1 The best Disney film!
In my opinion this IS the best Disney film (Treasure Planet and Tarzan being great too), it's just different from the "princessy" fairy tales or cutesy classics everyone thinks of when they think of Disney, particulary with animated Disney movies. But personaly, I liked this way better, and don't really understand how it got so under-rated. I wont talk to much on the plot because I'm sure you can read that else where, it was a little confusing, and in some places hard to follow, with a few things that just plain don't make scence, but a good adventure plot. This movie has a lot more action than your typical Disney film, but I appreciate it for this. It has a great animation style too, which really adds to the movie. It was obvious that this movie was meant for slightly older aduiences than the "classics", but is still a good family watch. I'm just not sure if real little kids would understand the somewhat confusing and involved plot real well. The characters are pretty good (with Mole being just abnoxious), and the movie is just fun to watch, I recommed it.
2 Pure Disney garbage!
Yuck! Hard to believe that this was done by the same studio that once brought you classic animated films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Lady and the Tramp, The Rescuers or The Little Mermaid. This has to be the worst Disney animated release ever. The animation may be good, but the whole style and "art" is horrible.
Not only is this a complete rip-off of Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, the problem is that this isn't half as great! Even having the same story-line. Atlantis - The Lost Empire focuses on bringing a comedy directed at teenagers, a way to do this is by adding stupid, tasteless jokes, loud noises and heavy machineries and by keeping it songless. Like every other Disney animated feature to be aimed at grown-ups, this is yet another complete failure.
I would like to describe the plot for you readers, but I simply can't, I watched the movie and found myself completely lost by a twirling and confusing plot line which makes the film completely uninteresting. From Disney we've come to spect more, although after releases like this, Hercules, The Emperor's New Groove and Home on the Range, I don't know what to think anymore.
Terrible, don't waste your time or your money on this, Disney will probably use money earned to make another stupid filmas bad or worse than this one, which is hard to imagine.
0/5
3 One of my top ten movies of all time
It saddens me when movies are held to standards that they never even intended to meet. Atlantis, being a Disney feature, was automatically pigeon-holed as the requisite yearly installment of the company's "family films". With Atlantis, however, Disney took a chance and went in a completely different direction. Here we see the abandonment of the tried and true saccharine plots and fuzzy characters. Forgive poor Atlantis for having no sequences where the main characters burst into song; it simply had no place in a movie whose story was geared towards a slightly older audience.
I've read various reviews of the movie, where critics condemn the movie for having a "contrived" storyline. Contrived is one of those words that pretentious people use in the place of "I didn't understand", "Not what I expected", or "I have a short attention span and couldn't keep up." While Atlantis has its share of cliches, it does not apologize for them, and even pokes fun at itself for their use. For example, Milo is every passive and gangly bookworm scientist ever. There is a scene where Kida identifies him as a scientist just by looking at him, making fun of his build and large glasses, saying that he isn't fit to be anything else. This is also an example of how while Atlantis has a more serious storyline, the movie never takes itself so seriously as to become an ill-conceived melodrama.
The thing about Atlantis that really won me over, however, was the art direction. It is simply a beautiful movie. It had the perfect blend of hand-drawn and computer-generated imagery. This is a balance that so many films fail to establish; either there are only specks of poorly rendered CG, which stand out like sore thumbs amidst the cleaner and brighter 2D, or there is an excess of CG, which if coupled with inferior animation can really drain a film's vitality. As is to be expected of Disney's high production capabilities, however, Atlantis showcases the best of both worlds, and so seamlessly as to never break the continuity of the narrative.
The people who have a problem with this movie are those who held it against their own preconceptions for what the next "Disney family film" should be, rather than watching and appreciating it for its own merits. If you haven't seen this movie yet, then I highly recommend it, and I suggest that you go in with an open mind, because only then can you fully take in all it has to offer.
Excellent, through and through...
4 Underrated.
This film is one of Disney's most underrated films ever. The story is about a young linquist, Milo Thatch, who tries to sell his theories about the lost city of Atlantis to a local museum, but he's shot down and laughed at. When all seemed hopeless, an offer from an eccentric billionaire giving him an opportunity of a life time. Milo along with eight other brave comrades explore the ocean deep to find the lost city. Upon their arrival, they soon discover an advanced acient race of Atlantians that are in desparate need of help. This film does however fall into some typical Disney movie cliches like the love story, for example, isn't that original, and the characters aren't as memorable as previous Disney characters. However, I was intriqued though that this is Disney first original film that wasn't based on a fairy tale or told like one, so that made it a lot different than one might expect. I thought the special effect for this movie were simply excellent because Disney does such a great job blending the computer animation with the traditional animated figures, so it's quite impressive. Overall, I think most folks may find this film quite different from other Disney animated films, but if you give this one a chance then you won't be disappointed. A great film for the entire family.
5 Not Very Good
Let me just start this review with one thumb up for at least trying in this low-budget animated DIsney Dull, Atlantis. It starts out as good plot, but ends horribly, and the shabby sequel is just as bad as its idea. This movie, althugh released and having pretty decent amount of stars from critics you'll never hear from again, asn't a soon-to-be classic nor a must-see. It's simply a Disney Dull, like Monsters, Inc.
6 wow
wow....sarcasticly. this was the worst kids movie i have ever seen. it is the worst overall movie i have ever seen. it sucked. wow...i hate Kirk Wise. he should be failing life. its true, even though this brought in some rediculous amount of money that it shouldnt have. i have to tell you a story. one day, i got up, went to school, came home, did my homework til midnight, and went to sleep. this is my schedual. This movie didnt add to my schedual, it made it worse. if fact, it ruined the whole week. i hope this movie dies.
7 Lacklustre Disney Film
Am I glad that this was only a rental. "Atlantis" was one of the worst Disney films I have ever seen. It wasn't as if it was totally imperfect; it certainly had some interesting points to it. The premise of a mysterious civilisation living under the sea was interesting, that's for sure and the backgrounds in Atlantis itself were lovely and lush. Despite these points, the film seemed to fail.
Maybe it was because I was watching it on a TV, but I wasn't exactly blown away at the "powerful" points, although I had hints that it could have been breathtaking on the big screen. Unfortunately, on a big screen, I'm not sure if it merits a viewing, as the animation seems awkward and difficult to watch even on a tiny screen.
There's also a problem with the humor. It's not funny, and is disgusting. For example, we're supposed to find this funny; an old man with nothing on but a dressing gown does some yoga and we are given the impression that his penis accidently goes on show to someone else in the room. In a comedy aimed at adults or teenagers, it's okay, but in a family film, this kind of comedy doesn't seem right. Actually, there's a whole list of elements which don't seem right for a family film. Things don't mesh together. There's a blatant mixture of gross-out and cutey stuff.
What's even sadder is that I've discovered that the directors on this film also directed the wonderful "Beauty and the Beast". Oh well, nevermind...
8 Pleasantly surprised
All Disney hate aside (trust me, I have a lot of it...) I really enjoyed this movie. It's a lot darker, and funnier, and beautiful than every (you heard me) disney movie made. I actually enjoyed being forced to watch this. It's sort of like the majestic, in it's pg, but not really kidloving drivel. I had fun.
9 DISNEY'S FADING MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!
after watching this film i must admit that disney has lost its creative edge. it has hit an all time low with "atlantis: the lost empire". the film fails to impress in any respect. it is a sheer waste of time. moreover it bears the similarities with hayao miyazaki's masterpiece "laputa: castle in the sky" and "nadia: secret of blue water" which again works against it.
wonder where disney's good old days of "beauty and the beast","the little mermaid" and "the lion king" are gone.
just couldnt believe, the people at disney are so out of ideas!
10 It's okay, but it's not Disney's best....
I have wanted to see this movie for a long time, I was all for renting it when I came across a web page with descriptive comparisons between this movie and an anime series "Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water". I admit, I was annoyed by how similar the character designs were. All the screenshots (side to side comparison) were a little too similar, and the anime came first so I had to deal with the fact that Disney may have ripped them off. A while ago I finally got my hands on the movie and watched it, a different film popped in my mind to compare it to. Stargate and it's television series spin-off Stargate SG1.
The character Milo struck me as a Daniel Jackson wannabe and the overall story is kinda similar too.
Milo is a very smart yet highly underestimated young man (who is slightly klutzy)who believes that Atlantis is real, and that there's a book that should help him find it. Everyone thinks he's a joke and don't take him seriously, with the exception of an old rich guy. He has the book and funds a team to go with Milo to search for the city. Milo is an expert in the ancient Atlantis language for some reason, so he can read the stuff they come across as well as the book. Later on he befriends the daughter of the city's leader and she takes him to a secret place where the history of Atlantis is written. Blah, blah, balh let's skip to the end. Milo stays behind with this girl and her people to live with them.
Now onto Stargate.
Daniel Jackson is a very smart yet hightly underestimated young man(who is slightly klutzy)who believes that the pyramids were built by aliens in the past. No one believes him and everyone thinks he's a joke, everyone except an old rich lady who sends him to a military base to translate an ancient language on a circular object that was found years ago (Daniel is very good at translating languages because he studies them as well as cultures. He figures it out and they discover that it opens a wormhole and that it can send them through space. The military sends a team, with Daniel, to go through the gate and investigate. They meet these people (decendents of earthlings that were slaves to a dominating race, they were breeded and spread all over the universe), Daniel can speak their language because it's ancient egyptian. He befriends the daughter of the village leader and she takes him to a secter place that has detailed information on how the people got there and of their enemy.In the end of the movie Daniel stays behind to be with this girl and her people instead of going home.
Other than that they two movies were very different but the comparision still rings true. As for the similarities between Atlantis and that anime; I only saw picture comparisons, I read no comparisions between the storylines of these two works. So that you'll have to judge for yourselves.
All and all, I did like this movie. But it ain't one of the best!
11 A great animation
As far as cartoons go, this is one of my favorites. Most definately ranking in the top 10. One of the reasons is that the animation and CG effects are fantastic. There are many shots where CG and animation are combined and the outcome is a wonderfully animated feature.
