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Review: Atlantis
A new Disney Animated Feature is a happy day for me. I've filed in to see them all for so many years now. Even if they are wretched (Pocohantes anyone?) I'm there, usually opening night, hoping for the magic that I've found in so many of them (Fantasia, Bambi, The Little Mermaid). I love animation. I love eye candy. And so help me, I love a good 75 minute action/comedy animated by Disney, and written by the disney-borg-committee that panders to a lowest common denominator of blandness and PC blah. And this time I was surprised.
Atlantis is good. Not knock-your-socks-off good, but solidly entertaining. It has its shortcomings (more on that later) but at its core it is a solid adventure movie, with great visuals and a plot that keeps you wondering what's going to happen next. I found the characters weak for my tastes (but nothing compared to Suck Raider which I saw only hours before and simply wanted every character to die a painful death just as soon as possible).
Allright, the general plot. We've all heard of Atlantis right? Well Milo wants to find it. Of course his Grandpa was an archaeologist too. A master researcher in the field who's long left our hero. Milo lucks out by finding a wealthy old man who's going to back his search for the lost city because he owes the old man a favor. A crew of misfits is assembled, and they set out for the city. Of course they discover the city, have a few adventures, scuffle with the locals, an enemy is revealed from among them, and gigantic battles and sacrifices must be made to save Atlantis, and perhaps even the whole world.
Nothing hugely original. And neither are the characters. Milo is of course the geeky one. In this case Linguist and Cartographer voiced by Michael J Fox. He's fairly unoriginal, and while capably voiced, I can't help but having a problem with Fox. I keep expecting him to proclaim that if the submarine can only get up to 88 miles an hour, then they'll be able to save the professor. I know, its my fault.
The captain is voiced by James Garner, and his sexy (and uniquely designed for a disney character) assistant solier Claudia Christian for all you Bab 5 fans. We also have a cast of misfits including the bland, forgettable and obnoxious Mole obviously inserted to appeal to the brain dead. A crazy flourist turned bomb specialist who has most of the best funny lines. "Cookie" the cook is voiced by Jim 'Hey Vern' Varney in his last role unless there are Earnest movies in hell. And who are we kidding, there will be.
The major Atlantians are the predictable king type voiced not unsurprisingly my Leonard Nemoy, and Princess Kida, the Love Interest, voiced by Cree Summers (most familiar as the white chick on A Different World, but she's been doing voices for cartoons for awhile including Elmyra on Tiny Toons, and Penny on Inspector Gadget. Not the freaky looking broderick flick, the TV show. Doesn't that one take ya back?) who does a pretty darn solid job considering the part seemed sorta weak.
The story is fairly predictable, but never boring. The dialog is fairly sharp, all the voice work is respectable. Except when The Mole does anything the movie is entertaining.
Largely this is due to the excellent visuals throughout. From the submarine, to the first battle with a monstrous sea robot at the mouth of the cave that leads to Atlantis, right to the final battle between the Good Guys and The Bad Guys, each action sequence looks good. The computer effects are seamlessly integrated with the 2D hand drawn stuff. And even more scary is the amazing shots where the backgrounds are actually more or less fully 3D sets, but look convincingly 2D even as we rotate around them. The guys responsible for those shots deserve pats on the back.
Basically, what we have here is a finely crafted film. Skilled film makers have created a fun ride. Most surprisingly is that this one panders a lot less to children then, say, The Emperors New Groove. The kid jokes are there, but they're much more spaced out for a change, and instead, we get to enjoy a story.
I wish the characters were stronger. Most disney movies we get a few characters that hold their own, but I feel like none of the characters here are exceptional. They look good. They sound good. But they don't feel so good. If it wasn't for the fact that the plot is fun and doesn't take any breaks, we'd probably notice that they're fairly bland.
Anyway I recommend this one to anyone who likes Disney, Animation, or a decent Adventure story told with great visuals. It doesn't have the Magic of Beauty and the Beast, but then again, it never breaks out into a terrible song either. It's definitely a different direction for a Disney flick, but I think its worth the time.
While I did not see Titan AE, I did see WB's "The Iron Giant", which takes the attitude and approach of this film one step further with a few more deeper insights (eg nuke war) without candy coating it. It got snubbed at the theaters, mostly due to poor advertizing by WB.
What I thought was most impressive here was that people did die from violent actions as well as a few 'monstrosities' as determined lately by Disney. For example, the communcations lady was smoking most of the time; Disney has taken some liberal edits in the past to cut out all references to smoking in some of their films from the 60s released to VHS today. Given the attitude of late of "won't someone think of the children!" this was a nice thing to see that they are facing up the realities of the genre.
The other thing that I liked was that there was humor, not forced, and in some cases rather subtle. It's not a laugh-riot throughout like "Emporer's New Groove", but it certainly helps to liven up some of the slower parts. And the humor is not just kiddie-stuff; there's some that will put a smile on adults' faces as well.
