Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Back to the main review

What’s the Story?

In this action-packed, non-musical animated adventure, scholar and linguist Milo Thatch (voiced by Michael J. Fox) dreams of finding the lost city of Atlantis, which had been his grandfather's quest. A wealthy friend of his grandfather's offers to fund an expedition, and Milo sets off on a submarine led by Commander Lyle T. Rourke (James Garner). The crew includes hundreds of sailors led by Helga, a sultry mercenary; Sweet, a genial half-black, half-Native American doctor; Audrey, a teenaged Latina mechanic; Vinnie, a demolitions expert; Mrs. Packard, an unflappable, chain-smoking communications officer; and the Mole, a geologist who loves dirt. Their expedition culminates in a ferocious battle with the monstrous Leviathan, which destroys the ship and kills most of the crew. The survivors face obstacles but finally make it to Atlantis, where they meet Kida, a Pocahantas-style princess (Cree Summer). She wants to make friends with the strangers, but her father wants them killed, so no one else will find Atlantis. Milo helps Princess Kida uncover the secret source of her country's power but another threat appears and Milo must find a way to save what's become his real home.

Is It Any Good?

Disney departs from its traditional animation release formula with this non-musical, intense-action adventure about the search for the legendary city that mysteriously disappeared in ancient times.

Michael J. Fox appealingly provides the voice of Milo Thatch, and the movie does a good job of showing an inter-racial cast working well together, and there are both male and female good guys and bad guys. But parents should be aware this is a decidedly different Disney animated feature that is rated PG for violence. There are many intense action scenes, the characters are nasty to each other, and some are killed. One character chain smokes, and there is a joke about whiskey, and one about sleeping in the nude.