I also love the character Milo, voiced by a personal favorite of mine: Michael J. Fox. He is smart and brave and believes in doing what is right. Michael J. Fox's voice made this character wonderful. Also great was the voice and wise-cracks (most of his funny lines were ad-libbed in this movie) of Jim Varney. Regretably, this was his last roll but he made it very memorable. In fact, if you pay attention to his character you will find that the last two lines of this movie were done by somebody else after his passing. :(
The story is pretty good. Milo, a linguist and grandson of a famous archeologist, joins a team with a wide range of skills (and backgrounds) in the search for Atlantis. After going through the adventure of finding Atlantis, Milo makes friends with the inhabitants but finds that the search for Atlantis was not an exploritory mission, but a mission of greed. Milo and a few of the friends he picks up on the way must fight for what is right.
By far, this is a great and humorous film and should be picked up by every family with children. 5 stars, no questions!!!
12 Boring much?
I'm sorry, but if I had to choose one particular Disney film that really lost its audience, this would be it. Aimed at the teenage male crowd (me), it did not hit its mark. Atlantis drags on far too long for the story, and it seems that some of the scenes, like when the side characters share their personal stories, could have been left out for brevity. While it is creatively quite interesting and has really cool dvd menus, the film lacks any of the sparkle that makes other disney films attractive. It also utilizes a smattering of foolish and simple humor to try and win over the audience, but fails yet again.
I hate to do this, but it is a rental, at best.
13 A Great Movie - up to a point
This is one of those movies made during Disney's 'can't-quite-do-anything-right' period which unfortunately exists up to and including the current Home on the Range. Another excellent example of film making via a focus group to end up with a beautifully rendered piece of cods-wallop.
The animation - both traditional and, in the case of the numerous vehicles and special effects - CGI - is wonderful and deserves to be placed high on the Disney-o-meter. The design, based on the works of some comic-book guy who does Hell-Boy (forgive my lack of research!) is as striking and refreshingly different as that of Gerald Scarfe's for Hercules. The characters are, for the most part, free from Disney's seeming need these days to create one-dimentional marketing opportunities instead of well-rounded and fully-developed Characters (spelt with a capital 'C'). The vocal cast are uniformly excellent. And the film is fantastic ... for the first 45 minutes.
The plot's problems, rather perversely, begin once the characters reach the titular city. From then on in it's a load of old new-age boulder-dash based around energy crystals, life-forces and all of that guff. The stronger characters estabished in the first half are relegated to the side-lines and the the rest of the film leads up to a rather poor ending that leaves one quite unsatisfied.
The extras on this collector's edition double-discer are among the best that Disney has produced (and definately are the best up to that point). The menus are well themed and exciting to deal with (as well as wittily starting out as a cod promotional film on the expedition) and the documentaries range from the kid-friendly 'How To Speak Atlantean' to the fascinating 'Making Of's' including a wonderful look at the voice artist's contributions (always a favourite of mine). There is also a fully-animated alternate opening scene which was replaced at the eleventh hour and, sorry guys, you chose to go with the wrong one! The extras can be trawled through one by one or there is a tour feature for the lazy-of-thumb.
On the whole this is a DVD worth buying - just switch the feature off once they get to their destination!
14 A New Age Adventure
Atlantis: The Lost Empire has the most mesmerizing, clear, crisp, animation since Fantasia. The music is also exceptional - I am going to purchase the soundtrack. The story is inventive and original, capitalizing on the intriguing mystery of the lost city of Atlantis.
Michael J. Fox is wonderful as Milo, the unrecognized and unappreciated geek archaelogist who spends his time researching Atlantis and fixing the New York Museum of Natural History's cantankerous boiler in the basement. His life takes a turn when a beautiful woman (voiced by the woman who did the Fairy Godmother's voice in Shrek 2) takes him to a reclusive millionaire who is willing to fund an expedition to search for the legendary city.
Other great voice talent brings the characters to life: Cree Summer as the beautiful Princess Kida, Leonard Nimoy as the King of Atlantis, the late Jim Varney as Cookie, and James Garner as the military leader of the expedition. The movie's creators brought in a linguist who had worked on the Star Trek movies to create an Atlantean language.
The very last scene made me cry. Grab your crystal and some popcorn. The movie is at once dreamy and inspirational, and highly recommended.
15 Another rip-off by Disney!!!
This trashy Disney film is nothing but a rip-off of Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, which is a wonderful japanese anime series.
16 This "Lost Empire" is Waiting to be Discovered!
Any time you stray from the basic formula (even if it hasn't produced anything worthwhile in several years), people are going to question it. Whenever you attempt to try something new, people are going to have mixed reactions. And just because something is supposed to have a certain look, a certain feel, yet goes in an entirely different direction, does not necessarily label it as bad. Such is the case with Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire."
This film was largely passed over by movie-goers simply because it came out during Disney's animated dry spell (which began a long time ago and is still occurring today). I consider it a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered. This movie has a lot going for it - namely because it's not your typical animated fare from Disney. Everyone involved tinkered with a formula that desperately needed an extreme makeover. And for the most part, it worked.
I don't watch a movie for deep, moving storylines. I don't plunk down my eight bucks for a film that will tug at my heartstrings. I tune in to be entertained, plain and simple. And "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" did just that. I enjoyed this movie from the opening scenes to the closing credits. For the first time since "The Lion King" back in 1994, an animated feature from Disney held my interest. And while I wouldn't place it on a pedestal next to likes of "The Lion King" or "Beauty and the Beast" or "The Little Mermaid," it does rank as one of Disney's better animated movies of all time (especially lately).
"Atlantis: The Lost Empire" is not littered with sing-a-long songs. What it does have is an awesome orchestral soundtrack by James Newton Howard (one of the best composers of any era EVER); I disagree with one reviewer who said there wasn't "a breathtaking musical score." What movie were you watching? There isn't a witty sidekick to accompany the main character on his adventure. What the movie does have is several eccentric characters which flesh out the film, rather than relying on the clichˇ partner/chum to spout off nifty one-liners. And the feature isn't cutesy-wutesy like most Disney animated films. It's got some attitude, it's rough around the edges, and it's just plain awesome to look at from a visual standpoint; very exotic. I agree with another reviewer who said this movie is "one of Disney's most underrated films ever made." You hit the nail right on the head.
This movie is not groundbreaking. It will not change your life. But it sure is entertaining. It's got lively voice actors (Michael J. Fox, James Garner, etc.), a delightful Disney heroine in Princess Kida (she ranks up there with Ariel and Beauty, in my opinion), and it's a visually-stunning treat that mixes standard animation with computer-generated effects.
"Atlantis: The Lost Empire" is one of the few good animated films offered from Disney in the past several years. Like I said earlier, it's a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Give it a chance. What have you got to lose? You could waste your time with far worse movies than this one.
17 This is Disney?
I was not impressed AT ALL with this one. The characters were not well drawn, they seemed too "squarish". The animation could have been better and the storyline was rather boring. Don't buy this one, rent it and/or tape it off tv. Don't waste your money.
18 More Political Correctness from Disney
The villain in this movie is a murderous expedition leader who describes himself as a "capitalist". His name? Roark -- an obvious reference to Ayn Rand. I'm not happy with such underhanded attempts to "educate" children with a leftist point of view. This is not to be considered a simple entertaining movie, but a political statement -- and more evidence of Michael Eisner's misdirection. Walt Disney, we miss you more and more.
19 Disney artists are lazy, and this movie is boreing
The artwork is not very detailed, and their is a lot of computer animation instead of actual hand drawn animation.
The story is boring, and there is not much humor.
These complaints are typical of the past 4 years of Disney Movies. This is why I stick with Japanese Anime. Disney sucks!
20 Reviewed by PeaceKeeper
This is one of the best Disney movies I have EVER seen!!! It should be destined to join the Lion King, as one of Disney's classics!! I would recomend it to anyone who is willing to watch it!! Watch this movie and have fun. If you like it, see the sequel. Do not judge a movie from what another person has said, see it and judge it for yourself. And of all things, enjoy yourself.
21 Great Movie, a must see...
This is a great DVD. Sound is excellent. Exciting and keeps you
on your seat thru the whole movie. Great for kids of all ages.
22 Visually Satisfying/Older Kids Fare
Don't write off "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" as Disney's attempt to make an epic adventure tale. Instead, think of it as a modern-day telling of a story that could have easily been written in the late 1800's or early 1900's. It reminded me a lot of the dime-store novels about cowboys and fantastic voyages into outer space. It also reminded me of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." It plays out exactly like those old sci-fi movies from the 50's and 60's. The story is somewhat formulaic: Whiz takes up where Gramps left off on an adventure to find a lost civilization. Along the way, he escapes dangers and perils with the odds unusually stacked against him. So-called allies are enemies, etc.(you get the idea).
There is nothing terribly amazing about this movie(excepting the animation, which I thought was rather lovely). There is no great moral issue pressed upon you as in most other Disney flicks of this stature. The characters won't stick in your mind and there isn't a breathtaking musical score. What there is, however, is a rather intelligently written(though formulaic) script with a few fun lines and a really fun story. If you like movies like "The Rocketeer" and the Indiana Jones trilogy, you'll find this movie rather good to watch. If you don't like adventure flicks, keep away.
This movie will not appeal to the youngsters in your house. My two-year old enjoyed some of the brighter scenes in this movie, but it didn't hold her attention to the degree of "Lion King" or "Alice in Wonderland." Older children(between 9 and 14) will probably like this movie. I rather enjoyed it myself.
It's a fun, intelligent film that won't surprise you in any way, but will leave you satisfied.
23 Disney's attempt at Titan A.E.?
A kid lost his father at a very young age. Said father was working on a very important yet conveniently vague project at the time. A gruff military commando type with a colorful crew of purely comic relief characters shows up a decade later to recruit said kid in a mission to continue the father's work. After some pretty explosions and whatnot, the military commando guy's secret agenda is revealed, he betrays the main character, then he is betrayed by one of his own crew et cetera. Skip to the dogfight on the exterior of a large spherical craft, the good guys win, a whole race gets saved by unlocking some hidden power or another, boy gets girl... sound familiar? It should. Not only is it the entire plot of Atlantis, but it's also part of the plot of Titan A.E., another animated movie that preceeded Atlantis by two years. The big difference was that Titan's plot was a lot more complex and involving, and didn't take a backseat during the action sequences.
The story is fine, the animation is fine, Michael J's performance is great etc. etc., but the one thing that bugs me is the disturbing number of parallels between this movie and Titan. If the plot hadn't been such a total ripoff, then I think this movie would deserve five stars. However, I have to take one off for blatant lack of creativity.
24 Great movie
If you love the disney's "Atlantis", I think you would like to visit the original, Gainax's "Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water".