Overall, it's not a waste of $5-$8 (depending on when you see it), at least to see how Disney tackles 'serious animation'. However, because of Shrek's early appearence in the summer, I suspect this will barely break even (it doesn't have the repeat viewing for kids as Lion King did), and will probably have Disney revert back to the Song and Dance animation that people typically expect.
"Pinky, you've left the lens cap of your mind on again." - P&TB
"I can see my house from here!" - ST:
Not true. Lots of people agonize over whether the 7th bit in word 4 of the 5th start packet in is set to true or false and how it relates to the 's latest attempt to subvert individual freedom.
h tm l
By the way. For a much more insightful review:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/atlan15f.
Cree is very cool. I actually ended up sitting beside her on a flight up to Canada. You may actually remember her from that Cosby show spin off (A Different World). She has done a lot of voice overs, and she likes doing it, but her real thing is music actually.
sigs are a waste of space
I saw it tonight. The kids thought it was ok, but I wouldn't pay for it again. I found the political correctness stuff annoying, but what else do you expect from Hollywood these days. What bugged me was that Atlantis is supposed to be a Greek/Mediterranean(sp) myth, but the people and buildings looked to me like they should be in the south Pacific (some things reminded me of those huge stone heads...can't remember what island they're on). The explosives guy was the only one I liked. Also, did Disney get lazy and decide to not put the effort in drawing faces for the soldiers and put them all in gas masks all the time. The time period was supposed to be 1914, so that would have been before most of the gas warfare in WWI. I'm not sure why it got a PG rating either. The scantily clad sexy princess? Chain smoking radio operator who sleepwalks in the nude? The gunfights? Better than the content in Shrek.
It sucks that in order to enjoy any movie nowdays, you have to turn your brain off.
the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
So, you're saying that in this movie, The Mole is The Mole?
Well, that's about right, seeing how Moliere (who on occasion looks frighteningly like Totoro, but then the directors are avowed Miyazaki fans) is the one major concession to the kids in the audience.
For what it's worth, here's my one-sentence review of Atlantis: The Lost Empire. I enjoyed and am quite fond of this movie, but I'm somewhat disappointed that it had a lot of things that could and should have been tightened up.
I didn't die once! Perhaps that's a sign it was easy, but there was none of the frustration of having to try several times to hit the swinging log just right to beat the boss in the first tomb, and the revolving planets contraption, while tricky, was mastered on the first try. Good thing I didn't get caught in those arms - ouch!
Between the gameplay were some movie sequences which were very smooth, well-rendered, and for a video game, the acting was passable as well.
I guess my only complaint was that I didn't really get the chance to figure some of the stuff out, like the right spot to place the clock key and that you had to ring the bell to destroy the ice wall (though I probably could have maybe figured the bell one out if I had a couple hours to just sort things out in my mind.)
oh, it's a movie?
--
Vidi, Vici, Veni
Isn't this a little like comparing the jesus myth to that of Mithra and the rest of the godmen?
Through denial or ignorance, people just don't care that it's the same thing rehashed.
"Hey, it's a good story!"
-- but is it really?
Belief is the currency of delusion.
Indeed, Taco is a frustrated journalist / editorialist / Public Web Site Owner Trying To Please The Public.
... You don't suck, people do.
Taco: you're doing a good job buddy. Keep 'em coming
I love the fact that this movie is politically correct. Yes, you have a german person (heavy accent, too) who looks basically like hitler and who loves blowing things up. But he's a florist.
Don't know it this makes it more or less politically correct, but demolition expert Vincenzo Santorini is Italian. From Palermo. The heavy accent is Italian, not German.
and then tell me I'm wrong for having them, and that I should just shut up because I'm evil and dear god does this website suck now
Ahhh yes. First come the dilated pupils, then come the paranoid delusions of persecution. This is a path I know well. Go with the feelings Taco - don't try to fight it.
:wq
Jolie is hardly the hottest woman in Hollywood. Heaven forbid Taco actually prefers substance instead of watching bouncing, enhanced breasts. Not only do I consider Jolie to be one of the less attractive female actresses, I would choose a quality Disney film over a plotless, characterless action film any day. Some of us aren't controlled by the organ between our legs. Some of us don't need "the hottest woman in hollywood shoot guns and kill things" to convince us that we are red blooded males.
It's even more EMBARRASSING that there is a double R in the word EMBARRASSING.
She's Native American - and has quite the voice over resume. http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Vine/4993/ It looks as if she's been doing this stuff forever...
III.IIVIVIXIIVIVIIIVVIIIIXVIIIXIIIIIIIIVIIIIVVIII
...m all wrong for having them, and that I should just shut up because I'm evil and dear god does this website suck now. Oh, the short review, I dug it. There might be minor spoilers, so if you wanna avoid them, fle...
