Review of Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) by Jeffrey L — 15 Jul 2012

Another animated Disney classic for modern times and surely headed straight for the vault, Atlantis: The Lost Empire remains a film on the Disney line which has never gotten the rap it deserves, yet still should be viewed as much as the rest of the selection. A solid voice cast unites for a famous tale from history that has never been glamorized this much. Perhaps not what Disney buffs have in mind for ideal entertainment, but still worth a look or two.

Michael J. Fox (sticking to voice roles due to his Parkinson's) plays Milo Thorch, a scientist and historian deeply down on his luck and dreaming of finding the lost city of Atlantis. He soon gets his wish when a band of adventurers invite him on a quest to locate the supposed mythical continent. But unsurprisingly, the head honcho and his attractive but villainous lady friend reveal later that they have other intentions. Having met a love interest on the premise, the brave young man must put a stop to these wrongdoings and save the civilization.

One of the last Disney films created in 2D, this one's intricate storytelling and stylishness make it another fine addition to anyone's collection. Good humor and surprisingly good special effects (though animated) make it solidly entertaining for all family members, despite it being one of Disney's few animated features to get a PG rating (!). Tragically, Jim Varney (who voices the "Jebidiah" character) died 16 months prior to the film's release and his character was voiced by Steven Barr for a few scenes. Cree Summer (known for her voice work in various TV series including Inspector Gadget, Rugrats and Drawn Together) is also good as Princess Kita in addition to the rest of the cast. Look for the Atlantis symbol in various scenes and the "eat fish" sign in the tattoo parlor for some good yucks.