If you can not get satisfaction with disney's "Atlantis", I recommend Gainax's "Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water", the original of disney's "Atlantis".
25 good film, decent features
An amateur adventurer named Milo is obsessed with finding Atlantis, and after he is financed by an eccentric to become part of a team going there, Milo meets the Atlanteans and finds happiness with them. As one would expect, the animation is gorgeous and the designs are phenomenal, but there were also problems with pacing and plot. I don't think the explorers get to Atlantic until halfway through the film. Also, there is a lot of gunplay and a very long climactic battle. Boring. As for plot points ... well, that would spoil things, but don't use this film to teach your kids logic. We enjoyed the film, but neither adults nor kids wanted to re-watch the film. The voice cast was excellent. There are fewer dvd extras here than are usually found on Disney disks -- commentary and some info about the "real" Atlantis. Audio is in English or French, while subtitles are available only in English.
26 The artwork is starting to become amazing.
There is some seriously excellent artwork in this movie. This excellence is not consistent howevr. I am not sure how that inconsistent artwork happens, lazy director, different teams working on different parts of the movies, don't know. The same thing happens with comic books also. The quality suddenly drops off and then returns. We give it 3 stars for the story which is OK but not worthy of more than 3 stars. There are times when the story make one roll their eyes. As a Disney movie we do like 22 movies better, but 27 less.
Wow. With 315 reviews already written and an Amazon sales rank of 909 this is one of the most popular movies of any genre. Of the 50 animated movies we are ranking this would be 16 on Amazon. We liked it also, but ranked it 23rd out of 50.
27 A Pleasant Surprise
This film was a pleasant surprise for me. The ads on television didn't do the movie justice. It was much better than I expected. Being Michael J. Fox's most recent, and possibly last foray into the big screen, I wanted to see it just for that.
The film follows a team trying to find the legendary city of Atlantis, with MJF's character Milo leading them, using an old manuscript that was willed to him. The characterization is wonderful, with a wide variety of personalities, James Garner playing a wonderful role in this.
This is a good children's movie, but has good qualities that adults would like as well, such as the humor. There are some good underlying messages in this one too. If you like a lot of the new animated films that have been coming out of Hollywood the last few years, you'll love this one. It's much better than Road to El Dorado and Emperor's New Groove. Your kids will probably like it too.
28 Atlantis: the lost empire
This movie was actually kind of weird. Not a typical Disney movie, although I don't know if there really is a 'typical' Disney movie lately.
Toward the end it got kind of trippy and bizarre.
It seemed like the plot wasn't actually all that strong, and there was such mystery surrounding everything - I mean, things weren't explained very well - that it was hard to get fully engaged in what was happening.
It all seemed very rushed and some of it was just weird. Other than that the movie was kinda cool, I guess... it had its funny moments and its cool moments.
Okay, I guess it wasn't the sort of movie I'd really want to see again. Not much strong characterization, not much strong plot, and some general bizarreness... it kind of gave me the impression of writers saying "ehh, I know it lacks something, but I can't be bothered working on this thing for another minute", like I do when I've finished an essay that is technically okay but strongly "lacks something".
29 Disney goes under the sea again
There are two ways to depict Atlantis. The first is how Plato did it- a kindgom on land destroyed by floods. The second is to describe an underwater kingdom, with or without aliens or robots. Disney, of course, chose the second way, without aliens but with robots, or at any rate, mechanical fish.
This movie has its moments, to be sure. But it falls short of compelling drama and emotion of past Disney greats. It includes characters that one would prefer not to see, such as the digger. There are also scenes which include giant iron robots and sudden transformations of people to silver that seem to come out of nowhere. At times characterization seems cliched, as when the camp scolds Michael J. Fox for always reading his book, as if the writers need to confirm he is a nerd. Still, Atlantis is funny, and interesting in its own way, a cross between innocent humour and comic book fantasy.
30 awesome movie
Loved this movie in the theater. Just as good on DVD and the extra features are wonderful.
31 A Stupid Movie... by FilmBoy
A guy named Milo Thatch goes in a submarine to try and find Atlantis. Milo and some other guys (with bad attitudes) actually find Atlantis. At Atlantis, they meet some weird girl. They're trying to find how Atlantis gets power. Will they stay?
In all, I think this was a pretty bad movie. The story's not so good.
32 Stunning visually, story lags a little
This was great movie, but not Disney's best. But I would still highly recommend this one. It's little longer then some but the animation is great and the cast of characters lends to some really funny moments.
33 Surprisingly Good Film.
I sat down in front of the TV not expecting to be WOW'ed at all by this film. I guess they played up the hype entirely too much for me. After watching it, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the story, as well as the voice-acting.
The film follows a group of scientists searching for Atlantis. The young scientist voiced by Michael J. Fox plays the main role as the guide helping them by decyphering an old manuscript. The plot is filled with twists and turns, and would keep even the most antsy kid busy. Speaking of, the film was mainly targetted toward children, but adults should enjoy it as well.
The special edition DVD contains lots of extras, and is well worth getting. Much of it has to do with making of the film, but some of it goes into the language of the atlanteans, etc. It's pretty neat.
If you like animated films, or just like certain actors, maybe you should check this one out. If you're not into animated films, maybe you should give it a chance. I did, and now I own it.
34 Very underrated. BUT NOT FOR KIDS!
So why 3 stars? First off, even though I think this is underrated, It is not something you want to watch with your kids at 8:00. The movie deals with some pretty heavy stuff. Kida, wheres next to nothing, Mr. Rourke gets way to scary at the end and some of the humor is pretty sick. If I didn;t have kids, I would rate this 4.5 stars, but this is not a typical disney movie. I gues sif your kids have watched Star Wars or Star trek, you might not have much of a problem.
35 Tries TOO hard to be serious
This was a fair movie.It had decent action and a few funny moments,but it was ruined by half-hearted animation and it tried to be TOO serious.The plot was made half-enjoyable by an overkill of action and death.It wasn't as good as "Pocahontas," "Beauty and the Beast", "Lion King" or ""Hunchback of Notre Dame."The songs were kind of forgettable and the movie seemed to lag in drama and humor.This was an action filmed that sadly was destroyed by TOO much action and not enough other elements.
36 SO underrated!!
I feel so awful for this movie. I think that its nay-sayers have forgotten (or are too young to remember) the Golden Age of action-adventure filmmaking. Watching "Atlantis" made me feel all over again like I felt as a child watching the "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars" movies for the first time. "Atlantis" marvelously resurrects that wonderful spirit of the romance and mystery that define this long-forgotten brand of high adventure, exploration, and discovery. It would indeed have made a mighty fine fourth "Indiana Jones" movie. And when has Disney ever been lax about coupling these wonderful storytelling elements with distinct and compelling characters? The people populating this movie are as fun and interesting as the story itself, and do a far better job of making you care about them than your average modern action movies does, that's for sure. Now, you take the excellent, old-fashioned adventure story and its delightful characters, and all you need to complete the mix is James Newton Howard's epic, theme-laden score (which is an item worth purchasing all on its own!). I'll admit that the artistic style employed for "Atlantis" is a bit simplistic, angular, and jarring at first, but that wears off very quickly thanks to the nature of the story itself. I haven't stopped recommending "Atlantis" to my friends since I saw it recently on TV (and very quickly bought the amazing 2-disc Special Edition DVD!), and this review merely allows me to do my part in continuing to get the word out: "Atlantis" is a fine action-adventure movie in the spirit of those terrific '80s movies that many of us grew up with and loved, and it should be viewed by all who can get their hands on it! So buy it, sit back, and enjoy the ride. :)
37 Really great.
I'm 13 and what to be an animator more than anything. You have NO idea how much this has helped me! From model sheets to storyboards this is great. It has so much, you'll be overwhelmed! I suggest you buy it, for you dont have to want to be an animator. It's so interesting for everyone! It has a great stroy. And if you loved this one, I also REALLY suggest Miyazaki's "Castle in the Sky". It's great!
38 A good change of pace, the start of a new era for Disney
I recently checked this movie out on TV. Wasn't bad, But wasn't good either. I lked the fact that Disney was exploring new concepts and ideas in this film. Atlantis is visually nice,the animation and CGI wotrked together nicey. However, the plot fell apart. I felt bad about that had this movie's script been thorugh another round in the edits this could have been a groundbreaking film for disney.
The main problem with the story is TOO many characters. Part of successful fantasy/sci-fi is the ability to develop relationships between the characters so that we get to know them. I couldn't root for the hero because I couldn't find him. Milo is overshadowed by the large supporting cast of colorful crewmen. He has very few scenes to establish himself as a hero. His relationship with "Kida" wasn't developed either. I would have liked to seen them develop her character a bit more. Worse, I couldn't find the Villains either. The bad guy wasn't revealed until the near end. Usually in disney films such as the Lion King, Little Mermaid, or Aladddin we know who the main players are. Even in anime such as Dragonball Z we know that Goku, Vegeta and Piccolo are the good guys. Also, there were too many jokes that seemed convoluted. I wish they had played this film as a straight drama. That would have given the writers an opportunity to work out the bugs in the script. I believe another 30 minutes would have tightened the plot mase this a WAY better film.
Disney shouldn't see Atlantis as a failure. It was an ambituous departure from the usual disney fare of big strong heroes, weak heroines, cute animals, and singing dish sets. I would love to see disney try to take risks like this more often. I look forward to the day when Disney makes animated films with adult themes. Here's to hoping this and Treasure Planet aren't the end of a very unique and interesting creative era in the Disney animation division.
39 "I swim pretty girl, pretty good"
If you thought all of Disney animated movies was all G rated. That would not be true. Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a rare Disney animated movie with a PG rating. This movie is not a musical like some of the other animated movies. And you may be disappointed if you love musical animated films from Disney. The only other Disney animated movie that I can think of that has a PG rating is last summer's movie Lilo & Stitch. Michael J. Fox joins other actors like John Goodman, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, David Spade, James Coburn, and Jim Cummings who have all voiced characters in animated movies either down by Disney , thier arch rival Dreamworks, or other companies that does animated movies. As the movie opens, Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox) is a scientist that dreams of fidning the lost city of Altantis in Washington D.C. in 1914. When he is given his late grandfather's book, he joins a crew that is out to find Altantis. Once there, he meets and falls in love with Princess Kidagakash (Cree Summer) whose stubborn father (Leonard Nimoy). The book was given to Milo by a jillonaire (John Mahoney). This movie was directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise who made the wonderful animated Beauty and the Beast. And Michael J. Fox's character sounds like Stuart Little. If you love animated movies, this is worth a watch, and if you want to see Stuart Little and Beauty and the Beast, if you have never seen those movies, be my quest.
