Just want to let you that I’m really thrilled for you in regaining your creative spark in a movie that you love very much. Seeing you fan girling over El Dorado has stirred some memories over why I adore this movie and makes me want to rewatch it.
For me, it reminds me of the times my younger brother and I would bond while watching El Dorado…especially this scene:
My brother and I would quote this scene every time we watched this funny bit because it encapsulates their bond and their hammy antics upon our first impressions of them. He would be Miguel while I was Tulio.
And what makes it funnier and heartwarming was both Kenneth Branagh (who also directed the Cinderella live action remake) and Kevin Kline (who acted as Maurice in the Beauty and the Beast remake) were brandishing plastic swords and were pretend sword fighting while voicing their lines for this scene which already shows they have great chemistry between them.
You probably may have answered this (and it’s fine to not answer if you don’t want to) but I am curious about how you first discovered this movie and what were your first impressions of it at the time? 😊
Thanks for taking the time to read this ask, little sis.
Hello, big sis! It's so amazing to see you in my new inbox 😄💖
Aww thank you so much! It's been a long process, but I'm so glad that I was able to finally understand what was going on, and especially that this amazing and hilarious movie brought back my creative spark ✨ I'm so glad that seeing my enthusiasm for it has brought back so many good memories and that it made you want to rewatch it! 😄👏
Awww those really are great memories and I'm so glad that you and your brother had so much fun recreating this hilarious scene 😄 I completely agree that it perfectly shows the kind of bond that Miguel and Tulio share as well as how well they work as a team, and I know every line in Spanish, hehe 🤭 Which btw, what Tulio says in the Spanish version changes a little bit! First Miguel says, "You fight like my little sister," and Tulio's answer is: "I've already fought her and she's better than you!" 🤭
YES!!! OMG I remember reading about it and only made this scene even richer and better 😄 As far as I know, usually voice actors work separately when recording their lines, but Kevin Kline and Kenneth Brannagh changed this as there really was great chemistry between them and their characters 😄 Just more evidence of the amazing work and care behind this movie!
As for your question, I actually don't think I've responded to it before, hehe 🤭 So I'm more than happy to do it now! I found out about this film mostly thanks to the many memes and gifs that had become so popular on the internet. I did some research and that's how I first read its title, and iirc I think it was available on Netflix already? 🤔 Must've been the year 2015 as that's when this platform arrived in Spain. I didn't even have a laptop back then lol, I watched it on my old desktop computer 🤭
I fell in love with the movie from the very beginning. I immediately liked the settings being Spanish myself as I don't think there's many movies that are made by non-Spanish people and take place in my country 🤭 I remember I immediately loved Miguel because of his charm and enthusiasm and how well he played his lute (I'm weak for musicians after all lol), and Tulio being so smart yet grumpy made me laugh and want to see more of him 🤭 (I'm also weak for men who can dance after all 😂) Then when they started their fake fight, I remember I was just vibing and having fun while at the same I was wondering... "Is this real or are they acting?" 😂
Then the bull scene completely won me over. It just KILLED me how, since this was Spain, there had to be a bull roaming free in the street 💀 (this does NOT happen normally, I can assure that 😂). Then, oh my God, when they started running and the typical Spanish music started playing, including some "¡Olés!" here and there... I was both laughing and clapping at the same time as well as rooting for them 😂 I'm simple, I see silly and/or good representation of my country in media and it immediately wins me over. Besides, the streets and architecture were so well done! It felt like a typical city from my country in that time 😄
The brig scene was also hilarious. The fact that Miguel seemed to be unhappy about Tulio's plan at first, only to suddenly smile and accept it already made me giggle 🤭 And oh my, when I found out that Tulio hitting his head against the wall was part of the background music I swear I died 💀😂 And the pry bar part? Miguel asking Altivo for help in exchange of an apple while Tulio was especially grumpy and not believing in Altivo's intelligence? Him not wanting to admit that Cortés' horse was actually smart because he brought them the keys and not a pry bar was but the cherry on top 👌😂
Then we get to the first action moment in the movie, and how I enjoyed it! I remember my heart melted when Miguel jumped into the ocean as soon as he saw Altivo was in danger as I would've done exactly the same thing 🥹 All in all I loved how this scene showed how well they worked together in dangerous situations and how they'd always help each other no matter what. It was, I think, the first scene that made me truly appreciate their bond. Strong and solid, and definitely beyond "just business."
The entire sequence before The trail we blaze is just hilarious. "The horse is a surprise" was such an unexpected line that it had me cackling for a while 💀 Just like Tulio being so mad that Miguel saved the map but not more food (he had a point though 😂). And the way Miguel manipulated Tulio into going in search of El Dorado appealing to his greed? That was genius 😁👌 As well as great proof of how well these two know each other.