It's funny 'cuz it's true!
"and dear god does this website suck now." -- CmdrTaco
Not to mention running in slow motion was a game feature I never thought they would add...
I guess I can stop submitting the "Not enough bouncing breasts" bug i found...
YouTube & Google Video -> podcast http://castcluster.blogspot.com/
"I hated seeing the hottest woman in hollywood shoot guns and kill things... but this new disney cartoon rocks!" -CmdrTaco
YouTube & Google Video -> podcast http://castcluster.blogspot.com/
I don' t really like to read the movie reviews in Slashdot ( hell I disagree with movie critics in general on principle because whether you like or dislike a movie in general is really a matter of pure taste ). I went to see Swordfish today; I saw but refused to read the Slashdot review and the comments about the movie. If you think this is movie about hacking or cracking or whatever you missed the boat. Swordfish with it's firefights and car chases is a formulaic movie albeit an extremely well done and was worth the price. And now today I am reading on Slashdot an Atlantis review and even though I do not like Disney animation and without a doubt prefer Japanimation especially Princess Monoke and Ghost in the Shell, I do intend to see Atlantis for the visuals look good. However it is my opinion that the slashdot reviewer is clueless. While reading the review I came across the fact that Cree Summer was the white chick in A Different World, and I said to myself hold on, there were two white chicks in that show? Even though I didn't see that many episodes of what I thought was a boring spin-off of a very good show I do know that Marisa Tomei was the white chick (well that's probably what the audience called her anyway too) so who was the other? After researching (if you can call looking for pics, using google, research ) I found the actress Cree Summer the reviewer referred to was a chick but definitely not white -- at most she was biracial and an apparently talented artist. Now if the reviewer can't bother to check simple facts please no review. I have an even better suggestion for Slashdot: No more movie reviews, no more articles about hybrid cars and homemade rockets and other IMO filler...I'd really like to see Slashdot articles to focus on computers and related issues, especially articles about Linux and free-software. If I want to read movie reviews and articles about hybrid cars and home-made rockets I'll read PREMIERE or Popular Mechanics. If I must read one more movie review here I pray that it's the Matrix 2 and that's it. Oh yea and no more Jon Katz; I mean theres over-intellectualizing and pseudo-intellectualizing. Jon's stuff is over-pseudo-intellectualizing -- which should not be confused with pseudo-over-intellectualizing.
ALL of the hyenas were not only dark-skinned, but voiced by black voice talents Since when has Cheech Marin been black?
********************
I object to Intellect without Discipline.
> seems like Disney has reached a new low,
> ripping off Anime like that
Nah, they've been this low before. Look
around the net about "The Lion King", which ripped
off large chunks of Tezuka's "Jungle Emperor"
(parts of which were released in the US as
"Kimba the White Lion").
Chris Mattern
I thought that CmdrTaco reads the Filthy Critic.. he could at least pick up a few gems in there. He sounds like the local sour movie critic you expect in a city newspaper.
A good example from a reader of said site: "I saw this movie on an airplane, and despite the obvious danger, I almost walked out."
--
One future, two choices. Oppose them or let them destroy us.
Sentence fragments. Good device. If used sparingly. Annoying. When used too often.
Never take moderation advice from sigs, including this one.
"...the Love Interest, voiced by Cree Summers (most familiar as the white chick on A Different World..." Hahah nice. Taco you're color blind, which is a noble thing, but hello, Cree Summer is African American. The "white chick" you are referring to is most certainly Marisa "Oscar Fluke" Tomei. Sheesh.
Rob,
:) The incredible sequence of the Atlantean Leviathan attacking the submarine Ulysses was just downright breathtaking, to say the least.
I actually agree with most of your sentiments of Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
However, I have a gripe about the movie: the expository section of the movie (e.g., the first 15 minutes after the destruction of Atlantis) felt very choppy and rushed. I hope they expand out that part of the movie (maybe add in 10-12 minutes) in the near future to better flesh out the characters of Milo Thatch and Preston Whitmore, the benefactor that financed the expedition.
But once the expedition got going, the movie definitely got WAY better.
By the way, Princess Kidagakash (aka Kida) is one of the more interesting female characters to come out of a Disney animated feature. Kidagakash has the sexy look of Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, the earthy look of Pocahantas, the intelligence and curiousity of Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and (initially) some apsects of San from Mononoke Hime.
I should warn people that if they are prone to motion sickness I would be leery about watching this movie--some action sequence have fast-moving up-down motion that can be quite disorienting.
By the way, try to see this movie in the largest screen possible and make sure the theatre has THX-certified sound system installed. I saw the movie in such a theatre and it tremendously improves the enjoyment of the movie.
I am definitely looking forward to the DVD release (likely next February).