40 Not Disney's Best
Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire promises action and adventure and absolutely delivers it. However, that's about all the film has going for it. The plot follows Milo Thatch, a young linguist working as a janitor in the Smithsonian Institute, who joins an expedition to search for the lost city of Atlantis. After a series of well-animated action scenes, the crew finds the lost city, very much alive of the ocean floor. From that point, the film shifts somewhat dramatically from an action/ adventure to a Sci-Fi film in which the explorers discover the mysterious power source that powers Atlantis. The plot sounds good on paper, but fails to stay afloat in film for. The characters are not well developed and somewhat unappealing in appearance due to their extremely angular design (most notably their squared-off fingers). The plot is far too complicated and hard to follow in a 90 minute film. Perhaps if it was slowed down and stretched into a longer film it would not be so bad. The dialogue is fast and hard to follow, sometimes so fast that it is difficult for the animated mouths on the characters to follow their own voices. All in all, I would say that Atantis is probably Disney's worst feature-length effort .Then again the bombs of today are the cult classics of tomorrow... you never know.
41 "You have disturbed the dirt!"
Milo Thach is looking for the lost empire of Atlantis. He gets up by Mr. Whitmore, a friend of Milo's father. Mr. Whitmore gives Milo a submarine and a crew to look for the legendary city. This movie is better suited for a somewhat older age group, but it's still fun!
42 So it's not the BEST, so what?
This is by far the most diverse Disney movie ever, and diversity
isn't nessasarily bad. Here are all the little things about the movie: This movie is like an animated action-adventure/fantasy. It has some violence and there are plenty of explosions, but also rifts in story line. (I wanted to denote it another half-star for all the unclearities) As for the PG rating,I wouldn't take it away, but "tobacco usage" doesn't need to be on there. There is a minor character who smokes, but you only see her smoking 3 or 4 times. I liked the characters, (except for the bad guy) even though they're pointy (I much prefer the rounded characters of Lilo & Stitch) Now I will lay down a very short summary of storyline: Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox's character) and a crew of interesting characters set off to find Atlantis and suceed. There they find Princess Kida, who is sometime later sucked into a big blue crystal. Bad guy crew member(watch it to find out who) wants to sell crytalized Kida to whoever would pay BIG bucks for it on surface. All ends in cool climax.
Even my 19-year old cousin who had "outgrown Disney movies" would watch this.
Final rating/reccomendation:
Reccomended age: about 6 and up
C.F. (Coolness Factor): 4.5
Overall storyline: 3.5
This is not the best Disney movie ever, not even my favorite, but that hasn't stopped me from watching it 20some times. There are better ones out there like Lilo & Stitch, e.t.c., but for some pretty good animated entertainment for kids AND adults, watch Atlantis:The Lost Empire.
43 Entertaining movie! Great extras on Disc 2.
Definitely not "typical" Disney fare. Think of it as an animated cross between 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Indiana Jones Searches for Atlantis. The goal of the animators, director, and producers was to create a movie that evoked the same kind of wonder as the original Star Wars trilogy and Indiana Jones movies did for them (and others that saw those movies in their "youth" - like me). I believe they succeeded.
Action, adventure, unbelievable chase sequences, three-dimensional characters, betrayal, a dose of humor, some geniune surprises and revelations... a grrrreat soundtrack (music AND special effects). My children and I thoroughly love this movie.
Disc 2 has all the information that DVD collector-junkies LOVE. Hours upon hours of documentaries, design art, interviews, and more.
My vote? A fun movie and a worthy 2-disc collection.
44 DVD Is Far Better Treatment Than The Actual Movie Deserves.
When I saw this in theats, I was really looking forward to seeing a Disney movie without any of the characters suddednly bursting out and singing! Well, that was the best part of the whole movie! That and the neat style of animation (although all my friends got a real kick out of the SQUARE FINGERS!)
The plot is very original . . . unless, that is, you've seen "Stargate". The similarities arew almost endless (the look of the main characters, etc.). Also, if you've seen THAT movie & read the Jules Verne book "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", there is nothing new at all in here.
Rating: 2 Stars
The DVD is fantastic, however. Actually, it's kind of like the DVD of "Snow White". . . . The DVD's are incredible, but the actual movies [arent] ("Snow White" more than "Atlantis".
Rating: 4 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars: Worth viewing once, but not buying unless you're an avid DVD collector.
45 great character design/animation....... thats all.
once upon a time.. there was a company called disney.... who cared about having a great story with strong character developement throughout thier journey. the laughter, the drama, and the spectacular animation. well the only thing atlantis has going for it is the animation and great character design. the story is bland and uninteresting. the love story is just the styrophome inside the box before you move all of that fluff out of the way. if you look at the death of the father scene in atlantis, and the death of the father scene in the lion king, you will see what i mean as far as drama, and how atlantis lacks very much in it. overall, its just plain disappointing.
46 No laugh, no heart. Skip it.
Among other things, I am a (qualified) fan of Disney. Films like the Lion King or Beauty and the Beast show that cartoons can be about more then jokes, while Lilo and Stitch or The Emperor's New Grove point out that being laugh oriented isn't that bad a fate.
However, their misses, lately, have been coming as frequently as their hits. Ignoring their brave new sequel trend, some of their more recent works are of far lower calibur. Atlantis, I contend, is among these lesser works.
First and foremost, cartoons are expected to be funny. So, let's look at it for humor. There are many attempts at humor, but most meet without success; few survive a second telling. The humorous "quirks" that some charecters (the mole being the best/worst example) are given, not only provide few laughs, but also make them appear shallow. Although, to be fair, they are.
The other pillar a movie can rest on, in place of laughs, is emotion. Romance, excitement, disgust, awe, fear, loathing, joy, sorrow-so many possible feelings, any of which can be found in a good film. Sadly, I felt none on viewing Atlantis. Well, maybe disgust. The romance has little behind it. The idea of Milo (the main charecter) doing what he does for his father's memory goes nowhere. The villan is as cookie cutter as any other cast member-why Disney can't make new villians as interesting as Scar is beyond me.
The purpose of the film is not to educate viewers about the history and mythology, but even without that there are many problems with the structure. For no reason, various charecters: bring extreemly small biplanes and a hot air ballon underground; can speak every language spoken in Europe but are unable to read their own language; have solid blue, glowing eyes; haven't seen outsiders for years but set watches in case they do; and wear gas masks at all times. I can accept people turning into blue chyrstal as a plot device, but some things need more explaining
There are reason I give it a second star ... The animation is nice, by and large, it is still Disney, and it's not a sequel. Predictably, they are making an Atlantis II. I am not impressed.
47 Ok, but Disney could do ALOT better
Disney has approximately four different feature animation teams working on films all at once. This particular team has produced my two least liked Disney films, Atlantis, and Hunchback of Notre Damn. Atlantis unfortunately did not have the time to be developed into the film that it could have been. Simply put, the Producers and Directors, according to what I've gathered from the commentaries, were highly uncertain about what they wanted from the film. At first, they wanted a journey to the center of the earth, then they wanted an adventure in Atlantis, tagging on a badly put together romance towards the end, the movie is very choppy and not incredibly enjoyable to watch. On the plus side, the music is good and the art direction is fantastic (thank you Mike Mignola!) which saves the film from its bad writing, directing, producing, and even the animation is not up to Disney's par. It is to my disapointment that this movie got the contract signed to make a two disc dvd, while Disney's latest movie, and MUCH BETTER movie, Treasure Planet, is receiving no funding to create a two disc dvd set. I'm afraid that it seems that this movie has hailed the decline of Disney's success in the feature animation industry . . . how sad.
48 Pleasant but not very challenging
There has been so much debate about the fate of Atlantis that one would think Disney could have dreamed up a more challenging video than this one. However, it's pleasant enough with some extremely funny characters. Michael J. Fox does a fine vocal performances and the artwork is lovely.
49 Boring, awful for young children
This movie was absolutely BORING. The scenery grows old, and the thin plot is confusing. It is entirely too long, and I don't remember much action except at the beginning. This was definitely not for young children, because their attention spans cannot sit through the tiresome dialogue. Not to mention preschoolers asking their parents where half the crew went after the submarine sunk. (They died, obviously.) Even with its few clever lines, you will be too tired and bored from this movie to laugh.
50 This movie is really BAD
THIS IS THE WORST MOVIE THAT DISNEY HAS EVERY MADE!
51 Amazing storyline, beautiful setting
There was no way I was going to miss this movie. Even if I hadn't seen anything but a movie poster, the animation itself would be worth at least a viewing. Once I saw it in the theater, however, I knew it would be a purchase as soon as it came out. The one drawback (and it was only that way in the theater, really) is that young children can't read subtitles. Therefore, adults have to read them out loud, and in my opinion that detracts from the overall experience. In your own home I'm sure it's a little different, but I haven't had to read them out loud yet. This was the first movie my son ever saw (at four days old on the couch with Daddy) and I'm confident it will be one of his favorites.
52 A crashing bore.
So Disney is resorting to flatulence and belches for humor now? Turn down the sub-woofer or you'll end up with a booming headache. All action and no story, poor character development. HATED IT!
53 Movie good - extras poor
I liked the movie. The extras were OK but very childlike. It is possible to have extras that are aimed at children but don't patronize adults
54 A new type of Disney film
This not your usual Disney film, with all the music. The best thing about this movie has to be the aniamation, it's awesome.
55 Flawed, but entertainig flick from Disney.
It seems as though Disney always takes hits whenever it tries to do something daring and different. In 1985, they attempted their first PG-rated animated film, THE BLACK CAULDRON, a flawed but enjoyable fantasy tale, and it received mixed reviews and dismal box office receipts. Sixteen years later, they produced their second PG-rated animated film, ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE, and, even though it has its fans, also received mixed reviews and disappointing results at the box office. This is unfortunate, because, in spite of its occasional shortcomings, ATLANTIS is an enjoyable action-adventure flick from Disney.
