Customer Reviews
Atlantis - The Lost Empire 
2008-09-18
I love this movie. and when i got it on dvd i was soooo excited. it came quick and the packaging was safe. thank you!
Possibly the most disorganized animated movie ever. 
2008-09-18
I will keep this review short and simple. I am a huge animated movie fan even when they're overtly cutesy. As long as it has a plausible story with a beginning middle and end and has great animation I will watch it. This film however is a shame to the Disney canon.
First of all, the animation is probably the cheapest I have seen since they started recycling animation cells at Disney back in the 70's (like Robin Hood for example). The company has always prided themselves in having state of the art animation but after movies like "The Lion King" and "Tarzan", this is a huge step backwards.
And the story is just plain slow and uneventful. They spend the entire movie establishing the lead character as a fumbler, then with absolutely no explanation segue into the underground world and attempt to explain everything at once. It's slow for children as there are no cute characters and even slower for adults who look for a story.
Such a shame. Perhaps Disney commisioned this movie to justify the dissolution of their traditional animation department and focus on C.G.?
GREAT DEAL!! 2008-05-11
Good product brand new sealed, and no broblems.
Got it quick and for a great price.
A classic.... 2007-12-21
Great film; the animation has its own style, some enjoy it, and others, seemingly a hefty sum, don't seem to grasp the loving care this film was given, in all aspects.
Oh well, we can cry another day. It would be truthful in saying that the movie at least ranks with Disney's better animation films, and is nowhere near as bad as some of the libel on this site. It is quite possibly no more disconnected than ALL of the so called Classics, and though it may not top something such as Aladdin or Lady and the Tramp, its better than so many of the other films script wise, and the cubist style animation in particular reminds me of a comic book.
OF COURSE, the creators brought aboard famed comic illustrator Mike Mignola as visual designer and consultant. The script and the comic book style fit together SO WELL in this film... I truly adore the jaggy edges and slightly disconnected elements as they are presented in the full painstaking package Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise (responsible for Beauty and the Beast and The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and from a story conceived by Tab Murphy of Hunchback fame. The entire experience is totally backed up by professionals, and should be acknowledged as four stars for that reason alone, in that they succeed in what they set out to do, and quite well compared to what Pixar and Ghibli present.
Atlantis is a journey where nothing gets in the way that cannot be solved, logically or not, but it leaves the viewer optimistic with wonder and not unjustly imbibed with gimmicks or nonsense. Atlantis is a sensational experience, in my opinion, of a movie like Howl's Moving Castle, and though it is not quite THAT good, it's close. Watching the movie in darkness and headphones provides ample testimony to my claim. Scary but true, and, although many things are not realistic nor completely immersive, WHAT ******* DISNEY FILM is also not in the same vein? They all have a flaw or two. It is just nitpicking of the naysayers that would have it the other way....
I also must note that the enemies and other antagonists are quite fearsome even sinister, much more so than the majority of Disney's catalogue. I was very convinced of imminent danger in the first few chapters, going into the sea with the crustacean machine violently raging after the crew. The stereo effects and symphonic overlay are quite gorgeous during this sequence and many more throughout; the ending, the firefly sequence, and the descent all being memorable.
With nice headphones and an amp, you really appreciate what went into the sound design, and it is obvious that is was a process carefully looked over and appraised, because it stands among Disney's best.
I for one, appreciate quirky misunderstood characters like the Hunchback, and to make a point, that is the film I most compare this one too. Each is very much a masterpiece in its own right. And this is proven in the finale that is one of the most memorable in recent memory, if a little cliche, it has its parting shot up there in beauty with Pride Rock. Exhilarating, to say the least, if you have the imagination.
Also, the sardonic and sometimes sexual humor is quite natural and amusing... you might find yourself saying, 'wow, didn't quite expect that out of this', and that is what it comes down to in the end: this movie is full of good surprises, and as one of the last few traditional movies we should applaud that aspect.
As for the video, this particular DVD does not look its best, but I hear that is because of my gear. On my system there are compression artifacts and macroblocking, though overall it is a clean print, workable and fairly good throughout on my setup that consists of a 1920x1200 DELL with calibrated displays from MAC mini.
