Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Like ALEX & EMMA and MATCHSTICK MEN, I keep forgetting this one’s really coming out this summer. We had a couple of early reviews for this, but they always struck me as a bit fishy. Check out what today’s readers have to say:
Hi Harry -
I went to a screening this weekend for the Dreamworks "Sinbad - Legend of the Seven Seas." You never know what to expect from a 10am screening chock full 'o kids because a 3 year old crying and kicking your chair can make the best movie a nightmare, but I have to say the movie more than kept the kids' (and my!) attention all the way through - we even forgot there were kids around us!
My knowledge of the Sinbad legend is reduced to memories of watching the 70s movie that combined stop motion and live action film, I remember a sequence were when Sinbad was fighting a giant scorpian. I was hoping for that Clash of the Titans feel from the movie, and DreamWorks succeeds at telling a swashbuckling tale without dumbing it down, the way Disney did with Treasure Planet. The movie starts off with an exciting scene of the Eris, the goddess of Chaos (Michelle Pfeiffer in her best slinky Catwoman voice) deciding the day should start with some trouble making, and sets her site on Sinbad, the pirate with a heart of gold. I was impressed that they started the story from the perspective of Eris, looking down at the tiny Earth from the constellations... possibly confusing to younger kids, but they trust in the story telling to make it work, and it does.
I won't go on with the story, but suffice to say that it is rather entertaining - not quite as quick witted as others in the genre today, but that's a good thing. Sinbad doesn't need it. And again, if the kids were entertained in a pure fantasy that offers mythology, giant squids, and no talking animals or robots, who am I to complain?
I can complain about the animation, especially the ocean sequences. The ships never look like they're actually on the water, but two different elements put together. I know that's how it's done, but we're not supposed to note it when it's happening! Also, some of the faces are drawn too angular and don't look real. The synching of lip movement to voice is horrible - something I can't ever thinking while watching an animated film in the last 10 years. I have to say there is a beautifully animated sequence that does work when the ship enters a grave yard of ships, and Eris sends her concubines to lull the sailors into a trance. It's really effective, sensual, and a bit creepy.
My last thing, a small pet peeve - I don't like the mixing of traditional animation with computer animation. It cheapens both. You have a computer generated squid that is really cool, with an all of the sudden very 2 dimensional looking ship. They were able to do it well in the grave yard scene, but that was it.
Oh - and I can't believe they did it, but they actually worked in an ass-shot of Sinbad (Brad Pitt)! A first, I think - but if you're going to animate a guys ass, Brad's is the one to do! (You'd just think they could spell his name correctly in their official web-site! Go to the Sinbad site, look under "About the Cast" and you'll see Bradd Pitt.)
If you use this, call me Ticketboy.
Thanks!
Mixed to positive. Not bad. And what’s reader number two have to say?
Hey Harry this past Saturday I had the oppurtunity to see Dreamworks latest aimated offering, Sinbad. Anyways I thought I'd write in and share my opinion of the film with you. Let me start off by saying that I am of the opinion that not all Hollywood actors make the best cartoon voice actors. They lose the abilty to use many of the tools they rely on to convey emotion like their eyes, body language, and facial expression. That being said both Catherine Zeta Jones and Joseph Fiennes turn in very good vocal performances. The same can't be said for Michelle Pfieffer and Brad Pitt, their performances aren't bad they just seem kind of flat. I felt like they were bored to be there at times.
Anyway the story kicks of with Sinbad (voiced by Brad Pitt) and his crew at sea pursuing another ship. Sinbad and crew board the ship and battle the crew where Sinbad comes across Proteus (voiced by Joseph Fiennes) his best friend that he hasn't seen in ten years. Sinbad has come to steal a mythical item called "The Book of Peace". "The Book of Peace" is supposed to protect the 12 cities, protect them from what or from whom is never explained because thats about as far as they elaborate on the book.
Sinbad fails to get the book but is convinced by Eris to go to Syracuse and try to steal the book again. Sinbad arrives in Syracuse where he mets Proteus again, I forgot to mention Proteus is the prince of Syracuse. Sinbad has a change of heart though and decides not to steal the book. Eris steals the book and frames Sinbad for the crime. Sinbad is convicted of the crime and sentenced to die but proteus takes his place. Sinbad is given ten days to retrieve the book or Proteus will die in his place. I won't go any further into the story but as you can probably guess the rest of the movie involves the quest to retrieve the book from Eris.
As far as the story goes it's decent enough and moves at a good pace. There are several action sequences that are pretty good, they have a very swashbuckling feel to them and the music plays very well with those scenes. The animation is stunning at times the guys at Dreamworks did a great job of blending traditional cell animation with CG. All of the kids in the audience seemed to really enjoy the film and their parents seemed to have a good time too. There's a fair amount of humor in the film which got good laughs but most of it didn't work for me, none of it was original I'd seen it before and I've seen it done better. It's an enjoyable film kids will like it and parents will like it since it will make their kids shut up for ninety minutes. Still this film will not go down as a classic all though I did enjoy it more then Dreamworks last two efforts at traditional animation, Spirit and Road to El Dorado. If you're looking for a movie that will help you pass some time on a lazy summer afternoon Sinbad will definetly do.
P.S. Another reviewer compared this film to some of Miyazaki's work and I could actually see where he might have gotten that from but he is still dead wrong.
Well, neither one of the reviewers seems to be flipping out, but these are quietly positive reviews. Guess I’m curious to see how it all comes together when it finally comes out in a few weeks. The animation geek and SINBAD junkie in me demands that I at least give it a try.
"Moriarty" out.