True, there is at least one obnoxious-and useless-character in the movie (Moliere), the pace sometimes slows down, and the storyline is a little unclear at times, but look at what the film has that is good! The animation is amazing as always, with a lot of imaginatively designed backgrounds and mechanical marvels, fast-paced, hang-on-to-the-edge-of-your-seat action sequences (mainly the climax), decent vocal work, and a score by James Newton Howard which, although not as magnificent as that in DINOSAUR, is adventurous and suits the tone of the story well. In many ways, this is also another groundbreaking achievement for Disney, perhaps not artistically but genre-wise. It charts a new direction for its films, with no animal sidekicks (unless you count the cat), and no songs (except for the lame, useless pop number over the credits), and concentrates more on action and storytelling. I applaud the experiment, even if I wish the spotty parts could have been cleaned up a bit, and I hope to see Disney attempt another film like this again. (They do, in fact, with the upcoming release of TREASURE PLANET.)
The biggest controversy surrounding this film is that it is a rip-off of the Anime series, NADIA: THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER. I say, such arguments are ridiculous. Despite showing some similarities (scantily clad heroine with a pendant, underwater city, submarine battles), both NADIA and ATLANTIS are quite different altogether. ... In addition, the creators of ATLANTIS were inspired by the SOURCE MATERIAL - Jules Verne's classic novels, such as 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA - in the same way that NADIA was inspired by such literary classics. I doubt that this argument will ever subside, as we all know how anti-Disney some Anime fans as well as Disney haters can be.
Whether ATLANTIS will escape from the scathing criticisms surrounding it is a mystery, but, stripped of its flaws and ridiculous comparisons, the film is a rather underrated Disney achievement that deserved better, in my opinion.
As far as the Collector's Edition DVD is concerned, it is quite amazing. The quality of the video is presented superbly in its 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio, and an awesome sounding Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack. I don't have a 5.1 system, and my DVD player hasn't the option to play the DTS 5.1 track, but I'm sure it is great nevertheless. I haven't checked out all the extras as of yet, but the case does list plenty, from deleted scenes to making-of documentaries (a high-selling point for DVDs, in my opinion), and the motion menus are spectacular. If only they would get rid of the trailers at the beginning of the first disc, it would have been perfect, but otherwise, this is yet another wonderful DVD from Disney. (Far better than its earlier "efforts", no doubt.)
56 Disney Does It Again!
Wow this is nothing more then a weak clone of Fushigi na Umi no Nadia (Nadia of the Myterious Sea) aka Secret of Blue Water. Much like Kimba the White Lion Disney must use another studios idea to make money. Of course Disey's never heard of Gainax or so they claim but have interest in Hayao Miyazaki so how can that be? I read that Nadia was based on an idea Miyazaki had for a project. So what anime clasic will disney use next? Evangelion (naw to deep) Escaflowne (I would like to see what Sunrise would do) no it'll be the Otaku no Video that would be so....Idon't even want to think about that one.
57 Different, Not Original, but Good all the same
If you're looking for the standard "happy, happy" Disney feature, this is not it. The story is dark, and set in the backdrop of WWI. The only other Disney feature it can even be compared to is "The Black Cauldron". For SNL fans, there is a character who seems to be a rendition of Father Guido Sarduci that is quite humourous at times. There are no musical numbers, just beautiful instrumentals that do not take away from the flow of the film. The animation is amazing and quite vivid.
The only downfall is that the film is a blatant rip of of "Secrets of Blue Water" a little known japanime series. The film also seems to be heavily influenced by "Stargate" the movie. Although this bothered me at first, the film has grown on me and is now one of my most valued of Disney animations. I'd recommend it to an older audience, as there are many subtle things that a younger group would miss (soldiers in the background in WWI uniforms and gas masks, MANY suttle deaths, etc.).
58 I Really Enjoyed This Disney Video
ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE is a good animated feature from Disney. It has great images and music by James Newton Howard. The film is divided into 3 parts. First the main character Milo Thatch presents the introduction of the quest for finding Atlantis. Secondly a team is gathered and the trek begins. In the third act Atlantis is found but the key to its secrets must be unveiled and this sequence is as beautiful as it is stunning. I thought there was a deliberate look and feel to each of these sequences. In the first set of sequences we get a sense of intrigue, as our appetites are wet for the unknown. This is all set against a background of warmth and complacency, which will be offset by the adventures that follow. This was a technique used in JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH with James Mason. The second set of sequences takes place in a dark cavernous underworld that really sets up the introduction into the third. In the third set of sequences we are introduced to Atlantis. Atlantis juxtaposed to the dark browns of the underworld is a contrast with its pallid yet beautiful blues and greens. The world of Atlantis is a mysterious and esoterically tranquil looking creation. James Newton Howard scores his finest pieces for these sequences. The payoff of this film is the discovery of Atlantis and the reminder that man has responsibility for preserving nature and peace from his own ego and weapons of destruction. This is one of the best Disney videos I have seen in a while. They did a great job transferring this widescreen film to full-frame for video. The images are vibrant and colorful and the surround is terrific. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend this great video.
59 One of Disney's worst animated films
My six year old son says this is the worst movie he has ever seen, and he HAS seen them all. His quote, "I would rather have a hundred spankings than see this movie ever again!" I thought the film really deteriorated after the expedition to Atlantis began. The plot became quite convoluted and the humor was not particularly funny.
60 Give it a chance
When I 1st saw this film, I was a little shocked the amimation is not the flawless type used in most of Disney's movies but it uses a quirky anime style similar to that used in Hercules.
By far the best thing about this movie are its characters, my favourite has to be Mrs Packard she brought comic relief in all the right places.
Unlike the more popular of Disney's classics it doesn't have any cute animals or amazin music to bring in masses of fans but it is a funny,action packed film ,But even if you only hire it don't just watch it once,because the more you watch it ,the more you'll love it. It only get's better!
61 Atlantis
Disney has always had trouble doing action based stories (see Black Cauldron), but I think this movie steps up to the plate nicely and it may not hit a home run but it sure was a great try. The story is solid and the animation it top notch, however the pacing is a bit off and the producers (in a effort to walk the line between a kids film and an adults film) miss out on a lot of character development, that should have been there. The visuals were stunning and on par with what the company would have done in Walt's care (see 20,000 Leagues), but again I feel they missed the boat (no pun intended) by destroying the sub so early in the movie. The sub was a key element in the story and should have been handled as such, much like the Enterprise in a Star Trek film. Outside of these few gripes I must say the film was great and I'm looking forward to Treasure Planet (Disney's next animated adventure) to see it they can not just get on base but knock the ball out of the park.
On a side note the 2-Disce Collector's set was a great surprise. If I had to say anything negative about the set it would be that there is too much great stuff to go through, I've had the disc for some time now and have yet to see all that is included:) Disney just keeps making their Discs better and better.
62 I Liked this great Adventure from Disney So did My Dad
When I first saw POCAHONTAS I thought it was a welcome change of pace from THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE is a change of pace and beyond. I liked this movie very much. It's not real flashy or in-your-face, a trend that started in animated films ever since ALADDIN. We actually get a straightforward adventure film with no musical numbers and in place of the prerequisite animal friends are some really quirky characters. It is an interesting and enjoyable movie filmed at a deliberate pace. As the film unfolded I recognized influences from Jules Verne and Indiana Jones or at least those were the impressions I felt. What I really like best was the way the film started out. The introductory scenes of Milo Thatch in the museum seemed very reminiscent of the animation and pace of the films that Walt Disney personally produced. I thought that was a nice touch. In fact most of the animation in this film looked like it was actually hand-drawn for a change. Even though there are many modern influences in technique and dialogue, overall it has good old-fashioned look to it. The artwork is fantastic and so is the score. It's the kind of entertainment you thought they never make anymore. This is a real good movie for dads and their kids too.
63 I Liked this great Adventure from Disney So did My Dad
When I first saw POCAHONTAS I thought it was a welcome change of pace from THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE is a change of pace and beyond. I liked this movie very much. It's not real flashy or in-your-face, a trend that started in animated films ever since ALADDIN. We actually get a straightforward adventure film with no musical numbers and in place of the prerequisite animal friends are some really quirky characters. It is an interesting and enjoyable movie filmed at a deliberate pace. As the film unfolded I recognized influences from Jules Verne and Indiana Jones or at least those were the impressions I felt. What I really like best was the way the film started out. The introductory scenes of Milo Thatch in the museum seemed very reminiscent of the animation and pace of the films that Walt Disney personally produced. I thought that was a nice touch. In fact most of the animation in this film looked like it was actually hand-drawn for a change. Even though there are many modern influences in technique and dialogue, overall it has good old-fashioned look to it. The artwork is fantastic and so is the score. It's the kind of entertainment you thought they never make anymore. This is a real good movie for dads to take their kids to.
64 Stunning Vision, Fun and Action, But a Confusing Plot
Overall, this is good fun. It's an exciting film, highly imaginative, and visually spectacular, with a story that moves very quickly albeit thoroughly confusingly. I happily recommend it for family viewing.
Compared to recent Disney releases such as Cinderella 2, 101 Dalmatians 2, and all of the other poorly done and profit-driven knockoffs, this film is an original gem. The animation is excellent, the characters are interesting and fun to watch, and the overall story is compelling, as well as very fast-paced. The movie certainly is suitable for kids as young as three or four, despite some of the more esoteric, non-sensical plot twists. We've got spectacular scenery, gadgets, battles, action, and explosions and fire, more than enough to keep the little ones fully engaged throughout. No sex, no drugs, no profanity, and only a little bit of blood (although the bad guys most certainly do get killed, neither graphically nor gloatingly).
Most impressive in this film is the artistic vision. Atlantis provides a fantastic opportunity to be creative, and the animators do not disappoint. The relatively modern (1907) setting allows some technical and scientific freedom for the animators, which was taken full advantage of. Everything is huge, massive in scale, from the steamship and its submarine, to the Leviathan guardian, to the tunnels and artifacts of Atlantis. For me, this is the most enjoyable part of the film, simply looking at the landscapes and backgrounds the animators have provided as backdrops for the action. This is excellent work, truly spectacular.
The cast is wonderfully diverse, ethnically, physically, and in terms of education, abilities, and hygiene. It's a really truly honestly and genuinely wonderful rainbow of diversity and teamwork, because, you know, it's only when we let go of our prejudices and overlook stereotypes that we can triumph over adversity. That being said, the strangest and filthiest member of the crew is the non-stop butt of jokes, derision, and less than thoughtful treatment by the rest of the team.
