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= Lame, Crummy.
= OK, Watchable.
= Good.
= Very Good.
= Great, Classic.
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THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE
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This entertaining comedy could have taken place anywhere, and at any time--
or at least, wherever there is a bratty emperor threatening to demolish
peasant lands in order to build a royal swimming pool. John Goodman is the peasant
Pacha who befriends the emperor (David Spade) who has been turned into a
llama. The film shows very little of Incan culture except for the wonderful
backgrounds, which creatively play upon motifs of Incan art and architecture.
Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton also provide voices, and Sting wrote an
original song for this film, which came out the same year as the very
similar The Road to El Dorado. The sequel, Kronk's New Groove
(2005), besides showing the usual decline in quality you'd expect from a
sequel, sheds the Incan theme altogether--it could pass for an episode of
The Flintstones.
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HEROES VERDADEROS
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A surprisingly good telling of the Mexican War of Independence as seen through the eyes of an indigenous family:
the young Mixcóatl, his brawny brother Tahatsi, his quick-thinking sister Tonatsin, her Spanish novio Carlos, and their
mestizo half-brother Xama, who betrays the family. Xama kills their grandfather and blames it on Mixcóatl, who must go
into hiding with his best friend Carlos. When they seek refuge in a church run by the progressive priest Don Miguel
Hidalgo y Castillo (an
actual historical figure), the whole family is swept up into the cause for independence, except the half-brother Xama,
who is reluctantly recruited to the loyalist army. Aside from the silly musical sequences this is a genuinely absorbing
film that draws the viewer into the drama of Mexico's history, with moments of suspense, sadness, and humor.
heroesverdaderos.com
Sinopsis en español:
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LA LEYENDA DE LA NAHUALA (The Legend of the Nahuala) Director: Ricardo Arnaiz. Writers: Antonio Garci, Omar Mustre. 2007. 82 minutes. Setting: Ciudad de Puebla, 1802. Language: Spanish Indian Conent: low Released on: DVD ![]() ![]() ![]()
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On the Day of the Dead in 1802, an easily-frightened boy named Leo must
enter a haunted house to rescue his brother Nando, who has been captured
by La Nahuala, a creatured from old Poblano legends. There is one Indian
character, Xochitl, who is a ghost in the house, and other themes and
images from indigenous or mestizo traditions. Unique, beautifully
animated, with a great cast of characters. The DVD includes many extra
features, including games for kids.
Sinopsis en español:
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MARTIN FIERRO: LA PELICULA
Aleph Media/Maiz Producciones Directors: Norman Ruiz, Liliana Romero Writer/designer: Roberto Fontanarrosa Animators: Iván Pizarro, Liliana Romero, Mariano Sister Music: Mauro Lázaro, Fernando Pécora 2007. 88 minutes. 2.35:1. Setting: Patagonia, 19th century Language: Spanish Indian Content: medium-low Released on: region 4 DVD ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Argentina's national epic poem El Gaucho Martín Fierro (1872), written by José
Hernández (1834-1886), is colorfully brought to life in this dramatic, suspenseful film.
The tale laments the fallen heroism
of the gauchos--Argentine cowboys--when the goverment expanded into the west and hired
poor ranchers to drive out of the indigenous peoples, who are here presented as the enemy,
although Fierro's wife and children are also indigenous. As the epic was rooted in the oral
tradition of payadas, the folksongs of the gauchos, the music in this film is appropriately
sumptuous, evoking the cold, howling plains. The artwork, designed by popular cartoonist
Roberto Negro Fontanarrosa, is also excellent. Martín Fierro, la película is one
of several adaptations of the epic (and not the first animated version).
The DVD released by SBP Video is region 4. It plays perfectly on a computer. Subtitles in
Spanish and English, with about an hour of making-of features.
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NIKTE
Director: Ricardo Arnaiz Writer: Ricardo Arnaiz Animation: Music: Editing: 2009. 86 minutes. Setting: Yocán, a city in Hule (fictional places) Indian Content: high Language: Spanish Released on: DVD released in Mexico ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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While a family is visiting an Olmec site, the oldest daughter, Nikté, falls asleep
and dreams that she is back in pre-Columbian times, in the city of Yocan. Learning of a
prophecy that a princess will fall from the sky when a comet comes, Nikté and her friend
Chin arrange for her to fall from the sky right in front of the temple of Xtabay.
