/llama) behavior is SO over-the-top that it will inspire endless imitative behavior in most kids. They will run around the house making you crazy by saying "Boom baby!" and "Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh" a million times. The film's message, of course, is that snotty, selfish Kuzco eventually learns to care about others, but it is so thinly presented that the kids will mostly just remember the sarcastic & snide things that Kuzco says for the first 99% of the film.
In all: Not Disney's best, but fun, light entertainment for the kids.