It would be nice if the BLURAY disc is even better, and released sooner rather than in five years or whatever they have planned.
Excellent take on Atlantis 2007-06-30
I really liked this story from start to finish. I thought it did give a different take on the lost city and how it was lost and possibly forgotten by most. I also did like the part of the story about the "use of crystals" and what message that did send. Don't abuse power, respect and honor it. See this movie for yourself and make your own opinions of it. I liked it very much and will be watching it over and over again!!!
Very authentic source for Atlantean language (Dig Adlantisag) 2007-06-16
From the creative team who brought you THE LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST comes an exciting quest of adventure and discovery. Join the expedition and search below the sea for one of the greatest mysteries of all time ... ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE. The world's most highly qualified crew of archaeologists and explorers are led by historian Milo Thatch as they board the incredible 1,000-foot submarine Ulysses and head deep into the mysteries of the sea. The underwater expedition takes an unexpected turn when the team's mission must switch from exploring Atlantis to protecting it. Filled with stunning visual effects, this captivating story is loaded with laughs and messages of friendship and teamwork. Dive into ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE -- it's an adventure your family will enjoy taking over and over again.
Does just as much things right as it does wrong 
2007-03-13
When one looks at the studio's Walt Disney-approved output to the recent input, there's almost a kind of "yeah they're good but they're not as good as ". It's quite unfair to continually compare everything they do to their best but when they've done as much popular movies as they have, it's hard not to. We have Atlantis, the first movie Disney has done in recent years that breaks the mold of the so-called "Disney formula": wisecracking comic reliefs, lovable non-talkative pets, songs fit for Broadway and a bit more toned-down as far as violence and scariness are concerned. Maybe that's the reason the film didn't make as big a profit? Or is just simply audiences knew when an okay film was in theatres.
Milo Thatch, a historian/adventure seeker has been searching for the lost continent of Atlantis for years. Being aided financially and a crew, Milo searches for the continent, braving obstacles set in place to dissuade travellers. Eventually the crew reach the lost city and meet Kida, the King's daughter who along with Milo, tries to solve a mystery involving the city and rescue it for those who want to exploit the city itself.
It's always strange but Disney is underrated when it deals with heavy scenes. From Bambi's mother to Maleficent the dragon to Chernabog from Fantasia to my favorite, the Headless Horseman in Legend of Sleepy Hollow, there have been moments of a more darker quality. Yet some of them seemed toned down in fear that kids wouldn't like it. So it's nice to see Atlantis break that tradition a bit. The opening sequence of Atlantis (including a fantastic opening shot, sound and animation-wise), the encounter with a mechanical Atlantis guardian and the ending are just as thrilling for adults but maybe a bit too intense for little kids. Speaking of animation, it's also some of their animators' best from the backgrounds to the art direction and character designs and thanks to a stellar transfer, it allows you to be see their efforts in the best way.
However, the problems come from 2 key areas: the story and characters. I've watched plenty of animes so I'm a bit more receptive to strange plots but this is one of those where at times it's like "uh...I don't get that part." And the film just kind of chugs along, there's no real emotional connection so we go from scene to scene and feeling a bit disconnected. And it's strange that the old Disney films had one-dimensional characters but we still loved them anyway. There's even the Seven Dwarfs that were pretty one-note but each one became a favorite regardless. Aside from a weird dirt-obsessed character named Moliere and the occasional funny line from the bomb-obsessed Vinny, we never really care for anyone.
Finally no songs or cutesyness yet the story itself just doesn't feel right. But at least they had the balls to at least try something new for a change. I love the animation and its tone but the main areas that should've got more attention got shortchanged. Not really a throwaway film, just an interesting flawed one.
Grand, song-free adventure 2007-03-09
This is one of the few "dark" Disney animated films that have achieved the PG rating (*shudder*). Thus, there are lots of explosions, strange happenings, guns, and other stuff like that. Not your typical song-and-dance-with-animal fare.
The story is about this linguist nerd who wants to find Atlantis, and does. The sidekicks (esp. Vinnie) have some great quips.
If you like steampunk, good film to watch once in a while.
Holes in the Plot but Nice to Watch 2007-01-09
Throw away those fuzzy slippers and be prepared for an adventure in the tradition of "Swiss Family Robinson" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." A crew of adventurers and a nerdy librarian head deep under the ocean to seek the lost city of Atlantis.
