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Atlantis - The Lost Empire (Collector's Edition)

Atlantis - The Lost Empire (Collector's Edition)

List Price: $39.99
Your Price: $35.99
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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disney is going down hill!!
Review: I have seen nearly everything that Disney has produced especially their amimated movies. But sadly this is another one of there not so good ones. I think the story is a little stupid and could have been much more interesting, and the animation seems to have gone back instead of forward as far a technology is concerned. Disney use to be at the top, but since they have sold out to just use big names rather than good stories they are failing. And you can look that up and see for yourself that they are not making much money on these recent projects because they simple are not that good. It seems like their good patch ended with "The Lion King", and they have been pushing ...ideas, with big names at us ever since. Atlantis is no exception, with it's greatest feature being that Michael J. Fox is in it, but other than that, it is a bomb. The animation is trying too hard to look like Japanese Anime, and overall the movie has given up on good charaters. Disney needs to step it up a bit, Dreamworks is doing much better work.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: As Good as All Disney Movies!!!!
Review: I loved this film and believe me it was hilarious I've been waiting to see it and was astonished to see the animation my mom rented this for me and I love this movie you should go buy it or rent it sometimes. 14 yr old veiwer

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: fun viewing
Review: The characters in this film are drawn similarly to those in 101 Dalmations or Sword in the Sword...so in a way retro and in another way somewhat simplistic. The submarine and computer graphics are awesome. I found the film in general rawther entertaining and was glad to find no talking animals or teacups and unnecessary, bland songs interspersed (if you have songs, make them not all the warbling, silky sort that grates my nerves. Shrek is more on track songwise). All in all, a fine adventure animated flick!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Better than expected
Review: I rented this movie with a friend last night (his girlfriend wanted to see it) thinking it would be another stupid, pointless kiddy movie with no plot and too much singing.
I am pleased to say that I was dead wrong!
The plot, albeit a bit goofy, is there. The film features humor that both the kiddos and adults can pick up on and enjoy. The special effects, for an animated movie, are very good.
I just love the characters. Each has their own distinct personality and style, and they are all give oppertunities in the film for some memorable one liners. (My personal favorites are Mole and the communications officer, whose name I have forgotten)
My only real complaint is that the characters took to long to actually get to Atlantis and not enough time actually doing anything.
I would definately reccomend this movie for anyone who is looking for something to entertain the whole family or even as a "Oh, man, there's nothing left to rent.. Is this any good?" movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Tied down by Metaphysics and Fast-pacing.
Review: ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE is a fairly decent movie. It is not the typical Disney animated film of cute little animals and Broadway-type showtunes. Instead it is a film filled with action and adventure and a little bit of wishy-washy metaphysics, too. The movie reminded me of Disney's attempt at THE BLACK CAULDRON, another film that was anything but typical Disney.

The film revolves around Milo Thatch, an archeologist and linguisticist. Milo is an expert on Atlantis and garnered his love on the subject from his deceased grandfather. An eccentric billionaire, who was friends with Milo's grandpap, has assembled a team to find the lost continent and hires Milo to bring him back some irrefutable proof so that he can believe in the fabled empire, too. The key members of the team are a motley crew who have been on countless other expeditions around the world and Milo is an outcast among them. However, as the film progresses, Milo gains entry into their fellowship which proves key later in the film.

The movie is a "classical" (as opposed to CGI) animated film, though certain parts of the film were done by computers, but are laced together so seamlessly that one can't tell what's what. The style of animation adds to the story, rather than detracts.

However, the movie suffers from two key problems. The major problem is the metaphyiscal life-force guardian crystal which is supposed to be so key to the movie's plot. The crystal just doesn't fit in with the plot. It doesn't make any sense. It would have been more plausible if the crystal was some alien artifact the Atlanteans had found or something they had invented, but the idea that this giant crystal is the life force and guardian of the empire, protecting it from all harm and allowing the Atlanteans to live for thousand of years is hard to swallow.

The second, though lesser, drawback of the movie is it's fast pace. The film does not take time to explore anything, people, places, events all move by in a blur. The only exception to this is Milo, who is fairly fleshed out, but even he could have used a little more characterization.

With that said, the movie stars the voice of Michael J. Fox and Fox brings a certain class to anything he is involved with. The movie also features the talents of the late Jim Varney (of Ernest fame) in what was his last work.