I still remember very clearly how The trail we blaze had me vibing from the very first moment it started. It's such a GOOD song, and the lyrics describe their journey and the new world they're exploring in such a beautiful way. Also, I think this sequence in the movie perfectly shows that Tulio is the comic relief character in the film as literally every bad thing happened to him 😆 It was cute seeing how Miguel looked after him in his own ways though, while in the meantime never losing his adventurous spirit. Which ended up rubbing off on Tulio 🤭
Okay, I have to say this. That moment when Tulio is so mad that apparently El Dorado was just a great big rock and Miguel suggests that maybe Cortés arrived first? Tulio's response about him taking the really big rocks and then adding "scoundrel" while looking all offended just gave me a fit of laughter and I actually needed to pause the movie for a few seconds 💀
(Amazon Prime won't let me take screenshots so this pic that I took with my phone will have to do 😅 Also even Altivo looks offended lol 😆)
Honestly, when they finally see El Dorado for the first time, I was just as in awe as them, but also smiling wide. It's just so beautiful! I was so curious to see how things would go for them, being foreigners in this hidden gem of a city that they were so eager to find.
But! I have to say that I totally never expected for them to pretend to be freaking gods 💀 When Tzekel Kan first mistook them for gods and Miguel and Tulio began to play along, I swear I was thinking, "NO WAY they're gonna pretend to be damn gods, there's NO WAY they're gonna get away with it, they're gonna get CAUGHT!" We all know that they went ahead with it though 😂 I can't deny that at first this got me a bit tense as I thought the people of El Dorado would get reeeeeally (and rightfully) mad if they ever found out, but Miguel and Tulio were just so good at pretending, and also so silly and even haughty, that soon I was just vibing again and curious to see how they'd fare 🤭 Oh, and the fact that the volcano calmed down the second Tulio yelled "Enough!" made me laugh out loud 😆
Another thing that I can't deny: when I got to this moment I was clapping and pointing at the screen while cackling like a hyena 👇
I mean, it was the meme that led me to watch this movie in the first place. And as I said before, I'm simple 😆
The inclusion of Chel into the scam honestly caught me off guard. Up to that point we only knew that she'd stolen something from the temple, so she definitely sounded like someone who would fit well with them, considering what they used to do for a living back in Spain. Still, Chel didn't really allowed us (nor them) to get to know her much, but it still sounded like they were gonna need help in a city they'd just arrived in. Just as she'd prove the next day with the Xibalba scene, which btw, was hilarious. Both because of their shock when the gold started to be thrown into the water and because of the stars meme. Which had me laughing for a while too 🤭
Ah, but first, we finally got to hear them sing during the feast! And what a party it was 😄 I think It's tough to be a god became my most favorite song during that first watch because of a few reasons! First, I immediately loved the rhythm and was totally vibing and giving it all while enjoying the scene that I was seeing 🤭 I also loved the silly lyrics and they had me laughing and rooting for these mighty and powerful gods 😁 And last but not least, as I said, I LOVED that this song was sung by the characters themselves! It was great and so much fun to see them just having a blast 😄
Especially because, shortly after that... the problems started. I gotta say I was a bit shocked when Miguel broke his promise to Tulio so easily, but I guess things got even as soon as Tulio got involved with Chel, so I just imagined that they'd just move on and adapt to what the other had done. I did like the sound of the broken record when Miguel started talking about how wonderful El Dorado was and Tulio cut him off 🤭 All in all I remember that I was happy that Miguel went ahead as I myself was dying to see more of that place.
Besides, it led to one of the most beautiful songs in the entire movie, all good vibes, and it suits Miguel so well! Without question has to be one of the most heartfelt songs I've ever heard, and the lyrics are just so beautiful, especially the chorus 🥹 I also like the Spanish version very much as it's slightly different from the original: "God knows what I'd do were it not for you. Just seeing you makes me happy. Have trust in me." El Dorado is so stunning, and seeing Miguel exploring it and falling in love with it while this gem of a song plays... one of my fave parts of the film without question (pun intended hehe).
Also this is beautiful and so satisfying 👆✨
As well as the ball game! All of this was just so unexpected, and I can't deny I was a bit confused at first that they were gonna have them play a match all of a sudden 😆 I'm personally not a big fan of sports (neither watching nor practicing them lol), but it was hilarious to see them fail at first, and then when the little Armadillo became their ball, I was just vibing and again, rooting for them! 😄 I actually found myself excited about a sport for the first time in my life lol.
The ending of it was so tense yet so amazing! Watching them trying to score with the real ball and so close to failing again had me on the edge of my seat 😱 And I felt like I couldn't applaud Miguel enough when he finally put an end to Tzekel Kan's reign of terror. That man was sadistic! Buuuut... I remember at first I though that what Tzekel Kan saw on Miguel's forehead was sweat. Sweat 💀 I don't even know how I didn't see that it was red??? I sincerely and genuinely don't understand 😂
Man... my own heart broke when Tulio, talking to Chel, said "Forget Miguel," and even more so when I saw he'd overheard it 🥲 Like, to this day I totally get that Tulio didn't mean to say "screw Miguel" or anything like that, but back then I just thought that was unforgivable and Miguel had every right to be upset. I felt so bad for him...
