- Review: John Wick 3 (C)
Scott Sycamore - Weekend Box Office
May 17 - 19 - Crowd Reports
Avengers: Endgame - Us
Box office comparisons - Review: Justice League (C)
Craig Younkin
DVD Review
Treasure Planet
By Lee Tistaert Published April 21, 2003
US Release: November 27, 2002
Directed by: Ron Clements John Musker
Starring: David Hyde Pierce , Joseph Gordon-Levitt
G
Running Time: 95 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $38,121,000
Directed by: Ron Clements John Musker
Starring: David Hyde Pierce , Joseph Gordon-Levitt
G
Running Time: 95 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $38,121,000
C
110 of 143
Comes off like a standard cartoon where a fine script and graphics aren?t first priority
It?s been a while since I?ve seen a Disney film that was actually well made, whether from a comedic standpoint, adventure, or both.
Treasure Planet, while better than Lilo & Sitch (C-), isn?t much better than the disappointing Spirited Away (C).
Roughly a third into Treasure Planet I was ready to consider this film not a bad try (C+), but still nothing exciting or significant. But then the story kept getting sillier in tone, the humor attempts didn?t provoke any reaction, and the animation didn?t produce much intrigue or wonder. I can see why Treasure Planet didn?t do so sharply at the box office, for there really isn?t anything remotely special about the film. The script is typical, filled with characters aimed to please young kids, standard animated graphics that will please youngsters but few above the double digit (age) mark, and runs on a formula that is too familiar; as in the end, compassion for the turnout of events is minimal.
A recognizable pattern in story can be easily likable, but the characters either need be well rounded or the experience as a whole just needs to hand over a good time. Here, the filmmakers have expressed their target demographic clearly via goofball characters that talk childishly, with a lack of witty remarks or solid jokes for that matter. The script couldn?t have been too difficult to construct, as there isn?t much present. It?s substance one would expect from a family flick these days, and that?s due to the fact that there haven?t been a substantial flow of worthy pictures lately aimed at the family crowd.
Studios are so intent on rolling out these genre projects year after year that whether or not they?ll please anyone over twelve is not necessarily an issue. Standards for quality don?t seem very high, which explains Treasure Planet; it?s light, but in the ways of entertainment it doesn?t do much if you?re really looking for an experience to remember.
One can easily say that it?s Disney, so what can you expect. But I also recall the studio producing numerous fine motion pictures in their past (those being Aladdin, The Lion King, both Toy Story installments, as well as The Emperor?s New Groove). There are several films of theirs that I have not yet caught to this day, but regardless of my viewing shortages it doesn?t stop Treasure Planet from being an overall mixed bag, with more mediocre elements than positive.
Treasure Planet is a re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson?s Treasure Island, following a young boy who dreams of discovering the lost island filled with gold. Jim Hawkins, the young lad, voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, stumbles upon a map that will venture him into the unknown, in search of the magical discovery. Along the way are eccentric characters that fall into place, such as Dr. Doppler (David Hyde Pierce), Amelia (Emma Thompson), and eventually the dynamic B.E.N., played by Martin Short.
The film is written and directed by the animated team that brought us Aladdin and The Little Mermaid (Ron Clements and John Musker). But rather than serving up as memorable animation and jazzy tunes to give the experience an extra oomph, the project feels more like an experimentation than an actual full effort into worthiness. The script they?ve created is fairly basic, with no characters stealing the comedic spotlight in the ways of witty one-liners or even characters who are simply wonderfully animated (in personality) alone. While Martin Short is probably the standout in voicing enthusiasm into his role, the substance written for him is not as sharp and vibrant as it should be.
Most of the film revolves around the same general tone of humor, which creates a dilemma for moviegoers as it will not entertain or amuse everybody in for the experience. The characters for the most part are silly, which worked gold for Emperor?s New Groove, but that Disney episode was written so well from a universal point-of-view that it was goofball material that met more than one demographic. The script for that comedy was also well planted and offered good themes, as well as voice work that was both convincing and well enthused. Emperor was the type of flick that one could easily stumble upon expecting a fairly traditional family movie, and then getting the shock when laughs or consistent chuckles were getting poured out.
Treasure Planet is in a similar field in that people probably aren?t expecting a terrific movie, and in this circumstance expectations could likely be met. The film, in one angle, doesn?t try to be anything more than it sets out to be. But the crucial element that damages that train of thought is that it doesn?t try to be anything more than an average filmmaking piece. The film is not bad, but it just isn?t anything special or profound. The animated feature somewhat comes off like a standard cartoon where a fine script and graphics aren?t first priority; and in that regard Treasure Planet has somewhat lost its way, as on the big-screen we demand a little more than average.
