The previews of this movie lured us in like putting a carrot in front of a rabbit! On Father's Day, My Mother and I gathered the kids and headed to the theater to see what all the hype was about!

NOTE: THIS REVIEW DOES GIVE SOME SPOILERS IN THE BODY OF THE ARTICLE! ALSO YOUNGER CHILDREN MAY FIND THE CREATURES IN THIS FILM SCARY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO LARGE AND LOUD!!!

MAIN CHARACTERS:

Milo Thatch - voiced by Michael J. Fox; An inexperienced young explorer who carries his grandfather's desire to find the legendary world of Atlantis. When his grandfather's journal is uncovered, Milo (who is currently working as a museum maintenance person)is hired by a very wealthy man to help assist others in finding Atlantis. Milo is the only one who can read the journal, so he is the key player in piecing together the puzzle his grandfather had unlocked. So in 1914, he joins the crew on the Ulysses, a state of the art submarine (absolute copy of the vehicle in of 2,000 leagues under the sea), and begins the search for Atlantis.

The Atlantians:

Princess Kida - voiced by Cree Summer - a stunningly beautiful, athletic woman that is destined to rule Atlantis at the passing of her father. Her mother was taken by the Atlantian Power Crystal when Kida was very young. She has stood by her father's side for over a hundred years. She takes to Milo, and they begin to explain what each of their worlds were like. They are both eager to learn!

King of Atlantis - voiced by Leonard Nimoy. A king who doesn't want any outside visitors in his world of Atlantis. In his younger days, he'd made many mistakes and now his world was dying. He now worries about what he will leave his daughter to rule - a broken land.


The Crew:

Military Commander - voiced by James Garner; specially trained to handle any problem that arises, this commander will get to Atlantis at any price! He does hold an Ace up his sleeve!

Helga - voiced by Claudia Christian; Commander's assistant who is bold and beautiful, but has a cold heart. She too has a hidden motive in this journey.

The Communications Operator- Wilhemina Packard - voiced by Florence Stanley; always "woke up on the wrong side of the bed" type of person who chain smokes. She's always gabbing to her girlfriends on the line while she's calling around the ship.

Explosives Expert - voiced by Don Novello; You will recognize this voice of Father Guido Sarducci. This character likes to blow things up. He's always viewed with a match in his mouth. "Walk softly and carry a big stick" kind-a character.

The Mechanic - voiced by Jacqueline Abradors; a rough and tough girl who was raised like a boy. Her father wanted sons but got two daughters, so he raised them like boys. She works at her father's garage, and she will be the only one who can keep the vehicles moving if they encounter problems.

The Cook - voiced by the late Jim Varney; a grease and lard fanatic who's cooking ability is overseen by his stories of the old days. Boy does he make some disgusting meals! This character seems straight out of the old west!

The Doctor - voiced by Phil Morris; a kind hearted "giant" who feels for Milo and seems to keep him under his wing. A big guy with a big heart. He seems to be able to keep the "Mole" in line.

The Geologist - AKA The Mole - voiced by Corey Burton; a dirt digging, strange character who seems to speak his own language to himself. He will man the drill that will lead them to Atlantis. He's a lover, not a fighter, but definitely an odd bird!!!

BASIC STORY-LINE:

Nieve Milo believes that the crew of the Ulysses does share his enthusiasm of discovery, teamwork, and a scientific adventure, but he during the quest he discovers he's wrong. They all have their own agenda - MONEY!

Their journey begins with a full fleet of ships, subs, and Military power. The beginning seems flawless until they meet the Leviathan! A gigantic lobster type of sea creature that seems to have mechanical movements. It begins to take down one ship at a time and has it's eye on the big ship, the Ulysses! Abandon ship! This isn't the last monster this team will encounter either! Wait until they meet the fire flies!!

Will they find the lost city of Atlantis? Yes, but what will they do then?

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

CAST: Michael J Fox does an excellent job of being a bumbling scientist, and brings true life to Milo. You feel as if you want to aid him in his quest yourself. He works his way right into your heart. The Crew of the journey each bring their own unique brand of "contribution" as each one gives a little of their backgrounds during each night's rest period. You begin to feel as if you are there sitting at the campfire with them! My favorite character was the Explosives Expert. His crazy way of speaking, and his story of how he started blowing things up really make you laugh. The person I disliked the most was the Commander - but I think that's how Disney wanted to to come across. Evil, greedy, and a big obstacle in Milo's ultimate discovery.

STORY:
Absolutely complete from beginning to end. The only question that remained was how the Mole became the way he was - but they left that up to your imagination!
The magnificiant artwork in this film actually made me forget at times this was a cartoon. It was so realistic, even down to the fluttering noise of the fire flies. The music effects (especially the bass) during some scenes was so strong and furious, your heart was pounding with anticipation! I felt like I went on a roller coaster ride emotionally!

BEST SCENE: The scene where the crew breaks through the wall and sees Atlantis for the first time is absolutely breathtaking! I often view some tropical islands as being as beautiful. Cascading waterfalls, tropical birds, endless trees, and the whirling of a soft wind around you. The brilliant sunlight which you can almost feel the warmth - but this was only a cartoon right?

WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS MOVIE? WILL I SEE IT AGAIN?
This film is definitely a family film for all ages. I do have to note that during several of the "monster" scenes that my four-year-old Daughter, and my three-year-old Nephew were fighting to get onto my lap in fear. The monsters are very scarey, and the music is very very loud. I'm lucky I got to see the scenes at all! So I suggest that children five and up see it in the theater, while little ones should view it in the comfort of their own home for the feeling of security! This movie is very intense at times! It's only a cartoon right?

I plan on purchasing this film on DVD when it is released because it is one that you will want to watch again and again just like Aladdin, The Lion King, etc.

Personal Note: Being a Disney stockholder, this film makes me feel like I'm getting my money's worth, literally! Disney has had some borderline failures in recent years (Emporer's New Groove, EuroDisney, etc), but this film should give them some head-way by means of financial gain!!!

Bottom Line: SEE IT IN THE THEATER ASAP! YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!!



Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8