ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE

2001

Why did I think this was a Disney animated film? There was no catchy songs in it. There was no cute wise-cracking animal sidekick. And whoever heard of a Disney cartoon in which anyone, let alone hundreds of people, die? All this and lots of adult humor earned Disney its first-ever PG rating for an animated film. Michael J. Fox voices Milo Hatch, a nerdy historian who leads a band of specialists through the ocean's depths to the lost city of Atlantis. Listen for the voices of James Garner, Leonard Nemoy, John Mahoney, the late Jim Varney and the guy who plays Father Guido Sarducci (it took me awhile to get THAT one). The animation is rough and coarse compared to the recent advancements made in Dinosaur and Shrek, but for me it gave the film more of a personality. Along with the throwback animation, the story itself felt like a throwback to the great adventure films of years gone by. Its funny, its clever, its well-paced and not for children. I loved it. And its about time that old lady from the Hallmark cards got some more work.

4.5 Stars

CDF

Don't expect singing lions or waltzing beasts in this summer's Disney film. Instead, the powers-that-be at Disney Studios have decided to take their animation on a bold leap into the 21st Century with this tale of the legendary city under the sea. The story is that of a group of explorers in the year 1914 who, using a newly-discovered ancient text, set off on a journey to find Plato's lost continent of Atlantis. Each member of this band has a different motive for finding it, and each meets his/her appropriate fate. But the story takes a back seat to the animation, which is more astonishing and spectacular than anything that Disney has ever done before. Borrowing freely from the Japanese "anime" drawn films, the look is sharp-edged and less three-dimensional than usual. Think "action-comic-book style" in the best sense of the term. It's thrilling and exciting. Some of the dramatic scenes are reminiscent of such films as "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Star Wars." The most recognizable voices in a fine ensemble cast are those of Michael J. Fox, James Garner, Don Novello ("Father Guido Sarducci") and Leonard Nimoy. This is one for the entire family, but leave those with no imagination at home!

5 Stars

NJB