‘Treasure Planet’ is a Disney animated film inspired by the 19th-century novel ‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Louis Stevenson. Although I haven’t read the book, I’m familiar with the story as it has been redone many times. ‘Treasure Planet’ is an adaptation set in space, but it reimagines many of the same characters, each with unique twists. On a distant, fabled planet, young Jim Hawkins (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) grows up reading tales of the legendary space pirate Captain Flint, dreaming of one day exploring space. His single mother, Sarah, keeps him grounded running her Benbow Inn. One day, a spaceship crashes near the Inn, and teenage Jim pulls the dying sailor, Billy Bones, to safety. Though Bones dies, he hands Jim a mysterious circular object and warns him to beware of the cyborg. The story unfolds into a treasure hunt led by Jim’s family friend, mad scientist Dr Delbert Doppler, and the determined Captain Amelia (Emma Thompson) on a rocket ship. As they search for treasure, they must battle pirates in sword fights during their space voyage. On the way, they encounter a windy supernova, a black hole in the ground, odd alien crew members, comical robots, space lasers, an artificial gravitational field, and a space portal. While unrealistic, it’s an incredible blend of vibrant imagination, endless wonder, and creative adventure.
Avast ye, me hearties! Arr arr! I think it’s one of the better Disney films I have watched, and it feels just right. The stunning visuals, CGI, colorful animation, and engaging narrative presentation make for a fascinating fresh re-telling of a classic story. The score was fitting with an original soundtrack. More of the characters, including the villains, are entertaining and have their own story, including the villain. Ultimately, it’s not a battle of good versus evil, but a thrilling escape filled with ideas, emotions, and intrigue. It considers themes like courage, chasing dreams, friendship, and redemption. The pacing is right, moving along without feeling rushed or dragging. I’m hard-pressed to find major flaws without nitpicking. Perhaps it could have been a bit more somber and more focus could have been placed on the occasional joke. A few of the characters felt a bit annoying, such as a crewman’s pet Morph, a tarantula villain, and a robot B.E.N. Overall, it held my attention, and I relished the experience. This film was ten years in the making but ended up as a major flop at the box office. Disney spent $180 million producing and marketing it, only to make $101 million. A ‘Treasure Planet 2’ was in the making before Disney pulled the plug after the first flopped.
Would I recommend this? Yes, especially if you like Disney films. It was a fun journey that anyone would appreciate. I’m shocked this failed at the box office. I began playing this film with zero expectations (except that it has a decent rating on IMDB), but I finished the film pleasantly surprised.