There's a minor problem, though. As dad to a six- and three-year-old, I've seen this film maybe 60 times in the past three months. As many times as I've watched it, I still don't grasp the entire concept of the Atlantean power crystal, how it "chooses" a host, what the crystal-host does, what exactly becomes physically of the crystal-host, and how the chosen individual interacts with it. Sure, the impossible-to-miss end-state is a human-interfaced and -generated automatic defensive system which protects the entire city, but all of the story elements don't make it clear how this all comes together. This is a bit anal, I know, but it just doesn't make sense.
Violence, yeah, there's enough of it, but precious little blood, and no gore. It's family-friendly violence, where the bad guys disappear neatly and completely in spectacular swirling, spiraling balls of beautifully rendered, parti-colored fire, with no suffering depicted. Early on we see an entire submarine and crew go down, and a little memorial service to commemorate the loss of 200-odd folks. There is also some good explosions during the final battle, with ball-of-fire ends to both bad guys and much fewer non-star Atlantaean good guys. None of the bad guys make it out alive, and the two bad-guy leaders die more or less visibly, but again, without blood or gore. The one, probably most direct instance of violence, is the bad-guy leader punching the enfeebled king of the Atlanteans in the stomach. The king later dies of his (internal) injuries, but the time-separation between the act and its results lessens the impact of the killing.
The uplifting aspects are just as powerful, and in the end the focus of the story. We have the love story between the leads, as well as a totally predictable yet nonetheless powerful shift in alliance from the established team members to that of the Atlanteans when it comes time to do the right thing. We see love and sacrifice, traits my six-year-old picked up on with no prompting from me.
All in all, this is a very enjoyable film. I dwell on the violence to inform only, so don't take it to mean that the film is full of violence; it is not. Overall, it's about adventure, the excitement and wonder of discovery, and what can be done when you choose the hard right over the easy wrong.
65 Entertaining but not up to Disney's usual standards
My five year old likes this movie, but my 13 and 12 year olds think the plot is thin, the humor weak, and complain, "There's no music!" After all, you need some catchy tunes to make a Disney classic, right? But all in all, it was pretty good.
Michael J. Fox does a great job voicing the lead character, Miles, who is following his grandfather's dream quest to find the lost city of Atlantis. Unfortunately, evil forces also want to find it, but for all the wrong reasons!! A tale of sacrifice, conservation, and belief in yourself and your dreams.
66 Atlantis-The Lost Empire
Average watching if you are bored! This movie takes too long to get to the point!
67 Rourke Rules!
The only reason I ever rent Disney animated films is because of the Villains. At first I was losing my hopes about a Villain because Commander Rourke was kind of... well kind. That all ends when Milo starts getting on his nerves. And at the end he turns into a ferocious guy. (I really like the hot air balloon part at the end of the movie). Rourke is now one of my top 10 villains
1. Jafar (Aladdin)
2. Judge Claude Frollo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
3. Ursula the Sea Witch (The Little Mermaid)
4. Scar (The Lion King)
5 Commander Rourke (Atlantis)
6. Hades (Hercules)
7. Clayton (Tarzan)
8. Cruella DeVil (101 Dalmatians)
9. Yzma (The Emperors New Groove)
10. Proffesor Ratigan (The Great Mouse Detective)
68 Disney blew it !!
Unlike previous Disney Classics this movie is much like the hunchback and other recent Disney flops. Disney needs to wake up and go back to the innocent days of Peter Pan, 101 Dalmations, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Etc... Bring back the Classic songs and stay away from the liberal agenda that has nothing to do with Walt Disney and would surely make him angry at what is being done to his company and name.
69 Adam does Atlantis
"Atlantis" is an unusual example in the field of animation. The production crew are European, which provides the film with a look very unlike mainstream American animated films or anime. The film has a strong steampunk style, advanced in a blur of fascinating could-have-been-but-never-were machines and ideas, supported by well-researched costuming. The characters are distinct and believable. The story contains the usual action, romance and heroic themes, together with the environmentalism vs. mercenary capitalism conflict that is common in contemporary children's films. This film entranced me with its unusual style. I was put off at first by the stylised way the characters are depicted, but the costumes, the cool tech, the pseudo-historical plot threads, and the funky characters soon had me grinning like a loon. Like the best contemporary kid's films, there are elements in `Atlantis' that will appeal to adults while the kids are still caught up in the wonder of it all. I found this film stood up to several viewings, so I could see more details. One of the very best animated films of the last few years.
70 a great movie
I agree that Disney isn't doing too well with their recent movies. They are getting worse as they create sequels to almost every other original movie. It's not helping them at all, but I still love Disney movies, though I prefer to skip the sequels.
I enjoyed this movie actually. For once it wasn't all about a love story. This was more adventurous and based on the legend of Atlantis.
It's interesting to think that Atlantis actually looks like it does in the movie. It gives you another perspective to it, than your own view.
The way the culture of the people is displayed shows a different
world than ours, even if it may not be real. You expand your imagination when you watch this movie.
If you simply like movies and have a big imagination and the heart of a kid then you won't be disappointed.
71 Stargate meets Princess Mononoke
Disney takes a rather daring step in an animated film with Atlantis, but was it such a good idea? While watching this, I got the feeling of deja vu quite frequently. Sveral movie scenes, characters, and even plot lines were borrowed once more for this film. Everyone recalls the whole Simba/Kimba problem that came up with the Lion King a while back. Now it seems that more movies were cut up and pasted together to make another Disney film. The biggest most blaring thefts came right out of Stargate and Princess Mononoke. I'll explain:
Stargate plot: We've got the skinny nerdy linguist, Milo Thatch (anyone remember Daniel?) who is suffering from a poor job, no money, and a distinct lack of funding. Enter the one "mysterious" person who pops up and provides funding for a massive project. Instead of hopping through a ring linked to another planet, Milo will be sent in a giant submarine to the depths of the ocean. He's forced to travel with military acting as a translater (again, a la Stargate). He meets a beautiful girl who can't read or write. It's never explained why this is so, but it is the dead same plot! Please, Disney! If you're going to borrow a movie, you really should change SOMETHING.
Princess Mononoke?: Well, you be the judge on this, but I found a couple of scenes that seemed very close to this Japanese animated film (which was excellent, I highly suggest watching it). The first time you see the Atlantians, they are dressed up in giant masks and furry-type clothing, running around like a certain "San" in the forests of Japan. The tatoos, clothing, even the small details like the earings gave me that wierd sense of deja vu.
Other movies: Well, I noticed quite a few scenes that rang a few bells in my mind. At one point, I had the compelling urge to shout, "We are kings of the world!" Other parts just seemed to shout it themselves. Other notable movies included, but probably are not limited to, Das Boot, Tron, and the Dark Crystal. Anyway, my general thoughts are that Disney really needs to put less money into advertising and into writing.
Ok, there are a few saving features to this film, which is why I'm giving it as high a rating as I am. The animation and special effects are absolutely breathtaking! The background paintings and attention to visual detail is where this movie really shines. If you love animation and special effects, this is something you should really check into. The Atlantean language may give some people headaches, but I do give kudos for that in the fact that it does sound authentic. The DVD options were nice, including CG model tours, audio commentary, and even a deleted scene.
Overall, Atlantis really was too big for Disney to tackle. The beginning felt very rushed and the plot was stolen (but I'm beginning to expect this from Disney). The animation and design was outstanding. My best suggestion is that, if you can't decide on a number of movies, this one is the one to pick up. You'll be able to watch all at once! Check it out at a rental place before you go buying it.
72 Stop thinking and enjoy
So many people i know absolutely hate this movie, and you're probably one of the same. That's because you're thinking too much. This movie is an action film. There's no point trying to connect the dots in the plot. It's an ACTION film.
Disney breaks from the traditional fairy tales and gives us a gritty journey to the center of the earth movie voiced by an all star cast led by Michael J. Fox!
I am a fellow animator and i must say i'm impressed by this latest film. Past Disney films havn't been able to live up to their standards (herculese and PeterPan 2 come to mind). With very simple character designes by Mike Mongola (creator of the comic book series hellboy) Atlantis will keep you entertained.
The action is pretty intense for a disney film, though not really on-your-seat-gripping-in-sweat intense. Be prepared for some fantasy though in the 2nd half of the film. Don't try to figure it out, just enjoy. (they explain it all on Disk 2 anyway)
If you're looking for something different and not too brain taxing, check out this film.
73 TERRIBLE!!!!
This is the most terrible movie Disney has ever made! I(and my daughters) have loved the Disney movies, but even they got bored during the middle of it. For people who want a good movie enjoyable for everyone in the family, go rent "The Beauty and The Beast".
74 To access the DVD credits
On disc 2, go to choose EXPLORE. When inside the menu screen, which is designed after the inside of the submarine, highlight the Atlantis logo on the bottom of the screen and push UP on your remote. The words "DVD CREDITS" should appear on the screen directly above the logo.
75 What I think about Atlantis
Disney has done it again. This is a good movie, icluding the team that found Atlantis: Milo James Thatch, Commander Lyle Tiberous Rourke, Helga Katrina Sinclair, Gaetan "Mole" Moliere, Audrey Rocio Ramirez, Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet, Vincenzo "Vinny" Santorini, Wilhelmina Bertha Packard, and "Cookie" Farnsworth. Including Princess Kida, the princess of Atlantis. That's why I say that movie is good.
76 Quite the adventure!
This DVD edition really let's you get into the movie. Once you see all the bonus features you find a new deepness to the film.
And you just gotta love that second disc. The extras are presented like part of the Whitmore Industrial Department, so that's an edge to in-the-making specials that the DVD presents.
77 A good family movie
Although this DVD made it into my collection, it does not have what it takes to become a classic. The character development is interesting and the animation is great but the story-line is unmemorable and anticlimactic.
78 Beautiful & Intelligent
As though this is not the best animation I've seen, I found it quite good despite the huge flop it made at the last year's release. My Japanese friend told me that the ending theme was different in Japanese version and sent me a copy of the song. It's much better than the original American version! The Japanese version is called "Crystal Vine" written/sung by this Japanese group named "Dreams Come True". I wish I had this song at the ending credit instead of Mya's ordinary song.
79 Deep Sea Action Adventure
Again, this film in the theatre was fun and exciting. However, the DVD is especially better. The detail in the animation and graphics is wonderful,
The behind the scens documentaries are detailed and very intricate. Many, many places to go on this DVD. From art to sound to the cast and more. Detailed graphics, illustrations and the cast interviews are funny and very interesting.
