Rating: 
Summary: Visually stunning - a rare treat!
Review: I loved this movie. I'm going to go through some of the points raised in other reviews, in the hopes of shedding light on the polarized opinions. First of all, I don't have kids, I just like animated films. There were some weaknesses in this movie - Brad Pitt's voicing was somewhat lackluster, but since he played the character of a rough-and-ready pirate, that lack didn't particularly intrude. Zeta-Jones is a wonderful voice actress - who knew? And Pfieffer as Eris is lush fun.I read a few complaints from animation geeks who complained about the melding of the two different kinds of animation in this movie. It's true, sometimes I could see the difference between the two, but I didn't have a problem with that. In fact, it gave the film a weird sense of dimension, like watching a three-D movie with glasses on. The story is solid and emotionally satisfying. There are some adult one-liners that will make you bark with surpised laughter. But I'll tell you what makes the film great - The ART. The thing that sets Sinbad apart from pretty much any animated film I've seen is that these artists imagined things that were visually stunning and original. Watching this movie is like seeing a Cirque d'Soleil show for the first time. Never have I seen animation exploited so beautifully. Dreamworks used it not only to do things that you couldn't ever do in real life, they used it to portray things that most of us couldn't even imagine. And they did it so convincingly that at times I forgot I was watching an animated film and thought, "How did they DO that? Oh, yeah...it isn't real." Combine that with taut, action-based storytelling and you have a film worth buying.
Rating: 
Summary: Exhilirating Thrill Ride
Review: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas bombed at the box office. That is unfortunate, as this film is a dazzling adventure. Dreamworks spared no expense or talent on Sinbad. The voice cast includes Brad Pitt as Sinbad, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Marina, Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in "Shakespeare in Love") as Prince Proteus, Michelle Pfeiffer as Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, and Dennis Haybert (President Palmer in FOX's television drama "24") as Sinbad's first mate Kale.
The story revolves loosely around the Arabian Nights Sinbad. Except for lots of huge monsters, including the Roc and Sea Monster, and Sinbad sailing a pirate ship on the wild seas, this version draws heavily on Greek mythology as well. There are sirens in the film, and the Cyclops is mentioned. Eris was a Greek goddess. The story is good, if not somewhat predictable. Sinbad is a self-centered pirate who wants one last big score so he can retire to Fiji with his crew. The Book of Peace, a mystical object that keeps the Twelve Cities safe, is on it's way to Syracuse for safekeeping. Sinbad wants to hold the book for ransom. The Goddess Eris also wants the book, so she can achieve her goal of worldwide chaos. Unbeknownst to Sinbad, the book is being transported by Prince Proteus, Sinbad's former childhood friend. A monster, sent by Eris, interrupts Sinbad's theft, and the two temporarily reunite to fight the beast. In Syracuse, Sinbad is framed by Eris. Proteus takes Sinbad's place awaiting the chopping block. Sinbad has ten days to recover the book or his friend will die. Proteus' fiancee from a politically arranged marriage sails with Sinbad so he won't run away.
The story seems to play second fiddle to the effects, which are enchanting and enthralling. At one point, (thank God I was watching at home) I actually screamed "WOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" after one intense scene. Some of the effects in this film broke new ground in animation. The watery sirens and the dissapating form of Eris were effects that had never been used before. The background of the city of Syracuse, and the living celestial map of the Book of Peace are so superbly done.
Proteus is so gorgeous and so noble, and Sinbad is so rakish and bold: you get TWO animated leading hunks for the price of one. I also like the fact that Marina has short hair in this movie. The movie contains some mild sensuality, but it is not at the heroine's expense. She is treated with great love and respect by Sinbad's crew. There are many laugh-out-loud moments.
Everyone who is interested in the preservation of hand-drawn animation should rent or purchase this film. Many triumphantly say that hand-drawn animation is "dead," and should give way to computerized films like Finding Nemo and Shrek." These naysayers and negativists do not mention that the film is a combination of computer digital effects AND hand-drawn characters.
Rating:
Summary: Outta Sight!
Review: This is not only one of the best recent animated films I've seen, but is actually an epic piece of cinema. The visuals are stunning, spectacular, highly imaginative, whatever adjectives one can drum up! It's the singlemost imaginative creative endeavor onscreen that I've seen in the past five years. If you're a fan of THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN or TIME BANDITS, you're going to love this movie. It's in the same spirit, but also employs all the state of the art CGI effects and pixel animation innovations that have brought new standards to the industry. The story is actually involving, and the voice overs are masterfully done. The animation is full '60s Trip level. Do yourself and your family a favor and make this one a part of your permanent collection! This is truly artful animation of the highest order. BEK
Rating:
Summary: Action-packed, entertaining, witty and funny.
Review: This movie about one of the greatest all-time thieves has little to do with the original legends attributed to him told in the Arabian Nights, often even incorporating elements from other mythologies, but is fun-filled and very entertaining nonetheless. The movie finds Sinbad (voiced by Brad Pitt) searching for riches and trying to steal The Book of Peace from his long time friend and prince of Syracuse, Proteus (voiced by Stephen Fiennes). While trying to take the book he encounters the Goddess of Chaos, Eris (voiced by Michelle Pfeiffer) who offers him all the riches of the world if he should steal the book for her. But when Sinbad is about to steal the book he encounters Proteus' fiancée Marina (voiced by Catherine Zeta-Jones) and desists of his efforts. Eris ends up stealing the book herself and frames Sinbad for the crime, who is then sentenced to die in ten days if the book isn't returned. Proteus who believes that Sinbad didn't steal the book, takes his place to allow for Sinbad to steal the book back from Eris. From here on the adventure begins. The great special effects bring to life everything from menacing sea monsters, to ethereal mermaids to the ever-shifting realm of chaos known as Tartarus. The seamlessly incorporated hand-drawn animation is beautiful. The well-developed characters are deeper and wittier than most characters on the latest animated features and their dialogues and interactions are funny, emotional and well timed. The excellent musical score, one of the best for an animated feature, will leave you feeling like a swashbuckler even hours after the movie is over. The main reasons this movie doesn't get five stars are: the repetition of some plot elements from other Dreamworks' animated stories (like Road to El Dorado) and the fact that this animated movie is not suitable for kids under thirteen for its treatment of certain topics like the main characters love relationship. Overall, very good adventure and lots of fun.
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