PG
Stars: The voices of: Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joseph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dennis Haysbert
Directors: Patrick Gilmore, Timothy Johnson
Screenwriter: John Logan
Sinbad (Brad Pitt), the swashbuckling Arabian Nights character, sets off across the high seas with Marina (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to confront Eris (Michelle Pfeiffer), the Goddess of Chaos and restore calm in their hometown of Syracuse by retrieving the Book of Peace, and saving his rival and childhood friend, Proteus (Joseph Fiennes). Supporting Sinbad in his efforts is firstmate Kale (Dennis Haysbert).
Screenwriter John Logan, best known for his co-authorship of the Academy Award winner, Gladiator, combined inspiration from Ray Harryhausen’s original stop-motion animation monsters for Eris’ creatures, the marvelously inventive character of Emma Peel from TV’s The Avengers for Marina, every young girl’s role model, plus the wonderful gadgets of James Bond’s car for Sinbad’s remarkable ship, the Chimera. Aided by the masters at DreamWorks’ animation studio, Logan and directors Gilmore and Johnson, helped create a marvelous and unique mythological universe that’s visually stunning and supported by a well paced script filled with action and just the right amount of romance for both children and adults to enjoy.
Lotta says: DreamWorks proprietary animation techniques takes water to a new level. It’s beautiful to look at in both the ocean sequences as well as in the depiction of the water sirens. Equally stunning in vivid white and blue is the massive and terrifying snowbird called the Roc. Unwelcomed was the obvious sexual reference directed at Kale that hopefully will go unnoticed by the younger crowd. It’s rated PG – for adventure action, some mild sensuality and brief language.
Reviewed: June 30, 2003