Jeffrey Katzenberger (I hope I spelled his name right) used to work at Disney back in the day but left when his attempts to make the movies more adult and edgy were shot down he left to help start up Dreamworks, hence why Dreamworks movies have been more edgy and adult. Some of the traditionally animated Dreamworks movies were okay to me, but there was just something always lacking. I did watch Road to El Dorado last year finally, and the animation was impressive, but some of the content left me feeling uncomfortable. I guess I'm a wuss when it comes to sexual tension/relations in animation. (Maybe because the guys were kind of sleazy anyway...)
Something interesting though, Kevin Kline voiced one of the parts (Kenneth Brounough voiced the other), and he was previously Phoebus in Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. Elton John wrote the music (as he had done for Disney's The Lion King), but it just never seemed as inspired. I always found it odd that Dreamworks was trying to capture what had worked for some recent Disney movies, but it fell short.
Mm...I'm tempted to see Prince of Egypt again though. I actually really enjoyed that one, even if they stripped it of as much religious content as possible.
In my opinion, the subtle adult material is what makes the movie enjoyable while still keep the charm of story-telling. I guess the difference is how more down-to-earth Dreamworks movies feel compared to Disney. Of course that's just my opinion. I have to agree that something was still rather lacking. I figured as viewers, we can fill-in the blanks, though that's easier said than done.
Prince of Egypt is next on my list. XD I didn't mind the censors on religious content, though I'd understand why they'd do that.
Which is funny, since I find the sexual undertones much more subtle in Disney movies, from Tramp and Lady falling asleep at Lover's Hill (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) to Beast cradling Belle tenderly. I think one of my newest favorites is the look shared between Dr. Doppler and Captain Amelia in Treasure Planet though, because even if he's saying one thing, their expressions say something else entirely. I just prefer things to be kept intimate between characters without getting dragged in on the intimacy myself.
Don't get me wrong, I have watched and enjoyed Dreamworks movies (in fact, I preferred them when they were traditionally animated), they just don't usually leave me feeling very satisfied at the end. Kung Fu Panda was the exception, and one of these days I really will go out and buy it...
Something interesting though, Kevin Kline voiced one of the parts (Kenneth Brounough voiced the other), and he was previously Phoebus in Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. Elton John wrote the music (as he had done for Disney's The Lion King), but it just never seemed as inspired. I always found it odd that Dreamworks was trying to capture what had worked for some recent Disney movies, but it fell short.
Mm...I'm tempted to see Prince of Egypt again though. I actually really enjoyed that one, even if they stripped it of as much religious content as possible.
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I have to agree that something was still rather lacking. I figured as viewers, we can fill-in the blanks, though that's easier said than done.
Prince of Egypt is next on my list. XD
I didn't mind the censors on religious content, though I'd understand why they'd do that.
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Don't get me wrong, I have watched and enjoyed Dreamworks movies (in fact, I preferred them when they were traditionally animated), they just don't usually leave me feeling very satisfied at the end. Kung Fu Panda was the exception, and one of these days I really will go out and buy it...
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