Milo Thatch (nicely voiced by Michael J. Fox) lives in the shadow of his adventurous grandfather. Michael is a sheltered librarian, but he has twinges of adventure. Milo accepts the opportunity to accompany an expedition in search of Atlantis, though Milo requires a little persuasion.
The expedition seems well equipped. The leader of the expedition, Commander Rourke (voiced by James Garner) also seems quite competent, if a bit too enthusiastic. Unfortunately, the expedition failed to prepare for the obstacles they would soon face, beginning with a giant creature (the kraken) guarding the entrance to an undersea cave.
After the encounter with the creature the expedition is several reduced. Fortunately Milo is quite knowledgeable and leads the remnants of the expedition to a great city. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the city was once great, because the people in the city seem relatively simple. There is little technology evident and the people seem like simple farmers and fishermen. Yet, Milo's books tell him that the city possesses great treasures and a great secret.
Soon Milo finds himself at odds with Commander Rourke and other members of the crew as they reveal the real purpose they came to Atlantis. Will Milo and the Atlanteans survive the catastrophe that is about to occur? What happened to the technology that Atlantis supposedly has? Will Milo and beautiful Atlantean Kida fall in love? A viewer has many things to discover in this film!
I like this movie though it has a number of issues. The list of problems in the movie is lengthy and has been well covered in other places, so I will not repeat the list here. Some of the problems are very evident; others require repeated watching to spot (unless you have reviewed the list of problems before watching). I still like the movie in spite of the problems.
I have always enjoyed Disney's adventure films (the Davy Crockett movies, "Island at the Top of the World," etc.), but Disney has focused on fuzzy critters and movies aimed at pre-teen girls in recent years. It is nice to see Disney return to its roots with a rousing adventure film. Have fun with the mistakes in the movie and enjoy a bowl of popcorn while spotting them. Fans of Disney's adventure films will like this one!
Enjoy!
A Nappaland.com Review 2006-12-31
Plot Summary: A museum curator joins a team of adventurers in search of the lost island of Atlantis.
Reason for the Rating: Action violence.
OK, first we need to point out that no matter how many of your ancestors die, they still won't join together to create an all-powerful god to protect you and your little island paradise. Now, if you and your kids can get past that bit of Eastern religious baggage forced into an animated film, then your entire family should really enjoy the latest Disney masterpiece, ATLANTIS.
Visually stunning, often humorous, and superbly acted by voice-over talent like Michael J. Fox, James Garner, Cree Summer, and John Mahoney, this movie is surprisingly impressive. Although it's overshadowed in popularity the by crudeness and toilet-humor of SHREK, ATLANTIS achieves an almost classic literary quality that's hard to resist.
Here's the story: Museum worker, Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox), aspires to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and search for the long-lost city of Atlantis---an ancient, but advanced, island civilization that was engulfed in water and buried at sea. When Preston B. Whitmore (voiced by John Mahoney) recruits him to join an expedition to find the lost kingdom, the adventures begin.
Trekking through imaginative obstacles (like mechanical sea monsters and incendiary fireflies) with a colorful cast of sidekicks/adventurers, Milo and his pals overcome all to find the magical paradise hidden beneath the sea. But there is a traitor in their midst, and Milo must find a way to rescue both himself and the lost world of ATLANTIS.
Although there's much to admire in this film, the best part is that it actually has a plot---not just a half-wit premise that's an excuse for lame jokes and a way to fill 80 minutes of a movie. The plot is filled with action, sure, but in the end it's the story that matters---and that keeps you hooked.
Although it may be too sophisticated for younger kids, expect this one to get repeated viewing requests from children with an interest in imaginative storytelling of a classic style.
Nappaland.com Recommends: Take the whole family and enjoy ATLANTIS---but be ready to discuss with children the Eastern religious influences incorporated into the story
After the Show...If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:
-- What did you like best about ATLANTIS? Least? Why?
-- If there really were an Atlantis out there, what do you think it might be like?
-- In the movie, all the dead kings of the past combined together to create a god-like protector of Atlantis. What really happens when people die? Explain.
MN