This is a movie that really little kids won't enjoy much. Adults may like it, but will notice the films flaws. However, 8-12 year olds probably will love it and will care less about the problems of a metaphysical crystal.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Possesses the Disney appeal, but not the Disney magic.
Review: First came "Pearl Harbor," and now there's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire," a tired retread of the patented Disney formula that skims on character development and plot, even for animated motion picture standards, trading these once-important storytelling aspects for sheer spectacle. Through basic animation devoid of the computer graphics that have become the recent rage in the genre, the filmmakers have created a vision, to be sure, but most likely not the one they had in mind.

Unlike many of Disney's masterpieces, which include "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King," this latest venture cannot even hope to live up to the standards sets by its predecessors, and while some of the film has potential, it never takes flight as it should. It introduces us to its envisioning of the disappearance of Atlantis, an event that is loud and bombastic, and remains shrouded in a mystery that the developing plot will unfold.

Enter Milo Thatch, a museum boiler room engineer with hopes of one day discovering the lost city, proving to his superiors that it is not the myth they believe it to be. Just when his luck seems to have run out, he receives his big chance when a colleague of his deceased father calls upon him to take part in an expedition to find Atlantis and bring back proof of its existence.

Along with a crew that includes a female Latin mechanic, a chain-smoking elderly woman who blares into the loudspeaker, and an African-American doctor who speaks quite rapidly, the crew battle everything from mechanical fish to "fire" flies, until they finally reach their destination, which doesn't seem as majestic as it should.

But don't worry; Disney has that all covered. For some reason, the civilians of Atlantis seem happy, but the daughter of the high king feels that they want more out of life. Pairing up with Milo, the two discover the Heart of Atlantis, which is believed to be the source of their very lives. Add to this the greedy band of mercenaries that just happens to be Milo's crew members, and you have the formula for the standard end sequence that combines action, heroism, and a conclusion all in less than ten minutes of running time.

The problems that arise with "Atlantis" stem from its lack of interest behind the story. Sure, it's Disney, but it's lame even for the people who brought us a giant octopus in "The Little Mermaid," and a giant wall of molten lava in "Aladdin," which finds its way into this film. From the beginning, we have no reason to believe in Milo's drive to find Atlantis, other than his quaint memories of his father envisioned in a photograph. It seems as if the animators couldn't wait to begin conception of the action and adventure that makes up the second half of the film.

On this, the movie is a near-success. The animation, while not possessing the sophisticated zeal of computer graphics, is still serviceable, and combined with a booming sound design, it makes for some very energized action. The submarine's battle with the giant sea scorpion, as well as the final confrontation pitting heroes against villains, are stellar examples of what these kinds of sequences are all about.

But between these two thrill-rides, the movie loses itself in a wispy, paper-thin explanation of Atlantis and its source of unending power. There are times when you want to believe in the material, but it seems so silly that it walks the line of ludicrousness. To say that the characters are stereotypical is unjust, reason being that we don't spend enough time with the ones that count in order to glean such a theory.

For me, a bona fide Disney fanatic since birth, "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" just doesn't cut it. Yes, there is such a thing as character development and cohesive plot in animated films (if you don't believe me, then watch "Snow White," another Disney masterpiece), but all of this has been trimmed to almost nothing in an effort to showcase impressive action scenes, which work well in their own right, but can't hold the big picture in focus. This film carries with it the Disney appeal, but lacks the Disney magic.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Great Movie - If Logic, Plot and Consistency Don't Matter
Review: I read the reviews and see a vast gulf between those who love this movie (the great majority) and those who hate it. There appear to be few in between. The only conclusion I can come to is most people don't care about story. Take one beloved theme (Lost Atlantis) throw in a handfull of cliche characters, and mix well with a smattering of contrived dialoge, finish with an overlaying of mindless (and unnecessary) violence and you have a popular movie.
I gave this hound a single star because Amazon's rating system doesn't allow me to give it the '0' it so richly deserves. The only point this movie has in its favor is the ability to engender strong opinions. It also raises an interesting question. Were the script writers truly that clueless, or are they jaded and mercenary to the extent they created this senseless mishmash in order to laugh at us behind their backs. I tend to the latter, since I have a hard time believing someone with the brains and talent to work as a scriptwriter in the big leagues would be unable to conceive some sort of coherent plot.
I would spend some time detailing the plot weaknesses, but 1000 words would be just a start. So I will leave it to asking a simple question. "If they truly did not expect to encounter living Atlanteans (and who would), and they fled the wreck of their submarine in emergency escape mini-subs, how and why did they contrive to bring along so much heavy equipment and weaponry?"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Atlantis:da best lost empire ever!
Review: Look at most disney movies.Sure,the are cute and teach some lessons but people!Aren't you getting sick of it?The only one i like(other then atlantis and the emporers new groove)is lion king 2!Now lets talk about altlantis before your bored out of your mind...Milo(the main charecter)has always belived in actient legends but he was most interested in Atlantis.No one belived him(wah)When he gets home,someone named Whitmore wants to send him on an expiditon.Milos grandfather gives him the Sheaperds Journal,the key to finding the lost contenent of Atlantis(or at least Milo says so).Whitmore was also a friend of Milos grandfather,thadius thatch.Whitmore gets him a crew.There is Mole,an expert digger(also the funniest charecter)Vinny,a dynomite person.Audrey,a mechanic.Cookie,some.....guy.Helga,don't know exactly and Rourke,the leader but really an evil dude.They start there expdition....When they get to the lost city of atlantis,they meet Kida,an Atlantian Princess.Rourke turns evil(see?told ya)and tries to find the Heart of Atlantis.When they find it,in it is a giant crystal thing,the Atlantians main source of power.Kida has a crystal(A SMALL ONE)and it leads it to the big crystal thingy.Rourke tries to sell Kida(all blue and watery,not knowing)for money.Milo has to switch to exploring Atlantis to saving it