However, Nikté finds that she must undergo a series of adventures before she can become
princess. She encounters ghosts, monsters, dragons, scorpions, giant worms, a flatulent
turkey, and a boy who wants to seduce her for his father's dire plans. This is the second
feature from Animex, which also made La
leyenda de la Nahuala. But Nikté is even better, with a more exiciting story,
and a great variety of funny characters.
Sinopsis en español:
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OGU Y MAMPATO EN RAPA NUI
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Mampato is a Chilean boy with a time machine who transports himself to Pre-Colombian Rapa Nui. There he meets his friend
Ogu, an ape-like creature whom he runs into in all his time travel adventures. In Rapa Nui the pair find themselves
embroiled in a political fued between the evil ruler, el Gran Ariki, who forces everyone to make the monumental Moai
statues, and his son, the enlightened Joven Ariki. Partaking of local custom, the heroes participate in a dangerous
obstacle race which includes a swim to the small island of Motu Nui to capture the first egg of the Tara bird. The winner
becomes the Tangata Manu (birdman) for the year. Based on a popular Chilean comic book series by Themo Lobos.
Sinopsis en español:
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PACHAMAMA
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The Inka's tax-collectors come to a village outside Cusco and take more than their share of the harvest, as well as a golden statue
sacred to the village. Tepulpai and Naira, a boy and girl, decide to travel to Cusco to get the statue back, accompanied by their
pets, a llama and an armadillo. Although this magical film doesn't seek to be accurate, it does delve past the
popular understanding of the Inka Empire and gets quite a few things right: The Inkas were ethnically and culturally different from the
peoples they conquered. The Quechuas were nature worshippers, focusing particularly on apus (mountain peaks), unusual rocks, and sources
of water, while the Inkas claimed to be descendents of the sun and focused their worship sunward.
The Inkas did indeed collect taxes of crops and labor, and probably some of the kings were as out of touch as the one in Pachamama
seems to be, refusing to believe the reports of white-skinned invaders. We also see chaskis, offerings of first fruits, mummified
ancestors who are consulted and revered, and even a few Quechua words (kirkinchu for armadillo, pututu for the chaski's conch).
This French production is a beautifully animated film full of adventure, wonder, and laughs. Let's hope it is dubbed into Quechua soon.
Coming to Netflix in the summer of 2019.
Trailer: vimeo.com/157586595 Available on Netflix: netflix.com/title/81029736
Sinopsis en español:
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PATORUZITO
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Patoruzito is a Tehuelche boy living in Patagonia, and is the last descendant of the Patoruzek dynasty. When the time
comes for him to become cacique, Cachicó, another boy his age, challenges him. Cachicó teams up with the evil
archaeologist Mr. Ferguson, who seeks the missing half of an ancient Egyptian amulet in a hidden valley sacred to the
Tehuelches. This is decent entertainment for kids. Based on the comic strip begun in 1945 by Dante Quinterno (which was
in turn based on the adult version of the character, Patoruzú, who first appeared in 1928).
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PATORUZITO 2: LA GRAN AVENTURA
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Patoruzito is invited to march in a parade in Buenos Aires. He and his friends go to the capital and encounter
further adventures when they stay in a haunted house. The second Patoruzito has fewer Indian characters
than the first movie.
Sinopsis en español:
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PIRATAS EN EL CALLAO (Pirates in Callao) Director: Eduardo Schuldt Writers: Pipo Gallo, Hernan Garrido Lecca Animation: Alpamayo Studios Music: Diego Rivera 2005. 78 minutes. Setting: Callao, Peru, Language: Spanish Indian Content: medium-low Released on: DVD ![]() ![]()
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In 1969, a class on a field trip visits the colonial fortress Real Felipe in the port town of Callao a few miles from
Lima, Peru. One boy, Alberto, is inexplicably transported back in time to 1624, when Peru is about to be invaded
by Dutch pirates. Alberto is invisible to the people of 1624, but that doesn't stop him from falling in love with
the Indian girl Urpi. He resolves to help her and her older brother Tupac, who plan to join forces with the
pirates to defeat the Spanish. The plot--based on 1996 children's book by Hernán Garrido Lecca--is quite
complicated, but the dialogue and humor seem intended for younger children, and the whole cartoon feels like a
product. This was the first computer animated film in Peru or in Latin America, and the art isn't so bad for
a fledling effort by 14 animators. It's a valiant effort, but they should have taken more care to construct a
quality story to go along with the technology. Also available in an English-dubbed version.