Even the screen menus are fabulous and interesting with music and sound. Kids will love the historical take that educates them on Atlantis and all its legends.
This is a great DVD for the whole fsmily. Isolated scenes, oceanography lessons and a visual stimulating presentation.
The movie itself has a great story and is fun to watch over and over. I think you'll like this one!
80 My 6 yr old son loves it
As an adult, I've watched it a few times and I've enjoyed it. My son has watched it at least 20 times, and especially loves the underwater scenes. Based on his viewing time, I rated it higher than I would otherwise have rated it (3 stars).
81 An all new low for Disney.
Could not believe how hokey, sterotypical, and stupid this movie was overall. There are some great moments and nice backgrounds, and a fairly good story. But I found the drawings harsh and distorted, maybe a glorified sort of Pinky and the Brain type of animation. As in Road to El Dorado, Disney seems more interested in just how much skin to reveal on their heroines, how much innuendo and adult "humor" they can slip into the story--and this is supposed to be for kids? I was looking forward to this one from the trailers I had seen, and when I sat down to watch it with my niece we were both very disappointed. Don't bother--go get My Neighbor Totoro instead. Now THAT is a great film the entire family can enjoy, even if you don't have any kids!!
82 Quite Good, though not much of that Disney Magic there
I watched Atlantis about a week ago, and while the film was quite good, I couldnt help feel disappointed. Dont get me wrong, the film was really quite good. The animations were super, like you would expect from a Disney movie, soundtrack was nice, storyline was innovative and overall the story was quite good. But this just isnt what Disney used to be. Remember years ago how heart-warming Beauty and the Beast was? How incredible the story-line and dialogue of Snow White were? How amazingly creative and generally so much fun Aladdin was? Ever since then Disney has tried creating films along the same levels, but I dont think they have been successful. The Emperor's New Groove was innovative and flashy, granted, but it just isnt no Aladdin. Likewise, Atlantis here has a nice story-line, a fair share of excitement, and perhaps most uniquely it has a great deal of action, but it just doesnt capture your heart the same as the ones I mentioned above. I guess they just dont make 'em like they used to. Overall, the film is above average. If you like that type of film, if you are generally a fan of animated movies, or if you are just a big time Disney buff, go buy it. Otherwise not really worth it.
83 VHS-Atlantis
Very impressed! The case was in perfect condition, so was the movie. My kids love it, and I didn't have to pay the store prices for it. Shipping was very quick, we didn't have to wait as long as I thought we would have to.
84 Adventure and Beauty
I greatly enjoy this movie and own the DVD. The animation is beautiful. Though, some may find the mix of animation styles disconcerting. The movie is funny, adventurous and beautiful. The soundtrack sounds awesome on surround. Small children don't find this movie as interesting as older children and some adults, although it is appropriate for all ages.
85 Best Disney Film In Years
I am a teenager, and I thought that this was a kid's movie when I first went to go see it, but I soon learned the truth. While it may not contain any adult subject matter, this is not only for little kids! The story is good, but the animation is what really sells this movie. It tells the story of a historian obsessed with Atlantis who is hired to lead an expidition to find the lost city. What he doesn't know is that the archaeologists that he's with aren't exactly who they say they are. This movie is great for most ages, because, ironically, toddlers probably won't like this movie. There are many battle scenes, and the story may be too complex for them.
86 Like its namesake, belongs unforgotten and buried
The meltdown in Mousedom continues with this disappointing tripe. Despite the Jules Verne-esque trappings and hints of Victorian elegance, this movie quickly descends into an embarassing, offensive, unlikely combination of "The Abyss" & "Musquito Coast." This dissociation pervades the movie, and torpedoes any hope of Disney raising its sinking fortunes.
While it offers an inclusive cast(a few whites, an Italian, an African-American, a poorly-drawn Puerto-Rican) and cloaks its villains in inexplicable WWI-vintage gas masks (except for Garner's general), the movie cannot overcome its inherent racism and sexism.
Most troubling was the portrayal of the Atlanteans. Supposedly trapped below the ocean for thousands of years with nothing to do but hang around, they have forgotten their history, cosmology, and technology. They are some combination of sluggish island people, fierce jungle fighters, and "Battlestar Galactica-esque" pre-historic technowizards. Note, as the villains steal the Princess, the Atlanteans stand around as Mightey Whitey leads his buds to rescue her. In fact, the Atlantean males are overweight, mute, spear-holding mannequins, incapable of defending themselves (except the ancient king, who is feeble and weak). The Princess, who one would think would be portrayed as some elegant Goddess, is reduced to a slinky, Jennifer Lopez-inspired nighty-wearing babe. Even when the Princess is supposedly infused with the Ultimate Power, she becomes an inert force, incapable of defending herself, requiring Male Whitey to save her.
Too violent for kiddies, too dopey for today's savvy youth, and too inane for most discerning adults, this cartoon belongs, like its namesake, buried deep below the dark waters of history.
87 Atlantis -- Popkorn Junkie's (and my) review
"Atlantis: The Lost Empire", is a good adventure story that takes place in the early 1900's and revolves around a bumbling, under appreciated, dorky, linguist named Milo (voiced by Michael J. Fox). When Milo was younger, his grandfather (a great explorer) told him tales about Atlantis and ever since, Milo has always dreamed of finding the lost city. But instead of being an explorer like his grandfather, Milo is stuck doing janitorial work in the basement of a museum. Milo tries to convince the board of directors at the museum to fund an expedition but they won't hear of it-- Atlantis is just a silly myth.
After being turned down by the museum board members, Milo is propositioned by a mysterious blonde ala a classic private detective movie. The woman wants Milo to meet with her employer, Mr. Whitmore (John Mahoney), who turns out to be very interested in Atlantis. Whitmore (an adventurer too) was best friends with Milo's late grandfather and was entrusted with a gift for Milo from his grandfather. This is not any old gift though, it's the Shepard's Journal...a book written in Atlantian that tells how to get to the lost city. Whitmore, as a favor to Milo's grandfather, fully funds an expedition to Atlantis and Milo joins the crew as their linguist because he happens to be the only one that can translate Atlanian. Thus begins the great adventure....
It's really difficult for me to decide how I feel about this movie (I'm still not quite sure). The story was great...even the kids in the theater seemed engrossed as I didn't hear a peep out of any of them (a rare occurrence). But, this being a Disney movie, I usually expect the animation to be pretty decent. The animation for "Atlantis" was definitely sub par. Most of the backgrounds just seemed dull and washed out....like when watercolors blend together to produce a brownish grayish blah color. It was very boring to look at. Even when the story was set in Atlantis I wasn't blown away...it was supposed to be a spectacular, dazzling city but I wasn't impressed.
One more animation complaint: fingernails. I don't know why, but instead of drawing normal looking fingernails on the characters the animators decided just to make them little triangles. This would have made sense if there was a triangular theme throughout the rest of the animation but, apart from the letter "A" in Atlantian looking like an upside-down triangle, there was no consistent geometric theme (that I saw at least).
I was also bothered by the fact that the multicultural crew chosen for the expedition was stereotypical. Maybe stereotypical isn't the right word, but they were definitely cultural caricatures. I think the most offensive was Gaetan "Mole" Moliere's character...the dirty (literally and metaphorically) Frenchman that nobody really liked. I can't imagine what our French brethren must think of how their cultural representative was portrayed! Maybe I'm being too extreme, maybe the characters are not representative of anyone....but I just think Disney should be a little more careful when they play the multicultural card.
Despite my whining about the animation and my problems with the cultural stereotypes, I really enjoyed this film-- it was a great adventure story. Unlike most Disney movies, the characters in "Atlantis" weren't very funny (except for Don Novello's cartoon counterpart, "Vinny" Santorini) and the cast didn't randomly break unto song (which can be a good thing). I think that if this had been a live action film instead of a cartoon I would have liked it a lot more. I think in this case, the animation really brought the movie down-- it just wasn't good! Unlike "Shrek" with it's eye-popping computer animation, "Atantis", it seems, opted to pay for a good script while cutting corners in the animation department.
Recommendation: "Atlantis" is a PG movie that you really can feel safe watching with your children. There are a few fight scenes that are a little scary but it's no more violent than previous Disney movies. Overall, I enjoyed the film and I think most non-critical (non-whining) people will too. If you see the movie don't expect anything like "The Little Mermaid", this movie is a bit more mature and definitely more drab and realistic (no dance routines or corny songs).
88 Great Disney Movie
I liked this movie alot!It defenitly doesnt meet up to Cinderella,The little Mermaid,The lion king etc.But overall it is a GREAT movie!
89 Nothing personal....
Actually, there was a lot of hype about this movie in the media. I was attracted to it because it is different. But If you are looking for a complete story-line, you will have to watch it straight through to understand it completely. Most of the time I found the story line a bit choppy when it did exist at all.
Yes there were a lot of memorable scenes, but they went by so fast that I would have to watch the movie again. Of course, Milo was the only one in the quest for the lost continent for the adventure, everyone else just wanted the fame and fortune.
You really had to sift through the personality conflicts to get to Kida's true purpose. The King of Atlantis already knew he made a mistake trying to harness the power of the crystal for war purposes, so why didn't he educate his daughter Kida and his people to watch for this when the explorers came? Ignorance does not always mean happiness. I will give the King one thing, though. At least he realizes that he has made mistakes with his daughter and his people, keeping them ignorant about their past.
Another thing is, I felt like I was watching a G.I. Joe comic book with all the high tech battle scenes. Of course, this exploration was on the eve of World War I. At least that tie in was on the mark historical-wise. This movie would be totally inappropriate for anyone under the age of eight because of the violence and tabacco use.
90 atlantis
This is a great movie. it has action, suspense, drama, and romance. The plot is intriguing and complex. The idea of a lost civiliaztaion is very interesting. it is not only a mission to discover a lost contient, but also a journey of self-fulfillment.
91 Atlantis is the best animated film Ive ever seen
Im not a disney fan but,if they continue to go in this direction I may end up becoming one. This film was excellent a wonderful piece of Sci Fi fantasy. The story was clever and intelligent nothing wrong with it as far as Im concerved. The characters were interesting and funny in their own right. The end action sequence with the atlantian fighters and bi-planes was well done and reminded me of the star wars space battles. Im familiar with the legend of Atlantis and was impressed by how accurate this movie is. Dont miss it
92 Collector's Edition features MANY bonuses
If you are torn on whether to get Atlantis on VHS, regular DVD or buy this special edition, I'm here to tell you that I highly recommend the bonus stuff for Atlantis. Many "Special Editions" leave me wanting more for my money, but this one doesn't.
