Obsevervations I made. (comparing movies)

Here's the deal. 2 days ago I rented The Emperor's New Groove and The Little Mermaid and watched it back-to-back. I can't believe this is the quality we've settled for these past years! I'll review both movies and you'll get my point.

Opening scene: So here we have the Little Mermaid. We pass through a sky of clouds above the sea and we go under the sea. A beautiful colorful surrounding all seen with the a beautiful score in the background. And then we have the New Groove thing. Plain backgrounds, no eye candy what-so-ever. We have this cartoony emperor dancing to a pop rythm. While in the Little Mermaid we're introduced to a wide range of characters from Merpeople to different fish types, in the Emperor's Groove we only see a few characters all alike. You getting my drift here? lol, just hang in there. We're not done yet. :lol:

Storyline: The thing that bothers me the most. I mean in the Little Mermaid the whole plot is filled with different issues like wanting to be someone you're not or the little things such as Sabastian being a Triton suck-up. In the Emperor's Groove we have some interesting things to chew on but the plot just never gets complicated. It just stays the same. Even the surroundings all seem alike while in the Little Mermaid we jump under the sea, over the sea and even visit a castle or a ship. Well that's my opinion. We'll move on to the next issue, music.

Music: Where is it? :brick: I only heard one song in TENG and one or two musical scores. A Disney movie is plain boring if it doesn't have music. (Brother Bear being the exception imo). I mean, since the storylines are never too complicated the usually need some spicing up. That's where music comes in. In The Little Mermaid we have popular songs such as Under the Sea, Part of Your World, Poor Unfortunate Souls and many heart warming scores. It just makes the plot seem brighter and more interesting. Next issue, animation quality!

Animation: I have to say, the quality of animation in TENG can only be compared to DTV animation. Everything was too abstract and boring imo. I mean the animators had so much to work with (being a castle surrounding) yet they chose to just neglect small details. I'm suprised the quality of animation was better in The Little Mermaid even tho it has become outdated. After animation we saw in movies such as The Hunchback of NotreDam I'm suprised they settled for this. Don't get me wrong, the movie was fun to watch, but it reminded me more of a Looney Tunes flick.

I hope you can all see my point. I don't dislike TENG. On the contrary. It's funny and cute.... But it isn't Disney. There was not one point where I thought this reminded me of Disney.
I'd like to hear your thoughts about this. If someone disagrees I'd like to hear your view about this. I've heard very positive comments about this movie but to me it just seemed to be a flick. Let the debate begin!

DisneyFan.

EDIT: To compare: One of TENG more "complex" surroundings:
http://kino.ural.ru/movies/the_emperors_new_groove/05.jpg

The Little Mermiad is much more colorful to look at:
http://disney.jbug.net/mvdata/data/Little_Mermaid.jpg

Bump. I'd like to hear some of your opinions...

Opening scene: Pop rhythm? That’s Tom Jones, more than a pop rhythm. I like the fact that the river dancing guards can’t quite get their act together and as cool as Kuzco likes to think he is he can’t even stamp his feet in time with the beat. They are subtle little touches that I liked.

Storyline: What it may have lacked in an in depth multi faceted storyline it more than made up for it with two great double acts and bags of comedy.

Music: Love the opening, shame there were no other songs in it. Yzma has a great song, but it never made it to the final product. I would have welcomed more songs, but the incidental music does a fine job. Particularly during the chase with the maps and Kronk shrugging at noticing the dotted lines beneath his fee.

Animation: I have no problems with the animation. The timing of the interactions between Yzma and Kronk are spot on, same with Kuzco and Pacha. Getting comedy out of some well timed lines on a page is very difficult and the folk behind these pencils do a stunning job. I agree with the likeness to Looney Tunes – but the original Looney Tunes had comic timing down the finest art, so for me it’s a compliment.

The film does not strike one immediately as being “Disney”, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The different design style made things a lot fresher than trying to use Mermaid again as the character template.

Because Disneyfan found it different from a Disney film then from that angle the production team met part of their intention – not to put out another clone film. However if someone goes to the cinema with certain expectations and what is delivered is different from what you geared yourself up for you won’t enjoy it fully. Just as if you went to a restaurant and had set your mind on pasta, but had to settle for rice you won’t enjoy it as you were not in a rice frame of mind.

Emperor is a film I have enjoyed more on repeated viewing. If I’m after pasta I’ll pick up Mermaid, but when I get a pang for rice, Groove fits the bill

I never expected the movie to be LIKE the Little Mermaid. I expected it to have the qualities other classics have. Songs, romance, quality music, and an interesting storyline. Proven to be a winning formula. Why try and change it?

And am I the only one who just won't compramise for an ok storyline because it's funny? Seems like people lower their standards nowadays to a point where funny is all that's needed..

Pop rhythm? That’s Tom Jones, more than a pop rhythm.

Click to expand...

Tom Jones or not, it's pop. I've heard better too. Just my opinion...

Now, the animation imo was horrible. Any other animated flick would've been fine with quality like that but this is Disney. I mean, just look at Atlantis or Treasure Planet (not so bad btw). Movies released only a year or two after this one, yet look lightyears better. I obviously don't 'get it' because I really can't see quality in boring character shapes appearing in dull backgrounds...

I respect your opinion, so PLEASE don't take this as a personal attack against you. I may sound harsh but that's how I sound when I'm disappointed.