Sinopsis en español:
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POPOL VUH Director / writer: Patricia Amlin Animators: Patricia Amlin, Joanne Corso, Martha Corzycka, Bud Luckey Narrators: Larry George (Yakima) Voices: Teatro Campesino Music: Tod Boekilheide, Xochimoki, Mazatl Galindo, Jim Berenholtz 1988. 60 minutes. Rated G. Setting: Guatemala, pre-Columbian times Language: English Indian Content: high Released on: institutional DVD (for libraries & museums) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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A creative adaptation of the ancient Quiche text. The
unusual animation is based on actual Mayan art, morphing back and forth from
still images to movement, and from authentic art to more stylized animation. The
intended audience seems to be children, but the slippery Ovidian transitions
between episodes and the overall weirdness may be disorienting to people
unfamiliar with the myths. This film will appeal best to those who are already
fans of Mayan culture. Patricia Amlin also directed Five Suns: A Sacred
History of Mexico.
Sinopsis en español:
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RIO 2096: UMA HISTÓRIA DE AMOR E FÚRIA
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Loosely based on Tupinambá mythology, the film tells the story of Abeguar, a warrior who has been chosen by the god Munhã
to protect his people from the evil spirit Anhangá, who will seek to destroy them again and again throughout the ages. The first
sign of evil is the arrival of white strangers from two tribes, France and Portugal, who invade their land. Abeguar and his
wife Janaína escape by turning into birds and flying away. The story then advances to other times: a slave revolt in
1825, a student insurgency movement against the dictatorship in 1968, and a war over water in a resource-starved future
in 2096. In each scenario, Abeguar and Janaína are reborn as different people and must fight oppression all over again.
A very unique and original film. Official website (in English or Portuguese): umahistoriadeamorefuria.com.br/en/ Facebook page (Portuguese): facebook.com/umahistoriadeamorefuria
Resumo em português:
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THE ROAD TO EL DORADO Dreamworks Studios Directors: Don Paul, Bibo Bergeron Writers: Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott 2000. 89 minutes. Rated PG. Setting: a Mayan city, 1512. Language: English Indian Content: medium Released on: DVD ![]() ![]() ![]()
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Tulio and Miguel are a couple of Spanish con artists who flee from the police by jumping on a
boat which takes them to the New World. There they try to convince the
locals that they are gods, aided by the curvaceous thief Chel.
Taking advantage of tensions between the emperor and
the religious leader, the two rogues manage to put an end
to human sacrifice while also scoring a treasure of gold. The humor works
principally through an annoyingly contemporary sarcasm, expressed through
Tulio and Miguel's cliche buddy-banter. The voices, facial expressions,
and gestures are all reproduced with slavish accuracy to 1990s pop culture,
leaving little screentime for Mayan culture. However, the background artwork is
sumptuous--the architecture, artifacts, jungles, and costumes are all so
beautiful that no one should mind the historical inaccuracies. And the
special effects used for the magic sequences are also impressive. This film came out the same
year as Disney's The Emperor's New Groove. Although Disney's Incan
cartoon is funnier, Dreamwork's Mayan adventure sports better artwork, and
will probably appeal more to fans of Indian culture.
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TOKI LEFTXARU
Studio: ChileToons 2010. 70 minutes. Setting: Mapuche territory, 1534-1557 Language: Spanish Indian Content: high Released on: DVD ![]() ![]() ![]()
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Based on the life of Leftxaru (1534-1557), chief warrior (Toki) of the Mapuches, who led several successful battles
against the Spanish. His father Curiñancu was also a Toki, and gave his son a name that means "swift falcon." Leftxaru
sees his father die in a battle with the Winkas (foreigners) and is captured by them. He lives with the Winkas for several
years, learning their strategies, strength and weaknesses, their weapons and their horses, until he is old enough to escape
and lead his people against them. The art is simple but effective, and the battle scenes are not bloody, making this
cartoon suitable ideal for kids. The DVD (available from Amazon) has no subtitles, but the Spanish is spoken slowly and is
very easy to understand. Leftxaru's name is pronounced Leftraru here, as it is sometimes spelled in other sources.
Based on the graphic novel series Histocomix.
Sinopsis en español:
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