DVD Features:
- Visual Commentary - The producers and directors reveal the making-of process w/ additional footage as you watch the film
- Deleted scenes - alternate ending and original prologue
- Disney's Animated Magic - Go behind the scenes with Walt Disney Feature Animation Chairman Roy Disney
- DisneyPedia: The Life of a Pirate Revealed
- RLS Legacy: An Exploration Adventure Game - Take a virtual 3-D tour of the ship and be challenged to the ultimate treasure hunt
- Music Video - Performed by John Reznick of the Goo Goo Dolls
Treasure Planet, while better than Lilo & Sitch (C-), isn?t much better than the disappointing Spirited Away (C).
Roughly a third into Treasure Planet I was ready to consider this film not a bad try (C+), but still nothing exciting or significant. But then the story kept getting sillier in tone, the humor attempts didn?t provoke any reaction, and the animation didn?t produce much intrigue or wonder. I can see why Treasure Planet didn?t do so sharply at the box office, for there really isn?t anything remotely special about the film. The script is typical, filled with characters aimed to please young kids, standard animated graphics that will please youngsters but few above the double digit (age) mark, and runs on a formula that is too familiar; as in the end, compassion for the turnout of events is minimal.
A recognizable pattern in story can be easily likable, but the characters either need be well rounded or the experience as a whole just needs to hand over a good time. Here, the filmmakers have expressed their target demographic clearly via goofball characters that talk childishly, with a lack of witty remarks or solid jokes for that matter. The script couldn?t have been too difficult to construct, as there isn?t much present. It?s substance one would expect from a family flick these days, and that?s due to the fact that there haven?t been a substantial flow of worthy pictures lately aimed at the family crowd.
Studios are so intent on rolling out these genre projects year after year that whether or not they?ll please anyone over twelve is not necessarily an issue. Standards for quality don?t seem very high, which explains Treasure Planet; it?s light, but in the ways of entertainment it doesn?t do much if you?re really looking for an experience to remember.
One can easily say that it?s Disney, so what can you expect. But I also recall the studio producing numerous fine motion pictures in their past (those being Aladdin, The Lion King, both Toy Story installments, as well as The Emperor?s New Groove). There are several films of theirs that I have not yet caught to this day, but regardless of my viewing shortages it doesn?t stop Treasure Planet from being an overall mixed bag, with more mediocre elements than positive.
Treasure Planet is a re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson?s Treasure Island, following a young boy who dreams of discovering the lost island filled with gold. Jim Hawkins, the young lad, voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, stumbles upon a map that will venture him into the unknown, in search of the magical discovery. Along the way are eccentric characters that fall into place, such as Dr. Doppler (David Hyde Pierce), Amelia (Emma Thompson), and eventually the dynamic B.E.N., played by Martin Short.
The film is written and directed by the animated team that brought us Aladdin and The Little Mermaid (Ron Clements and John Musker). But rather than serving up as memorable animation and jazzy tunes to give the experience an extra oomph, the project feels more like an experimentation than an actual full effort into worthiness. The script they?ve created is fairly basic, with no characters stealing the comedic spotlight in the ways of witty one-liners or even characters who are simply wonderfully animated (in personality) alone. While Martin Short is probably the standout in voicing enthusiasm into his role, the substance written for him is not as sharp and vibrant as it should be.
Most of the film revolves around the same general tone of humor, which creates a dilemma for moviegoers as it will not entertain or amuse everybody in for the experience. The characters for the most part are silly, which worked gold for Emperor?s New Groove, but that Disney episode was written so well from a universal point-of-view that it was goofball material that met more than one demographic. The script for that comedy was also well planted and offered good themes, as well as voice work that was both convincing and well enthused. Emperor was the type of flick that one could easily stumble upon expecting a fairly traditional family movie, and then getting the shock when laughs or consistent chuckles were getting poured out.
Treasure Planet is in a similar field in that people probably aren?t expecting a terrific movie, and in this circumstance expectations could likely be met. The film, in one angle, doesn?t try to be anything more than it sets out to be. But the crucial element that damages that train of thought is that it doesn?t try to be anything more than an average filmmaking piece. The film is not bad, but it just isn?t anything special or profound. The animated feature somewhat comes off like a standard cartoon where a fine script and graphics aren?t first priority; and in that regard Treasure Planet has somewhat lost its way, as on the big-screen we demand a little more than average.
DVD Features:
- Visual Commentary - The producers and directors reveal the making-of process w/ additional footage as you watch the film
- Deleted scenes - alternate ending and original prologue
- Disney's Animated Magic - Go behind the scenes with Walt Disney Feature Animation Chairman Roy Disney
- DisneyPedia: The Life of a Pirate Revealed
- RLS Legacy: An Exploration Adventure Game - Take a virtual 3-D tour of the ship and be challenged to the ultimate treasure hunt
- Music Video - Performed by John Reznick of the Goo Goo Dolls
Lee's Grade: C
Ranked #110 of 143 between Crossroads (#109) and Spirited Away (#111) for 2002 movies.
Ranked #110 of 143 between Crossroads (#109) and Spirited Away (#111) for 2002 movies.
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
