Plot: What’s it about?
Even as a child, Jim Hawkins (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) dreamed of wild adventures of all kinds. He loved to read books about pirates and in particular, he was enthralled with the story of a massive amount lost treasure. His mother told him Treasure Planet was just a legend, but he knew it could be real. As a young adult, Jim still seeks that adventure, but he finds it in situations that land him in trouble. Although he was already on probation, Jim decided to break some rules and engage in some dangerous aerial antics, which landed him back in hot water. After the robotic police dropped him off, Jim was still restless, but one more incident and he would be taken from his home, to reside in juvenile hall. But the adventure he had been waiting for is soon to arrive, when the chance to seek out Treasure Planet becomes a reality. He signs on to be a cabin boy under Captain Amelia (voiced by Emma Thompson) and while it won’t be easy, it is a chance to escape the doldrums that plagued him at home. He quickly befriends the ship’s cook John Silver (voiced by Brian Murray), who has a cyborg arm with countless gizmos. But Jim has a gizmo of his own, a special golden sphere that was given to him by a dying pirate. Is this the key to Treasure Planet, as some think, or will Jim and the others have to use a different method to find the mythical place?
I was kind of surprised when Treasure Planet sank at the box office, as the previews were well crafted and the premise seemed cool. But then again, I tend to look into any kind of pirate themed pictures, so maybe its just me. The once mighty Disney animation corps has suffered through some bombs of late, but in truth, I don’t think Treasure Planet is as bad as profits reflect, it was just a hard sell to some folks. I mean, we have a combination of old world pirates and futuristic sci/fi, which is an odd mixture, to be sure. And while these elements are meshed with skill here, some corners were cut in some areas. Perhaps too much time was spent on the concept, instead of on the actual storyline and characters. I say this because Disney usually gives us a strong central character, but in this movie, that isn’t the case. The main character is thin in all respects and while some of the smaller ones are humorous, they’re not well developed. This leads to some problems with the storyline flow, which grinds down the movie at times. You can’t complain about the visuals though, as Treasure Planet is a virtual feast for the eyes. The vivid colors and seamless mix of traditional & computer animation provides a stunning experience. I found Treasure Planet to be a solid, but unremarkable effort, which is a shame, as the premise has real potential. As far as the disc itself, it is a good treatment, though a two disc edition would be nice at some point. So if you’re interested, this disc is given a solid recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
Treasure Planet is presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen. As this is a direct digital to digital transfer, the result is splendid and the visuals look excellent. As no print is involved, you’ll see no instances of grain or debris, so the image is pristine and refined in texture. I was dazzled by the colors in this treatment, as the hues seem to stream across the screen at times, without even a hint of errors. The same holds true with the contrast, which sparkles with stark black levels and very high detail throughout. I simply cannot say enough about how gorgeous this presentation is, as the visuals are stunning at all times. A couple of minor issues surface, but they’re so small, they don’t even faze this superb visual treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is impressive, thanks to the included Dolby Digital 5.1 EX soundtrack. This movie has a lot of scenes of action, from swordfights to chases, so the surrounds have plenty of chances to show off. And that’s what happens, as the speakers burst with presence, of both the subtle and powerful varieties. In fact, few moments pass in which the surrounds aren’t active, so this mix will put your system through its paces. The bass kicks deep and the sound effects boom, so you’ll feel like a pirate yourself. The dialogue is clean and clear throughout, so vocals never become a problem in the least. If I had a complaint here, it would be the rather dull musical score presentation, as the tunes seem weak here. I like the actual music, but in this mix, the sound effects dominate and the score is given little life. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I was let down to see only a single disc edition, as most of Disney’s recent animated releases have been given deluxe two disc releases. Even so, you will find some solid extras here, including an audio commentary track. The session features directors Ron Clements and John Musker, producer Roy Conli, and several members of the animation team. You can either simply listen to the comments, or opt for a special visual commentary mode, in which snippets of video are available at certain moments. I was underwhelmed by this feature, though some of the audio comments are interesting, but the visual commentary option is poorly executed here. If you venture into the behind the scenes section, you’ll find a wealth of supplements, such as animation & pencil tests, extensive still photos & additional artwork, numerous brief behind the scenes featurettes, a John Rzeznik music video, and two of the film’s theatrical trailers. But that’s not all, as we have some deleted scenes, a Disneypedia featurette on pirates, and a special look at the Disney animation process. I would like to see a two disc release at some point, but this is still a nice selection of extras.
