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Reviews by Matt Heffernan <matt@filmhead.com>
This week my picks are
Hearts in Atlantis
(2001 - 
) and
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
(2001 - ).
After a two-month hiatus, we have some new video picks this week,
both of them new releases. The first is the second American
film from Australian director Scott Hicks starring the
great Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins and Russian newcomer
Anton Yelchin. OK, so maybe I'm pushing the internationalism
of the production; Yelchin has lived in America since he was
an infant, but he is still a remarkable actor at a very young
age. Based on a Stephen King novel, Hearts in Atlantis
tells the story of one summer in the life of Bobby Garfield
(Yelchin) and his relationship with a mysterious psychic
named Ted (Hopkins). The brilliant performances by the leads
make the film a must-see, even if the odd screenplay by
William Goldman may seem questionable. (Does he really think
kids speak that way?)
Full review by Eugene Kopman from October 4, 2001
The second film is completely unrelated to the first except
for its title. Whereas the first film only makes a fleeting
reference to the mythical lost continent, Atlantis: The
Lost Empire actually takes place there. Of course, this
is made much simpler thanks to the remarkable talents of Disney's
animators. Michael J. Fox provides the voice for a linguist
who joins a pre-WWI-era submarine expedition to
find Atlantis. He is the only one who can read their supposedly
dead language, which helps a treasure hunter (James Garner)
find his way to the legendary Atlantian power source. The
great cel animation (remember that?) and the lightning-quick
pace of the film make for a thrilling family adventure.
There are no Elton John or Randy Newman songs in this one,
only an instrumental score by James Newton Howard. There is
a Diane Warren song (sung by Mya) over the closing credits,
but at home you can simply mute the sound and just read the
names of the talented people who made this film. It may not
have been a big box office success, but hopefully Disney will
continue to make films in this style.
Full review by Eugene Kopman from June 16, 2001
For more information, visit the Internet Movie Database:
Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
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