Lacks flow, character development
Geoff Nuanes, 16, of Tujunga will be a junior at Providence High
School in Burbank in the fall.
I wasn't disappointed with "Atlantis," but it could have been better.
It didn't flow well. One minute the main character, Milo, is stuck in a
dead-end job using his spare time to do research on Atlantis, and the
next he's on an exploration to the bottom of the sea to find the sunken
city.
The movie runs about 90 minutes, which is relatively short. I think
that cutting the film damaged the character development, which I think
was this film's weakest point.
However, I loved the animation. It's one of the few animated films
drawn by hand nowadays, and the voiceovers were great. My favorite aspect
of the film, though, was the magical element that was achieved in the
actual city of Atlantis. The city and its inhabitants really come to
life. Because of this, I think the good outweighs the bad and I give
"Atlantis" 4 crystals out of 5.
Story was disappointing
Jose Dorado, a resident of Burbank, is an elementary school teacher
and a freelance writer.
"Atlantis" is by far not your typical Disney animated film. Though I
embrace Disney for giving "Atlantis" a different type of look (more like
a comic book), I was, overall, disappointed with the story of the film.
The search for Atlantis happens too fast and too easy and never really
builds any suspense. To make matters worse, there is no effort to make
emotional connections between the characters and the audience.
I wish the film had made me jump out of my seat to cheer on the main
characters as they triumphed to save Atlantis. Instead, I only chuckled
at some of the humorous lines spoken by the characters.
"Atlantis: The Lost Empire" is rated PG.
'Tomb Raider' is a great escape
Marla Martin is a graphic designer and belly dance performer
instructor in La Crescenta.
She's slick! She's quick! She's a super-tough, tomb-raiding chick! I'm
so loving this movie -- it's stylish, fast, clever, hip and just what you
want in a summer escape fantasy.
Angelina Jolie is the perfect mix of Indiana Jones (upgraded to hottie
for the new millennium), Bruce Wayne (don't the super rich have such nice
toys?) and Linda Hamilton from "The Terminator" (check that athletic body
in the paramilitary wardrobe, saving the world in a T-shirt).
She's wise! She flies! She has big, scary guns and they're strapped to
her thighs! There is a plot line in there somewhere ... I think they were
making it up as they went along. You don't really require one, however,
as this film plays like a state-of-the-art video game, and the cool
special effects are story enough for me.
'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' is rated PG-13.
