THROWBACK REVIEW: Atlantis: The Lost EmpireBy Quinn OxleyAugust 10, 2017Sixteen years ago, Disney released an animated movie that probably went over the heads of most children who saw it. But it was endearing, funny, thrilling, and entertaining nonetheless; gorgeous visuals, thorough world-building, and dynamic scripting made Atlantis: The Lost Empire a joy for most of its adult audience, and solidified its place as one of Disney’s most underrated animated features.

This weekend, The Nut Job 2 was released. I don’t hate myself, so I watched Atlantis instead.

“...there occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune… the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea.” So wrote Plato, and this is the tale of the bookish hopeful Milo Thatch’s (Michael J. Fox) attempt to unearth the submerged city and learn the secrets of its powerful renewable energy source.

Atlantis certainly isn’t the first title that comes to mind when you think “Disney.” Sure, there are other, more simple, more laugh-a-minute options for family entertainment. And they’re all better than The Nut Job 2. But Atlantis is an experiment in well-structured creativity - exactly the kind of mind-opening content that is bound to season young minds with inspiration.

Atmosphere is king in this feature. The Atlantian culture is otherworldly, but it doesn’t feel cheesy - it’s authentic, like the planetary societies in Star Wars. The 1914 not only adds character, but it makes the film and the find of the city that much more fantastical.

The script is also much better written than most scripts of animated features. Most of today’s children’s entertainment is flatly written; its characters, one-note and uninteresting. Milo himself has priorities and clear goals, but he speaks awkwardly, knows how to do his job, and cares about his friends because he knows them, not just because he associates with them. Each of the characters even have distinct personalities, skills, and lines of logic. This establishment of characters is probably what makes the film a bit more boring for younger audiences, but it also makes the stakes so much more weighty when the stuff hits the fan. Some characters are still written a bit one-dimensionally, but this is forgivable when most of the characters are interesting.

As well, the visuals are, as mentioned, gorgeous. While the animation can be wonky from time to time, this doesn’t stop most of the feature from stunning with its aesthetic. Overall, the character design is varied, and the landscapes and wide shots are simply lovely.

Even if you’ve seen it and you’re somehow not a fan, it’s better than spending $13 to see The Nut Job 2 this weekend.

Rating: 7.25/10

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