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Running time: Approx. 90 min.
Rated: PG
When I first
discovered that Disney was planning on making a new version of Treasure Island
that took place in outer space, I will readily admit that I thought it was a
terrible idea. How do you take a literary classic like Treasure Island and
make it into a space-agy Star Wars/Trek like clone? I thought the idea stunk,
but, being the open minded person that I am, I decided to give it a shot...
...and like many movies
that Disney has been putting out lately, I am finding that my expectations are
thankfully not being met. I keep expecting anything made by the company
of Walt nowadays to be terrible, for truly many of their latest efforts in the
90's were indeed terrible. That and the company itself has really gone down
the tubes, but like a wise Christian person once said, "When they come
out with something that is directed back at the family and quality filmmaking
again, then go see it and support that movie, and send a message to Disney
that it's those movies we want to see."
Treasure Planet is not a wild and far off retelling of the Robert-Louis
Stevenson story. Rather it is the same story with very few artistic liberties,
and set in a space environment. The futuristic aspect of the story is
very well done, because it is done through the eye of what someone living in
the 19th century would have thought the future to look like, so there is a
wonderful feeling of age to a new looking movie.
The animation
is similar to that of Tarzan, and the main character Jim Hawkins even looks
like a younger version of the Ape Man. There is a LOAD of CGI blended
with the traditional animation, and it really looks awesome during some shots.
There is a pod of space Orcas that are amazing to behold, and the action is
breathtaking. But of course you can't have a good special effects movie
without a good story and characters.
The
story is almost completely the same as the book, only changed or updated a
little to fit with the space-age face-lift. As for the characters, Jim
Hawkins is a troubled teen who has turned bad after his father left his
family, and he is dealing with the pain of not having a father figure in his
life. When he helps an old reptile alien named Billy Bones who crashed landed
by his home, the creature gives him a holographic map and tells him to
"Beware the Cyborg." The Hawkin's Inn is destroyed by pirates
seeking the map, so Jim, his mother and a scientist named Doppler escape
together, and Jim convinces his mom to let him and Doppler go hire a ship and
find Treasure Planet, the location the map points out.
Reluctantly she agrees, and JIm is off on his real adventure. They go on
the LEGACY, and Jim discovers that the cook onboard is a cyborg named John
Silver. Suspecting this man to be the pirate who was after the map, Jim is
untrusting of Silver at first. But when he and the Cyborg get to know
each other, Jim oddly enough finds a new father in Silver as the man teaches
him to work about the ship, and spends some quality time with him. But
as Silver grows more fond of Jim, he fears that his pirate spirit may be
getting soft, and the mutineers he has rounded up to steal the ship and go to
Treasure Planet may turn against him. The Cyborg must decide between his
feelings for JIm, and his own selfish desires to obtain the Trove of Captain
Flynt.
This awesome character development between Silver and JIm is really what makes
the movie. It is one of the few Disney flicks that highlights the
importance of a father in a boy's life, and what that can do for a hurting
young man. And it shows what a bond like that, if true, can do in turning a
corrupt selfish person to thinking of someone else. It may be a more serious
message than Disney normally does for these movies, but it was very well done.
The movie is truly
funny at times, highly exciting, and at times deeply touching. It is one
of those few Disney cartoons I can say was a real pleasure to watch through.
There are very few low points, and they are dwarfed by the better qualities.
The only real objectionable things are a scene with a slug alien that
talks by making wind breaking noises. That and a crude joke or two, but they
are too little to go against it. There aren't even any really annoying
characters, which is impressive. Normally the comic relief characters
are terrible, but this time even though he got a little tiring Martin Short
plays a nuts robot named BEN. The other comical character is a little pink
blob named Morph, who I honestly think is the cutest most hilarious non verbal
character I've ever seen. It's so CUTE! Absolutely adorable.
I could
go on and on, but in closing I'll say that Disney did themselves a favor
making this film. It's as close a return to the good old days as they can
achieve today, and I was more than satisfied with it. Let's just hope they
keep it going.
Story:
A faithful adaptation of the classic with some
decent artistic additions. It felt a little rushed at the beginning, but hey,
it IS a 90 minute cartoon.
Voice Acting:
1/2 All the voices used were perfect, with perhaps
the exception of Jim. He wasn't quite what I was hoping for.
Special effects:
1/2 The animation and computer created
imagery was top notch.
Language:
Light non offensive pirate swearing
Sexual content:
None to speak of
Heart enlightenment factor:
1/2 Like ol'
Long John I think I felt a little grease...er, tear...slip out at emotional
high points.
Soundtrack:
Great song by a member of the Goo-Goo Dolls that
sets the feel of a certain scene, and the orchestral score is adventurous and
classic.
Overall: It's
not often I can say this about a Disney flick, but I gives it a: