Stars: Michael J. Fox, James Garner, Leonard Nimoy, Cree Summer, Claudia Christian, John Mahoney

Director: Gary Trousdale

Summary: Part INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, part 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE marries mythology, futuristic underwater vehicles, and turn-of-the-century adventure for an animated treat. Thanks in part to cowriter Joss Whedon (creator of the edgy BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER series), the film is filled with relaxed wit and more grown-up, pseudo-supernatural perils than some recent Disney films, without being inappropriate for kids. This non-musical extravaganza pits Good against Evil, and pairs a nerdy young scientist-turned-explorer, Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox), with an independent-minded platinum blond bombshell of a princess, Kida (Cree Summer)--provided Kida's father, the distrusting king (Leonard Nimoy), approves.<BR>Milo, a museum curator relegated to menial jobs, is obsessed with the famed lost empire of Atlantis. His grandfather once told him about a mysterious Shepherd's Journal that could help him find the now-sunken kingdom and, with the help of eccentric millionaire Preston B. Whitmore (John Mahoney), Milo and several other funny, quirky crew members set out on a heart-pounding adventure. The crew includes Vinny, a demolitionist (Don Novello, better known as Father Guido Sarducci); Dr. Sweet, the gentle cook (Phil Morris, a.k.a. Kramer's lawyer on SEINFELD); and a paternal but brusque Captain Rourke (James Garner). The plot is intricate and suspenseful, and artist Mike Mignola (creator of the comic book series HELLBOY) offers up an intense but beautifully simple animated environment as stunning as Queen Amadala's planet in STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE. With monsters like the vicious Leviathan (a mechanical lobster that guards the gates to the city) adding thrills and chills, who could ask for more

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The Disney Studio was built on innovation in animation, so it seems ironic that Atlantisis both a bold departure and highly derivative, borrowing heavily from anime, video games and graphic novels. Instead of songs and fuzzy little animals, the artists offer an action-adventure set in 1914: nerdy linguist Milo Thatch (Michael J Fox) believes he's found the location of the legendary Lost Continent. An eccentric zillionaire sends Milo out to test his hypothesis with an anachronistic crew that includes tough Puerto Rican mechanic Audrey (Jacqueline Obradors), demolition expert Vinnie (Don Novello), and butt-kicking blonde adventurer Helga (Claudia Christian). When they find Atlantis, its culture is dying because the people can no longer read the runes that explain their mysterious power source--but Milo can. Nasty Commander Rourke (James Garner) attempts to steal that power source, leading to the requisite all-out battle. Atlantisoffers some nifty battle scenes, including an attack on a Jules Verne-esque submarine by a giant robotic trilobites and fishlike flying cars. But the film suffers from major story problems. If Princess Kida (Cree Summer) remembers her civilisation at its height, why can't she read the runes? Why doesn't Milo's crew notice that the Atlanteans live for centuries? The angular designs are based on the work of comic book artist Mike Mignola (Hellboy), and the artists struggle with the characters' stubby hands, skinny limbs and pointed jaws. The result is a film that will appeal more to 10-year-old boys than to family audiences. --Charles Solomon, Amazon.com

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Featurette - 1. THE JOURNEY BEGINS: The Making of ATLANTIS, 2. CREATING MYTHOLOGY: The History of the Lost Empire, 3. Animation Production, Audio Commentary with Behind-the-Scenes Visuals - Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise - Directors and Don, Deleted Scene - Vik
Year:	2001
Release Date:	March 4, 2002
Runtime:	95 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B E D 888391
Keywords:	Animated, Family, Lost, Atlantis, Empire, Animation
Genre:	Family