Film Reviews

Treasure Planet

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Emma Thompson
• Details: US / 90 mins / (G).

This futuristic updating of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel must have seemed like a damn fine idea at the time because it was bankrolled to the tune of $140million dollars, making it one of the most expensive animated films ever made. The end product, however, is a very workman-like fable, a sporadically entertaining film which is too self-consciously clever and self indulgent to register a sizeable impact.

As the title indicates, this is a basic retelling of Stevenson's text, except - you've guessed it - the story is set in space. Young scamp Jim Hawkins (Gordon-Levitt) is in desperate need of some fatherly guidance since his old man legged it. Constantly getting in trouble with the robot police, Jim eventually finds a direction for his energy when he happens across a treasure map. With his pal, Doctor Doppler in tow, Hawkins sets off on his adventure, hooking up with friends and foe - hello John Silver! - along the way in his relentless search for the loot.
Overly concerned with moral messenging than having fun, Treasure Planet is one of those movies which could have done with a little loosening of the reigns. The hand drawn animation and CGI backgrounds are very accomplished (and so they should be for $140million nicker) but the visuals are so ruthlessly rendered that the script seems to have been neglected. Indeed, after a bright opening, the film slides into mediocrity far too quickly. A disappointment.

Review by Garreth Murphy