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great movie, if you give it a chance.
Review: No, it's not a musical, but who cares, it's well done! I've watched this DVD three times now, and I've only spotted one or two minor plot points I had a problem with, and I'm quite picky. If you didn't 'get' this film, then you probably weren't listening to the dialogue. The voice acting is great, and despite what some others have claimed, there are not too many characters to follow in this story; I mean, really, there are only about eight... how hard can that be? My sons love this film, and I got several good laughs out of the comic moments (Don Novello as demolitions expert Vinny Santorini is especially good), and although the plot is serious in places, it's kept light enough for kids to enjoy.

The animation style is excellent, and anime fans will find something about the movie familiar... the look and feel has a taste of anime, but it's not right 'in your face'. Overall I found this movie well worth watching, and my enjoyment didn't diminish over the second and third viewings. In my opinion, Atlantis is a 'must have' for all Disney fans.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Atlantis Rips Off Stargate
Review: Atlantis is to Stargate as Rip-off is to Original. Okay, it wasn't a complete rip-off, but it was close. I mean for those of you who have seen Stargate, you'll see the stories' and how they match up a little too closely. What they both have:

o Dorky linguist who tries to give a speech about misread symbols to museum scholars and fails miserably
o Both are trying to out prove myth and legend, but need funding to do so
o Old person has faith in linguist, for sentimental reasons of their own past, and funds project
o Military is involved
o The linguist has the missing link to successfully solve problem, where others have failed
o Linguist skinny, squeamish, and wears glasses (oh, and are Anglo-Saxon white men)
o Mission has been set to go up until linguist solves problem.
o Linguist goes on mission, because he's a linguist
o Team gets stuck there briefly
o Only to find a older culture still living there
o Both have unique crystals or minerals that help survival, of its people or god
o Linguist can speak with the culture, but culture can't read
o Linguist and culture-leading female, hook up, and learn from each other
o When it is time to leave, military leader has destructive and ulterior motives
o Linguist helps the culture get their way of life back
o The rest of the crew heads back home while the linguist stays behind with the culture because of the hook up.

Oh my.... the list could go on and on. But I think I've, made my point. The difference is clear; different lost mystery places, time periods and origins. One is animated the other was not, but as one can see that is a small line of difference. Now did I like it? Yes, I did. I mean I liked Stargate, for the story, so since it's the same story, I liked Atlantis as well. It was good, however the drawing styles varied a little too much. It's almost as though they rehired the guys they fired, that went on to the Fox studios to do Titan A.E. and Anastasia, and got them to draw again. (Oh yeah, and it matches up with Titan A.E., closely as well.) While hiring animators from MTV's Liquid Television, to do the work, notice how the attitude posed blonde Helga (Claudia Christian) is like that of the something.... Flux, which was on MTV's Liquid Television. Anyway, I liked it, I'm just beginning to wonder about the Disney, who was once the king of original and innovative, is now the king of what can we rip-off and pretend it's original.


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