Dora and the Lost City of Gold

review | Dora and the Lost City of Gold

This imaginative live-action translation of the Nickelodeon series offers an adventure-filled family night at the movies

by John Sciacca
update June 7, 2023

Based on the animated Nickelodeon series Dora the Explorer, Dora and the Lost City of Gold modernizes many of the beloved characters and puts them on a jungle adventure. My oldest daughter, Lauryn, used to watch the animated series, so I was familiar with the main characters: Dora (Isabela Merced), her cousin Diego (Jeff Wahlberg, nephew of those other Wahlbergs), Swiper the stealing fox (voiced by Benicio Del Toro), and Boots the monkey (voiced by Danny Trejo). I also knew about Doras talking Map and Backpack, whose voices are reprised by original voice actors Marc Weiner and Sasha Toro respectively.

Fortunately, you arent required to know anything about the animated series to enjoy City of Gold, but those who are will appreciate some of the clever overt and subtle nods and references to the series sprinkled throughout, such as how Dora occasionally turns to the camera and says things like, This is a golden poison frog. Can you say, severe neuro-toxicity?’” which is one of cartoon-Doras signature educational moves.

There’s a fair bit of action for a kids movie, certainly enough to keep adults entertained, but most of it is fairly tame. And while there is some peril, there are no fatalities or gunplay. Much of the adventure is Goonies-style, with rolling logs, underground water slides, and different puzzle-traps to solve. It also reminded me a bit of Lara Croft-lite, with adventuring Dora taking point and using her wits and skills to lead the group.

Both Boots and Swiper are animated in a far more cartoony style than the hyper-realistic animals featured in The Lion King (2019) but this is by design. However, a couple of other animals (namely a boa constrictor and pair of scorpions) also show their CGI-origins. The film does contain one fully animated scene, which is a great homage to the original series.

Dora on 4K HDR looks way better than any kids movie has any right to. My first note on the film was, Image is super clean and sharp.” Filmed in ArriRaw in 3.4 and 4.5K, Dora is taken from a true 4K digital intermediate, and the image quality definitely shows. Closeups reveal individual strands of hair, the texture of clothing fabric, and the detail of the jungle terrain.

Colors are also vibrant, with lots of bright yellows, greens, blues, and reds. This is especially true in the closing credits song-and-dance number, where the school student body comes together in multi-colored outfits. The bright, daytime jungle scenes also look terrific. And there are a few shots of bright fires and blazing sunsets that also benefit from the wider color gamut, as well as the brilliant, lustrous gold of statues and idols.

HDR is used throughout to deliver deep blacks, especially during the night scenes or when the gang is inside some location solving a puzzle. In one scene, they need to use sunlight and mirrors to bounce bright light around a room using reflective bowls, producing both dark blacks and piercing brightness.

Sonically, Dora also benefits from a fairly dynamic Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The jungle is filled with atmospheric sounds like birds, insects, and dripping water that immerse you in the location. During one scene, arrows whip past and overhead or thunk into walls. The sound team takes other opportunities to get creative with the sound placement, like a ringing school bell, Boots racing around the jungle treetops, water flooding the room, or voices. Bass is also appropriately deep and engaging when called for, especially during the finale at Parapata.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold makes for a fun family night at the movies—entertaining and humorous for adults (my wife especially liked the dig a pooh hole” song), without being too intense or mature for kids. Its a film younger viewers may want to visit more than once, drawn to Doras infectious charm. It also has the bonus of looking and sounding terrific in your home system, making it a real win in my book.

Probably the most experienced writer on custom installation in the industry, John Sciacca is co-owner of Custom Theater & Audio in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, & is known for his writing for such publications as Residential Systems and Sound & Vision. Follow him on Twitter at @SciaccaTweets and at johnsciacca.com.

PICTURE | Dora on 4K HDR looks way better than a kids movie has any right to, with images that are super clean and sharp

SOUND | Dora also benefits from a fairly dynamic Dolby Atmos soundtrack, with the jungle filled with atmospheric sounds like birds, insects, and dripping water that immerse you in the location

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