93 Disney's most mature work to date.
"Atlantis: The Lost Empire" (2001)
To be straight with you, I had known nothing of the Atlantis legend before I saw Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, so I didn't know if this was really going to interest me. Surprisingly, I actually learnt a lot about the legend after coming out of this movie. I like a movie where I come out of the cinema knowing something I hadn't known before, and that is what Atlantis: The Lost Empire was like. I really loved this film as a result, and I think it's one of Disney's best works in ages.
I was very surprised when I heard this movie was called only average by most critics. When I was watching this movie I was enthralled by the story and style. The way the movie pulled me deep into the story was not forced and cheesy, I was shocked at how naturally the movie moved along. It didn't need any songs or corny-as-hell lines to get Atlantis: The Lost Empire on a roll. Most of the critics these days are adults too, and I for one thought this certainly wasn't as much of a kid's movie as it was an adult's. This is more mature than The Land Before Time and Dinosaur, and more watchable and stunning than any amount of Pokemon's. Kids will still love it, but I think adults may appreciate the whole concept more than children. So I didn't see anything to dislike with the film, but I did see a lot to like and appreciate.
I liked the way the characters were developed too. Milo Thatch is developed very early into the movie but there is one scene where the team has made their way to Atlantis and are camping and they tell each other about their history. I learnt about the rest of these animated treasures' past and personality quicker than you can snap your fingers, and I didn't forget about them either. I would've liked to know more about the funny dirt-loving Mole though. One of the characters mentions that Milo "wouldn't want to know" about Mole's past, but I expected the characters' history to come back and hit me in the face as a plot twist later. It never did, and that was disappointing.
The animation in the movie is outstanding. The opening sequence where Atlantis is pulled into the waves is breathtaking. The accuracy and design of the animation and computer generated effects is literally stunning and had me very excited. There could've been more detail in the characters' face, but the main zoom-outs and action sequences were amazing animation-wise.
Speaking of action sequences, did I happen to mention Atlantis: The Lost Empire has some of the most exciting and involving action set-pieces ever designed and made for an animated film. The final battle is particularly one to cherish, it is tense, imaginative and very well constructed.
Only not knowing about Mole's history and one slight detail in animation problem really stop Atlantis: The Lost Empire from being a masterpiece of animation cinema. It does come very close, because the voicing is perfect, the movie looks great, it has an excellent story and overall it's a whole heap of fun, but it had those slight problems that I couldn't quite ignore. Never the less, Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a fabulous, memorable, witty, intelligent and involving must-see film for 2001.
MY GRADE: A-
94 Nice departure for Disney
...Hello, this is just a piece of entertainment! Get over the flaws!" Also its a cartoon, not a documentury.
That said, I enjoyed this movie, and was ENTERTAINED. It was fun and had a good story. Something I could watch with my 7 yr old daughter and not get bored my self. The animation was very skillfuly done as always with Disney. The music was also very good. On par with say "Gladiator". I was glad to see a Disney cartoon get away from the cutsy kuddly animals and song and dance numbers (not that I don't enjoy that) and try something new. The DVD was full of extras. If you like fun and enjoy adventure you'll enjoy this. If your a black hearted person who hates puppies and picks apart cartoons skip this one.
I had to take one star back, because I thought they got rid of the big sub too soon. Should have had a few more min tuoring the sub.
95 wonderful
I really enjoyed Atlantis. Most scenes were hysterical and many took me by surprize. This is definitely a keeper for Disney cartoon lovers!
96 No story, no sense, no fun.
Here's a Disney cartoon that is so careless about self-consistency, so heedless of logic and common sense, and offends the viewer's intellect and sensibility so constantly, that after watching you will be either very disappointed or very confused.
The good first: "Atlantis" is both pretty and funny. Not spectacular by any means, but it has its moments. Almost every one was featured in a commercial ("Look: I made a bridge!"), but you can expect a pretty picture and a chuckle now and then. The characters are wild exaggerations, memorable and amply humorous.
The rest, however, fares much worse. The story - a feeble distillation of the themes of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic "The Lost World" through the artless violence and brooding tone of Fox's "Titan A.E." - is extremely vague and evasive when it comes to the telling. The film clings resolutely to the most brain-dead, auto-pilot cliches there are: a bumbling genius no one believes, scheming military, ancient technology, exotic yet noble natives... I got confused just trying to remember whether I was watching "Atlantis" or "Stargate".
The perspective darts from place to place. The image is often dark, or obscured, or distant, or in motion; the viewer constantly strains for a better look. The action scenes are strangely bowdlerized. Think James Cameron's "Abyss" edited for children. You see a pilot, then you see his vehicle explode, but you aren't allowed to make the connection.
"Atlantis" does not even try to make sense. You will frequently see characters defy the laws of physics and logical, sane storytelling. As a sort of caveat, below is an abbreviated list of questions that popped into my head while watching.
Let's see: Atlantis exists underwater... in a cave? In an air pocket? Why is there blue sky with clouds above it? If there is a river of lava and a waterfall in Atlantis, shouldn't it be continually bathed in scalding steam? How do you suspend a weight from one chain, when four have already snapped? When attacking a dirigible while riding a mechanical laser-beam-spewing fish, why hack at the balloon with a bone saw? Why not just shoot it? Why, for that matter, does a hot-air balloon burn? How did Rourke hide his death troopers (and their machine guns and motor gliders) on the lifeboats with no one noticing? How did the Atlanteans lose all their advanced technology if it's all still right there, and they're immortal? Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Thus, to reiterate: it is impossible to watch "Atlantis" without laughing at all the wrong moments, except as a lights show.
97 Skillfully made, but doesn't quite work (great DVD edition!)
Milo, a mild-mannered linguist, is recruited by a reclusive billionaire to participate on a quest to find the lost continent of Atlantis. Joining him on the trek are a motley assortment of colourful characters, and together they battle subterrainian monsters and eventually find the lost continent. However, not all the characters have noble motivations..... This film was meant to be a departure from the standard song-and-dance musicals that we are used to from Disney; instead, Atlantis offers up a Japanimation vision and an action-packed thrill ride that never quite comes together.
The film is visually fantastic, seamlessly blending traditional 2-D hand-drawn main characters with 3-D computer-generated vehicles and landscapes. For any given scene, you can't tell the difference, showing the skill of the animators (and the directors for getting everyone on the same page). In addition, the sound and score are flawless. Unfortunately, the story and characters don't quite live up to the visuals and sound. The secondary characters get equal screen time, and Milo never develops a comraderie with most of them. This becomes glaringly obvious when it comes time to choose up sides for the confrontation between the noble explorers and the greedy plunderers. The motivation of the characters seems driven by the plot instead of vice versa.
This Special 2-DVD Edition has everything you could ever want to know. There are numerous little documentaries covering all aspects of the filming. The most interesting are those covering the voice actors (it's always interesting to see the real faces behind the voices). In addition, there are some cut scenes (most of which are crudely drawn and never finished) and over 1000 (!) storyboards and concept drawings covering all aspects of the development of the film. There is a directors' commentary voiced-over the film iteself, along with cut-aways showing development aspects that blend into the film. That the extras on disc 2 rarely duplicate the extras spliced into the directors' commentary is a testament to the care with which this DVD edition was put together.
Thus, although the film is a treat to watch and listen to, I found it a little contrived and it never quite worked for me. As a child, I never liked musical numbers in animated films, but Atlantis seems to be missing its soul because of the lack of songs. This Special Edition DVD is better than the film deserves, I think, and anyone interested in the creative process behind making a Disney animated feature will find a lot in the extra features.
98 Great Disney Movie!
I just bought this DVD and the sound on it is great for surround sound systems. I liked the cast of charachters on the movie. My family, ranging in ages from 4 to 35 watched it together on a recent holiday. The younger kids (4 year old) did not seem to be that thrilled with it. But the older kids (6 on up) appeared to be "into it" and watched it from beginning to end. It is basically about the search for Atlantis with a linguist specialist named Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox) teaming up with a group of "explorers" to find it. Of course, there is a conflict between the true scientists and the people that are just in it for the money...the demise of Atlantis and it's power source hinges on the expedition. The bonus material on the DVD includes the story of the Vikings that would prelude this movie's time period. Overall, worth the price and having in my collection of Disney movies.
99 A few words in Disney's (and Atlantis's) defense
First of all, in response to the editorialized review above, the reason why Princess Kida did not know how to read her language is because she was only a TODDLER when Atlantis sank. I can remember bits and pieces from when I was a little girl, such as trips my family took or random little incidents here and there, but come on! Unless you're a child prodigy, you don't read at age four! Second, the crew didn't know that Atlanteans lived for centuries BEFORE they found Atlantis because (duh) incredibly little is known today about the society itself, or whether or not it even exists. They obviously LEARNED about it seiing as the king is 20,000 years old and still kicking! Sigh. Lastly, PLEASE get off Atlantis for stealing Nadia. I'd never even HEARD of Nadia until this whole stupid controversy came up, and several magazine investigations proved that the Disney animators and production team hadn't, either. I'm not going to say that Atlantis is perfect. Goodness knows that the animation, for the most part, was a disgrace to the Disney name, with the squared edges and all. And of course it borrows bits and pieces from other things, but it is physically impossible not to have ANY similarities with other movies. You could just as easily accuse them of stealing The Road to El Dorado (ehich is probably more plausible because it is more recent and more well-publicized than Nadia) or Star Trek! I guess what I'm saying is, take those reviews with a grain of salt. If you like sci-fi/fantasy or you like animation, then see Atlantis. I didn't think I'd like it, but it's now my favorite movie, so don't let rumors discourage you from seeing what is in itself A GOOD MOVIE.
100 REALLY COOL MOVIE!!!!!!!!
I thought this movie was really good! (my BFF thinks so to) Alot of people think that this movie wasn't any good. But it's SO much better that fuzzy bunnys or gargoils breaking in to song and dance every 5 minutes. The reason (in my and Lauren's oppion) that no one can read Atlantean is that this was part of the curse to destroy the city. (rember Princess Kida's conversation with Milo?) and the people can live for so long because of the crystal. I don't see why people say the movie is no good. It was funny and exciting. It's my favorite movie (even over Harry Potter which could have been better) Watch it, it is REALLY good.