- How could Milo speak Atlantean, a language that didn't even use a modern alphabet, if it's a dead language? He'd only read it, no one alive (well, outside of the lost city) had ever heard it spoken.
- How could Kida speak modern French and English perfectly? Both those languages had yet to exist when Atlantis sank 8,500 years ago.
- How could the captain know what any page in the book would represent based on the pictures alone? Milo was the only one of them who could read it, and they repeatedly said so.
Sorry, Disney, try hiring writers that pay attention to detail next time you want to appeal to a more grown-up audience.That alone made it worth watching for me...
Roight! Stop that! Stop that singing!
Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
They did a great job of giving Atlantis the mystique it needed to be interesting. It's like they borrowed the appeal of Egyptology and applied it to a similarly intriguing myth... and pulled it off.
I'll probably go see it again, if only because I had lousy seats after getting busted trying to bring drinks into the theatre and having to stand outside and gulp them down.
CmdrTaco, I read your opinions, and all I can say is that you're wrong for having them.
Honestly, you should jusr shut up now, because you're evil.
And dear God! Has anyone else noticed how this website SUCKS now?
Ah, yes, that makes sense. I haven't seen "bad" anime that does 3d rendering together with 2d hand-drawn stuff, but now that you mention it, the effect certainly WAS there a little. You don't notice though, because the film is engrossing. I don't think you often see large characters together with large views of the environment. More so it'll do either close-ups or huge pannings.
~
Some questions about Taco's review: "And even more scary is the amazing shots where the backgrounds are actually more or less fully 3D sets, but look convincingly 2D even as we rotate around them. The guys responsible for those shots deserve pats on the back. "
Does he mean "more or less 2d but manage to LOOK convinciginly 3d?" Why would anyone want something to look convincingly 2d?
And secondly,
I found the characters weak for my tastes (but nothing compared to Suck Raider which I saw only hours before and simply wanted every character to die a painful death just as soon as possible).
I agree with you that the characters are weak, but how on Earth did you manage to come up with an off-topic phrase like "Suck Raider" just so you can include it in the sentence?? C'mon Taco. And "wanted every character to die a painful death just as soon as possible" is so unoriginal that the last time I laughed at that I fell off my stegosaurus.
And last, but not least, Taco, pal, I value your opinion, however evil you may be and dear god however much this website sucks now. C'mere you big lug.
~
Saw this over at Memepool:
t /atlantis.html
http://www.newgrounds.com/frames.php?location=/li
(warning: pop-ups aplenty)
end communication
What I found unusual was that even though Roger Ebert said the ending had a "turning, brilliant climax" the ending itself was actually really weak. You pretty much know halfway through how it's going to end, and the movie doesn't really excite in that sense.
I thought some of the characters were more memorable than the actual plot, and the guy who blows stuff up is one of the funniest Disney characters in a long time. My favorite part is when he's describing his childhood: "My parents worked in a flower store. We had to make those little flowers people wore to proms. And they'd come in and say 'This doesn't match my dress!' But then, one day, I saw a gas explosion across the street. No more Chinese laundry. I had found my calling."
The time period (it's supposed to be 1920-30) also leads to a few weird instances. Not with the technology (which you can let go in a flick), but the montage of characters, who are suprisingly mixed for a "undersea crew" of the 1920's. There's a black doctor, and even a noticable female Spanish mechanic. Didn't know political correctness was ripe back then. :)
Finally, I was more than a little confused by the movie's rating: PG. I wracked my brain and couldn't think of any previous Disney feature cartoons that were rated anything other than G (I know a few of the live-action movies are automatically PG and above). What was really strange is that the violence was no worse than some previous Disney cartoons. Most villians die in their flicks (Oliver & Company had a car hit by a train, The Great Mouse Detective had the villian fall from Big Ben), but there wasn't one kid in the theater even remotely perturbed by the explosions (presumably with people in them). I remember more kids crying when Bambi died (which was rated G).
Overall, it's a pretty good flick. Definitely "matinee" material, but if you have kids you really can't go wrong (lines like: "I have the four basic food groups: Bacon, Grease, Whiskey, and Lard" are for the adults). Also, very much different than most Disney animated films (not a musical, only action) so catch the anime-like goodness while they're free to copy it. :)
Such a brave metaphor for someone who is famous for flagrantly violating certain rules of spelling and construction. I think our Commander has been holding out on us, and will soon inundate us with such opulent metaphors as "this film sucked with the voracity, but not the skill, of Monica Lewinsky" or "rough winds do shake the darling buds of May". Everyone will soon be talking about "that guy who started slashdot".
Taco: You're a poet, though you don't know it.
"What is the sound of one belly slapping?"
If only Disney advertising people knew the difference between capital "Lambda" and "Alpha"... Throwing in a couple of Greek letters in all the wrong places is not cool, sorry.