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All that to say, my expectations were high for this sequel. Now, let's get into it.
When I first picked up the DVD case and saw the cover art, I was immediately dubious. The characters on the box don't look like the characters in the original. Their lines are more blocky and rigid, the details are fewer, and the background had more personality than the characters. How could this be? How many different animators have drawn Mickey Mouse over the years? Hundreds...thousands? Yet he always looks the same...and then it hit me...computer aided animation! Oh no! Oh well, too late now, lets pop it in...
Play Feature; and I was on my way. Hmm. My first impression was that indeed the animation could not hold a candle to the original feature. Actually, never mind holding a candle... this couldn't hold a un-struck match. The style here is purely Saturday morning cartoon; I wouldn't know how else to describe it. But after a few minutes of wrinkled face glances between my girlfriend and I, I resigned that the story is what counts, so onward ho.
So the animation was foreign, but the familiar voices of the characters did much to alleviate the discomfort and I began to see things as a Disney film again, instead of a half hour kiddy-toon. So on to the story.
The basic gist is that once the Heart Of Atlantis was powered up again, in the first film, all of the defenses, items and artifacts of Atlantis that run on the Heart's power, have come back to operation as well. This has created more than a few problems above sea level, where now some of these items are running amok and threatening the exposure of Atlantis' secret society to the entire world. Something needs to be done and done quickly, so the ludicrously rich Whitmore has come to Atlantis to gather together the original crew, and then together, investigate the surface dealings of Atlantis' power.
This is done in what may as well be three episodes (although they have been connected together, they seem to still have fades for cutting to commercials). Upon first viewing, my initial thought was "Scooby Doo", and after having had about a day's worth of thinking about it, that impression has not left. The animation quality, the spookiness of the settings, the whole gang playing investigators, and the episodic feel, all help to back up this impression. This is where Disney got lucky with this release. Myself, and millions of others out there, love Scooby Doo!
The three tales all take place in a variety of locals, and each one has its own authenticity. An Atlantian artifact that eventually became known as Odin's Spear is uncovered, and with it a would-be Odin threatens the execution of the Norse prophecy of Ragnarok (Armageddon...end of the world). A tale of sorcery and mythology, this is the most outlandish, but dynamic of the three.
Another takes us to the American Southwest, and a land of desert and Indian legend. Here, a strange pack of otherworldly coyotes is spotted and their appearance coincides with the discovery of some ancient ruins and artifacts. Playing off the already debated connections between civilizations such as the Mayans, Aztecs, American Indians, Egyptians, and their connection with Atlantis, this central tale is the most rooted in current scientific study.
Disney does Lovecraft. Wow. People always said I was strange because my two passions are Disney films and horror movies, but HAH apparently the two go hand in hand! I guess I missed the connection in the first Atlantis, as the look was designed by comic artist, Mike Mignola, who I followed in the Hellboy series religiously.
So, to put this all in perspective, had Disney released it into theatres, it would have, to be blunt, been laughed out of the Cineplex. But at home, on the tube and with a couple of rowdy kids staying motionless for an hour and a half or so, it works just fine. I am a bit distraught over the animation, because this is far worse than I would ever expect Disney to stoop (although the preview for the Lilo and Stitch sequel looks choppier than an episode of the "Smurfs"). But overall I gathered that for its target market, this disc will work just fine. Kids don't care about quality...which is why Walt made his world center around a whole family and parents interests as well...so they will love it. But Disney really, really needs to realize that kids don't make, or shell out, money; and if parents keep having to sit through poorly made rehashes of their own childhood favorites...the money will stop.
Buy this if you have kids or love Scooby Doo. Otherwise, fulfill your underwater adventure tale needs with a superior Disney tale, and go buy the new DVD release of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
-aaron-
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I
thought that Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) was a fairly
good example of what makes Disney movies great. It had a large
amount of adventure, a sense of scale, some defined and unique characters,
a fantastical setting and some good talent doing the vocal work.
Of course I couldn't live with myself as a (anime) reviewer if I neglected
to point out that I was a little stung by the whole Nadia: The
Secret Of Blue Water scandal, but consider with me the fact that
almost all of Disney's works are garnered from existing sources and
you can't be entirely surprised. *If you are not sure as
to what I am referring...don't worry about it. If you would
care, you already know* But as American anime fans tend
to be a little...elitist...I suppose some backlash was bound to occur.
Disney's flat denials did nothing to aid their cause however...I never
heard the Snow White production team saying they haven't read
The Brothers Grimm. But regardless of all the finger pointing
and high-horse anime fans (don't write emails folks...I love anime
too), I thought that Atlantis was a great way to spend an hour and
a half.
It
is here that Disney almost got me. As the "coming soon"
previews were playing, it happened. A preview for Disney's The
Haunted Mansion movie. OoooOooo. If you read my reviews...you
know about me and the Mansion: avid fan, avid collector, amateur historian
and general H.M. freak (I have ventured through the attraction nearly
800 times). But can my favor be bought with one preview?
Close...so very close.
Wow...here
came my first surprise. Somehow, nearly every single original
voice cast member had signed on again for the sequel! Cree Summer
("Rugrats") is back as the Atlantian ruler, Princess
Kida; Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci) returns to mumble his
way through the role of explosives-obsessed Vinny with impeccable
comedic timing; Corey Burton (Return To Neverland) burrows
his way into the character of Mole; Jacqueline Obradors ("NYPD
Blue") is up to her elbows in grease again as the groups motor-pool
female Audrey; Phil Morris ("Seinfeld") reprises
the voice of chrome-domed Dr. Sweet; and John Mahoney ("Frasier")
settles into the role of Preston Whitmore. Michael J.
Fox's role of the hero, Milo, has been taken over by James
Taylor, but Taylor doesn't sound anything like him to me. And
what would become of Cookie's voice? The lovable character
was done by Jim Varney (Ernest P. Worrell) who passed away before
even finishing the first film... Well, I am proud to say (being
an Ernest devotee) that Stephen Barr does a fantastic job of sounding
like Mr. Varney...knowhutimean?
But
the best, and first tale, of the three struck a special chord with
me. You see I have a great respect for the writings of H. P.
Lovecraft, and especially enjoy the works of Stuart Gordon, who has
become an almost "official" Lovecraft film director.
Recently, at the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival here in my current
home town of Portland, Or. (Cali, I miss you!), I had the great pleasure
of meeting Mr. Gordon and viewing his film, Dagon. Based
mainly on the story "Shadows Over Innsmouth" by Lovecraft,
it is apparent and even obvious that the makers of Atlantis II have
also had the pleasure of viewing this film. More a copy of the
film than the story, this first episode has our gang checking out
tales of a sea monster that is sinking ships. They wind up in
a perpetually foggy coastal town, populated by a bizarre group of
citizens that are desperate to protect a secret at all costs.