Atlantis: The Lost Empire is one of the few films I've reviewed for this blog that I had actually seen before. Like The Master of Disguise, it was one of those movies that I distinctly remember renting as a child. Thankfully, unlike The Master of Disguise, Atlantis did nothing but improve with age. As a kid, I recall not being overly fond of this film's more serious tone and dialog heavy scenes (compared to the brighter Disney fare that was released around the same time). However, as time has gone on, I've come to really appreciate the distinctly Jules-Vernian action and adventure the movie has to offer.
Taking place in 1914, the plot follows linguist and philospher, Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox). Reduced to a laughing stock at the Smithsonian Institute for his extensive research on the mythical lost city of Atlantis, Thatch finds himself recruited by the enigmatic and wealthy Preston Whitmore (John Mahoney). Whitmore, a former colleague of Milo's grandfather, has come into possession of an ancient tome known as the Shepherd's Journal, a book said to lead those who can decipher it directly to the resting place of Atlantis. Along with a crack team of engineers and excavation experts, Milo sets off on a journey to uncover what secrets lie at the bottom of the ocean.
The first thing I would like to call attention to is something about the plot that only became apparent to me during the film's climax. Here we have a story about a young man whose deceased father figure would regale him with stories about a mythical lost city. He finds himself developing a bond with the princess of this civilization, a young lady who wears a glowing crystal around her neck; this crystal is the key to everything, keeping the civilization alive while also controlling an army of giant, robotic guards who protect the city with their lives. The young man boards a series of fantastical ships and crafts, adventuring to this lost city with a team of colorful mercenaries. Eventually, he is betrayed by the head military type, who suffers a horrible demise. The film ends on an optimistic note, implying the civilization will rebuild and thrive once more. If this sounds at all familiar to fans of the works of Hayao Miyazaki, that's because the plot of 2001's Atlantis: The Lost Empire bears a striking resemblance to that of 1986's Castle in the Sky.
Now I'm not implying that this is a case of plagiarism, but it's obvious to anyone who's seen both films that Atlantis had to have been heavily inspired by Castle in the Sky. If it wasn't then that's surely a monumental coincidence; it's not as if "life-crystal-wearing princess of a lost civilization" is a well-established character trope in creative fiction. Similarities aside, I feel that Atlantis definitely stands on its own. While the work of Studio Ghibli is objectively gorgeous to look at, Atlantis showcases some of the best animation of one of the most visually impressive eras in Disney's history, boasting revolutionary use of computer animation and a fantastic art style brought to us in-part by Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy.
As excellent as the visuals and voice cast are, the film somewhat suffers when it comes to characterization and story structure. The pace fluctuates from incredibly fast to surprisingly slow with little middle ground in between. Characters are fun to watch, well-written and well-acted, but there's hardly an arc to be found amongst them. This is a movie that relishes being a pulpy, sci-fi adventure and not much more. While this may sound like a point against the film, Atlantis is by and large a movie that knows exactly what it wants to accomplish and does so with skill and style. The antagonist is an overtly evil metaphor for the dangers of capitalism and imperialism, the hero doesn't have any real flaws despite some social awkwardness, and the princess only enters the story about halfway through. Despite all this, the villain is excellent, the hero is likeable, and Kida (Cree Summer) manages to be one of the best Disney princesses in ages.
What Atlantis: The Lost Empire lacks in depth, it more than makes up for in sheer charisma. It's a World War I-era pulp adventure that takes advantage of the medium of animation to bring us something wholly larger than life. While the characters aren't particularly dynamic, they're portrayed by an excellent cast of talented actors working off of a smartly-written script. It's not perfect, but it's definitely something unique that proves that Disney is capable of making something other than the tried-and-true fairy tale musical/comedy. If you're looking for something daring from the end of the Disney Renaissance with more gruesome death than showtunes, definitely give Atlantis a watch.
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