Treasure Planet (2002)

Treasure Planet (2002)

7/10

 

Starring the voices of

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Brian Murray

Emma Thompson

David Hyde Pierce

Martin Short

 

Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker

 

By the time this animation was released, it was certain Disney was losing it’s hold on the animated industry. Things were not like today. Now you expect to see great animations from other studios, then in the 80s and 90s Disney ruled. Then in 2002, Disney got the needed wakeup call if I can say so. Treasure Planet is one traditional animated works that is very visually tantalizing to see.

The idea of taking the Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure novel Treasure Island and turning it to a space feature with all sort of sci-fi gimmicks and creatures is just much too much for that time. I feel if Treasure Planet was done now, it will perform better at the box office.

I still love this animated movie no matter, and was sad at that time that it did not pull enough cash from the box office, costing Disney over $140 million it is still the most expensive traditional animated film ever made.

 

The movie introduces us to Jim Hawkins who we see growing up to the tales of a pirate who named Flint who robs ships and kept all the loot on a planet called Treasure Planet. Jim now grown lives with his mother as they run an inn, as his father abandoned them. One day a ship crashes into the inn damaging it and killing the driver, but not before he handed over to Jim a sphere which he warned Jim not to hand it over to the cyborg.

Well, the cyborg and his crew stormed the inn burning it to the ground. Jim later discovered along with his mother’s friend that the sphere was a holographic map leading to the location of Flint’s Treasure Planet. They both decided to sail to it so as to get enough money to help rebuild the inn. They ship they boarded for the expedition was actually secretly being led by the cook a certain Captain John Silver, who later along with the ship crew does a mutiny injuring the ship captain Amelia and capturing Jim. Everything from here on is fantastic fast paced viewing to enjoy.

 

It was nominated for best animated feature in the Academy Awards at the time of release and it was the third time Disney had adapted Stevenson’s book.

Another thing very catchy about this movie are the songs. The soundtrack has some amazing songs written and performed by John Rzenik (Goo Goo Dolls lead singer).

Finally, other than the weak characters everything else about this movie is fantastic. You will love the way they made outer space look like you are taking a walk out in the woods. This idea of the future and how we will engage with the stars and the galaxy around us was one of my favorite look of what the future will be as a child. Have in mind that I have also Back to the Future in mind and saw this as the next step after that.

The bad finances which turned this to one of the biggest (or maybe the biggest) animated flop led to any future plans for a sequel and franchise cancelled.