Bingeing Disney Animation 9

       

 

This is an interesting group of post-Renaissance films, featuring big experiments, attempts to recapture the magic, and a couple of real winners.

Dinosaur (2000) - Disney's first true computer-animated feature film (though mixed with live action backgrounds), Dinosaur is a mixed bag. The movie starts out with a great sequence showing how the titular Dinosaur gets separated from his herd. But then, one of the animals talks, and the immersion in a pre-historic time is shattered. It's interesting to think about how this might play with no dialogue. Other than that, this was better than I remembered. The movie is still alive as a thrill-ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The Emperor's New Groove (2000) - Originally developed as a full old-school Disney musical, ENG went through development hell for years until it emerged as a slapstick, Disney-take on Looney Tunes set in the Incan empire. Amazingly, it works. David Spade, who could have been terrible, reins himself in enough to be funny and the supporting cast, including Eartha Kitt(!) as the villain are great. Of course, top honors go to Patrick Warburton's hilariously dumb villain sidekick, Kronk. ENG is great fun.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) - I see what Disney was trying to do here, but it doesn't work. A 19th century, steam-punk science fiction adventure seems cool, but a non-memorable Atlantis setting, a completely predictable villain, and yet another telling of the Pocahontas, bad guys show up in paradise, story sink this. Still, it's got Michael J. Fox and James Garner leading a big roster of voice talent. Too bad the story doesn't live up to the cast.

Lilo & Stitch (2002) - Set against a galactic Federation, many different species of aliens, and advanced alien technology, Lilo & Stitch manages to be the most family-centered movie in the Disney animated library. The "broken family" at the center of the story, Lilo and her big sister Nani, are as realistic as you will find in a Disney film. Set against a water color, Elvis-inspired, version of Hawaii, the characters are vivid and developed, and the story of how a runaway alien monstrosity finds its family is wonderful. On an interesting note, the end sequence was supposed to be set in a city, but after 9/11, they changed the 747 chase through Honolulu to an alien ship racing through mountains. 

Treasure Planet (2002) - Another swing and a miss. Again, it's easy to see what they were going for here, but the film just doesn't come together. The visuals are spectacular and the world-building is really well done. Unfortunately, Martin Short, playing the robot B.E.N. is in "Robin Williams as the Genie" mode and he gets really tedious, really quickly.  Overall, despite it's incredible visuals, its characters and story are forgettable.