And then, after that bit of drama, this 👇
This was just another moment in which I needed to pause the movie. Damn, their girly screams were so unexpected that I freaking snorted 💀 This fit of laughter was even stronger because I did cry. It was that good 👌😂
Again the jaguar scene had me on the edge of my seat! I absolutely LOVED everything here, including the music, but especially seeing how both of them tried their best to help each other even though things weren't totally fine between them. I still remember that I was actually moved when I saw them doing this 👇
Like, they're not just grabbing onto each other to prevent themselves from falling, but to prevent the other from falling. At least that's how I read it from the very first time, especially with how quickly Tulio grabbed Miguel's shirt. They were looking after each other, no matter what.
And the scene that followed... I was so tense during their not-so-fake fight, because this time it was clear that they weren't pretending, but actually saying the things that needed to be said. And the thing is... I remember thinking that both of them were right and had solid points, but I also didn't want to believe that Miguel wanted to stay and separate from Tulio.
I screamed like a crazy fangirl when both of them, in the middle of their very real fight, punched Tzekel Kan at the exact same time. Because it showed how in sync they still were despite what they'd just did and said to each other. To me, that was just proof that their bond was still strong, only hurt. I wanted them to talk and fix things so badly...
On the one hand though, I found it realistic that they didn't openly talk about it. On the other, it led to yet another banger that was both incredibly relatable and painfully heartbreaking 🥲💔 Friends never say goodbye caught me totally off guard and I just saw their attitudes and reactions so realistic during the entire song... I especially love this right here 👇
Ugh, it never fails to shatter my heart into pieces, because you can clearly see without needing a single word that both feel bad about what happened and want to talk about it, but just can't find the right time nor words to try and fix what's been broken... It's just so perfectly heartrending 🥲💔
Oh, and I love the Spanish version as well. "Two friends who part without saying goodbye." It's slightly different but I have to admit it hurt a bit harder from the very first time 🥲💔
In a way, I remember I was hoping for a moment in which they could actually talk. There was no way they were gonna separate like that after everything they'd been through together, right? But! I just LOVED seeing how both of them came together and collabed again, like old times, when it came to saving El Dorado from Cortés. Miguel actually looked at Tulio as if asking him, as if begging him, to come up with a plan to protect the city, even if he was ready to leave.
Actually, the moment in which Tulio finally has an idea is so me when I come up with a new idea for a story, or solve a plothole, or something like that 😆 But there's no gif of that specific moment and I'm a little bit offended as a writer 🙂↔️😝
I literally screamed when Miguel called Altivo so that he'd take him to the boat to help Tulio and Chel. That was just so in-character for him! And of course I was beyond awed when he jumped and practically flew for a short while with the sun shining behind him. Like a real god ✨
I smiled almost as widely as Tulio when Miguel told him he wouldn't let him have all the fun. They were together again and there were absolutely no hard feelings 🥹 I was so happy! And I couldn't help but laugh at the end when Tulio started crying over all the lost gold, though I did feel a bit bad for him 🤭 After all, Miguel got his adventure while poor Tulio couldn't get his gold 🥲
Still, he got his partner back, and I absolutely LOVED that in the end, they didn't really need to talk about anything. They were both okay with each other because, mistakes and all, they still had one another, and they knew each other well enough to know this wasn't gonna change. I just adored that about their relationship. SO MUCH 🫶
The ending being so open was so promising! I still feel so sad whenever I remember that this was the last that we saw of them and that all the sequels they had planned were cancelled 🥲 It would've been amazing to at the very least see one of them, just to see what happened to them, Chel and Altivo after they left El Dorado. Did they continue to explore this new world? Did they go back to Spain? How would their lives would've been from then on? I'm obviously happy that fanworks exist so we can give our own answers to these questions and more, but I can't deny that I would've loved to see something canon honestly. Something more of them.
Still, I'm just so happy that I got to see this movie. It's such a hidden and underrated gem that, however, is tremendously memeable 🤭 I just think it balances the comedy and drama so so well, and the relationship between Miguel and Tulio is so funny, balanced and heartwarming! It's far from being perfect of course, but that wouldn't be realistic, so in all honesty, to me, it's just perfect the way it is 👌
This response got waaaaaaaay longer than I had planned and I took the entire week to finish it, and I'm so sorry about it, big sis 😅 Still I hope that the wait was worth it and you'll enjoy reading my rambling lol 🤭 I sincerely had so much fun typing it down! I just hope that it'll at least make you smile 🥰
Thank you so so much for sending it and for your support on my new blog! It truly means the world to me 🫶💖
