I liked Spirit, but loved Sinbad. Having two kids 10 and under, I see a lot of these types of films. My 10 year-old daughter did not like either Spirit or Nemo, but my 6 year-old son did. They both, however said this film was much better than either and most other recent animated films they have seen, including Monsters Inc. From the moment this film opens, it has brilliant color and movement. The sea monster sequence was teriffic and I particularly liked the CGI ocean waves. The ships had tremendous detail, especially the rigging. Dreamworks spent 4 years making this project - and it showed.
All of the voice work was very good - and in spite of what others here have said about Pitt, I thought he was perfect for the part. He had plenty of emotion - not overdone, but restrained - caged in a subtle manner, just like you would expect from a sailor and pirate. Jones was fantastic as Marina, as one would expect, but the true stand-out was Pfifer. I had forgotten she was the voice of Eris, the Goddess of Chaos. I kept asking myself "WHO is that - she must be very sexy in real life..." - uh, duh. I think the older Michelle gets, the sexier she gets - and her voice work is no different. It (her voice) was so silky and seductively smooth - to match the on-screen presence of the brilliantly-animated Eris. A little of Eris went a long way - you always felt her omnipotent presence, due in most part to Pfifer. There were a few men in the audience laughing at some of her comments on screen. The laugh was the kind of defensive laugh that we men use when we are are turned on. No doubt - what a voice.
Many on here have criticized the dialog as being too modern, not traditional enough. The simpler dialog, to me, made it more believable. I have never understood the reasoning of using complex word usage by such simple people as pirates and sailors. I am sure that if way back when, their dialog were perfectly translated into modern English, one would not see much difference than today's banter. Thees's, Thou's and Whitherest's are stereotypical usage of Medieval times. Just because those words were used in print does not necessarily mean they spoke that way in everyday informal conversation.
Unlike other recent animated films, there was no lagging preachy portion, sermonette or message. Good. It is about time that someone makes a film just for its entertainment value - like this year's Oscar-winning Chicago, for instance. Entertaining it was, too. Sinbad had me hooked all the way, wanting a sequel at the end. To me, 2-D animation is still my favorite. Although I like some 3-D animation, I tend to look for its flaws all throughout the movies. With 2-D, I just want entertainment and vivid color, not pseudo-reality. Sinbad's color was some of the best in years - many subtle shades, blended in dramatic fashion.
I thought the action sequences were carefully handled and put you incredibly on the edge of your seat. Unlike Disney's recent Tarzan, whose real claim to fame was the tree sequences, this film has real nail-biting action and a good, non-sappy story. The mythological setting seemed as if it actually was part of written history. To me, most fantasy films are just too surreal for believability, but this one, albeit 2-D, was unlike many of its animated and non-animated predecessors. The sirens sequence was an outright masterpiece. The Gates of Tartarus sequence was top-notch and almost believable. I won't spoil it for you as to why I say... almost.
Maybe I'm naive, but I do not know how this film achieved a PG rating. Nothing from what I saw warranted that - it was good, clean family entertainment that was, for the most part, an adult-oriented film. The usual kiddie-aimed characters, like talking animals did not exist. Spike the (non-talking) dog was the only real child-oriented comic relief character - and it was not over the top, either. Rat (a nicknamed sailor) was also comical, but was again, not aimed at the kids, although my kids laughed at him. The arguments between Marina and Sinbad were also comical. Some said this film lacks humor - not true - it lacks silliness.
The music score was reminiscent of past adventure films - a real symphonic score! There were no modern power ballads, synthesizers or overdubbed vocals - just great symphonic music. It truly followed the story on screen and complimented the action quite well. For those of you who like animated features that have songs sung by Michael Bolton, Bryan Adams and Phil Collins, etc. - you will be disappointed in Sinbad's soundtrack. I am getting the CD, for sure.
Last, but not least, this film concludes in fine emotional form. Even though you know how it will end, you still feel an emotional pull in one of the final scenes. There were little kids (and some adults) in the audience crying at that point which, unlike previous reviewers, I will not spoil. When I review a film, I review its merits and/or flaws. I don't, however, retell the ENTIRE story and plot - that is NOT a review - that is a retelling, summation or synopsis.
"Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" is a rare find - good adult and AND family fare entertainment. It is not a "feel-good" movie, although it achieves that result. It is not a modern, priceless 2-D animated masterpiece like "Beauty and the Beast" or "The Little Mermaid," but it it comes pretty darned close. I highly recommend seeing this film.
9/10 or ***1/2 out of ****
Ted in Gilbert, AZ
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