Disney's newest breaks through to another age group

Milo Thatch wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. He wanted to make both their dreams come true by finding the Shepherd’s Journal, which is purported to reveal the location of the lost continent of Atlantis, and by finding Atlantis itself.

With the help of his grandfather’s wealthy best friend, and his grandfather’s long-ago-discovered-but-recently-delivered-gift of the Shepherd’s Journal, the under-appreciated linguist goes on a quest to make the other part of his dream come true in Disney’s new animated movie “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”.

Accompanied by a team of mismatched specialists selected by the old man, Milo, voiced by Michael J. Fox, sets off in a “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”-like submarine on a quest that pays homage to Jules Verne and the philosopher Plato. As a matter of fact, the story borrows a plot twist from Plato’s past, which recounts that Plato’s source for the story of Atlantis was a report given to him by his grandfather and a friend of his grandfather’s – similar to how Milo goes about discovering Atlantis.

The team goes on to discover the lost continent and a mysterious race of people who derive strength and health from a crystal they wear around their necks but who have lost the ability to decipher their own writings to remember things from their past. That’s where Milo is needed most, and where he feels most at home.

Wow. I loved this movie. When I sat through it with my two boys, who ooh’d and aah’d at the effects and the action, I immediately thought of my brother – an average “guy” fan. Although this is a Disney film, don’t be surprised to discover this is NOT “Toy Story”. There is no musical number; and it is NOT “Lady and the Tramp”, although Milo does meet and fall in love with Kida, the princess of the Atlantean people. This has elements of a romantic story, which my brother’s girlfriend might enjoy, but, basically, this is your typical action flick. Think “Indiana Jones and the search for Atlantis”.

Don’t be fooled by the cartoonish artistry, however. This movie is a story that deals with elements which lie in the human psyche – elements of betrayal, camaraderie, death, friendship, and an interest in the lives of many versus the interests of a few. My kids loved the excitement, I loved the intricacies.

Be warned, however, the violence can be a little too much for the sensitive, although my sons, ages 6 and 3, had no problem with it – go figure. I guess a parent has to be prepared just in case, though.

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