Say what you want about the potential downfalls in Disney animation during this time period, but you cannot criticize the casting choices in these films whatsoever. Even in the studio's lesser offerings from the early 2000's, the cast was not to be faulted, and Treasure Planet boasts one of the best cast ensembles of the modern Disney era. The cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jim Hawkins), Brian Murray (John Silver), David Hyde Pierce (Doctor Doppler), Emma Thompson (Captain Amelia), Laurie Metcalf (Sarah Hawkins), and Martin Short (B.E.N.). This cast does a splendid job of bringing their unique characters to life in such a fresh manner. In science fiction films, it is easy for the characters to get lost in the effects and action, but due to the filmmaker's attention to character and the cast's extraordinary work, the characters in Treasure Planet are the highlights of the film.
Jim Hawkins is our leading character, and he is a great one. Jim is an adventurous, yet flawed individual. His desire for adventure oftentimes lands him in some trouble, but when he is afforded the opportunity to track down the legendary Treasure Planet, Hawkins shines and so does Treasure Planet. This film works because we find ourselves genuinely caring for Jim and his journey. His is not just some spoiled, troubled kid looking to get rich; he is a determined individual trying to prove his personal greatness to the world. Helping him along that journey, John Silver becomes the film's highlight due to his role of Jim's father figure. I'll discuss Silver's characterization in more detail below, but he is truly one of my favorite characters from this era because of the numerous layers and dimensions brought to the ruffian. Additionally, the film's best scenes often occur when Doppler and Amelia are together butting heads and leading the way. Pierce and Thompson are superb together, flawlessly executing their character's role within the film.
Obviously, the story of Treasure Planet is simply classical. Robert Louis Stevenson's original novel, Treasure Island, even caught the attention of Walt Disney as Treasure Island became Disney's first live-action full length film in 1950. I wholeheartedly applaud the studio for taking that legendary story and updating it with the science-fiction element. The script is sublime, paying homage to Stevenson's original masterpiece while also allowing Disney to create something new for this generation. I know some folks were turned off by the stark setting change, but for me, it provides a chance for the studio to put their own unique stamp on Stevenson's work that has never been seen before or since. Plus, the setting of space allows the animators to really show-off and stretch their legs. I'll discuss this in more detail below as well, but the animation in Treasure Planet is absolutely breathtaking, as is the case with most Disney films. From the characters to the galaxies, the animators truly outdid themselves with this one.
So what's missing from Treasure Planet? Quite frankly, not much as It comes extremely close to being a perfect film in my book and therefore worthy of a full ten out of ten on my rating. However, I must admit that I wanted more action on Treasure Planet itself. When the scene finally does shift to this setting, the following sequences are spectacular, but I wanted more exploration and discovery to take place. This also means that I wanted more from B.E.N. In his limited screentime, B.E.N. is a superstar (he even sings a section of "Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life For Me!"), but he comes in about two-thirds into the film, which is simply far too late to introduce such an integral character. When you have Martin Short in your cast, I want him to be everywhere, but instead, B.E.N. never gets much of a chance to make a lasting impression.
That being said, those are minor quibbles at best. As I have stated, Treasure Planet is a remarkable film that just misses out on obtaining classic status. Thanks to its characters, cast, animation, and story, this film is quite the undervalued gem in the Disney canon.
Rating: 9/10
Historical Significance: John Musker and Ron Clements are perhaps the greatest directing duo in Disney history, having helmed such films as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Princess and the Frog with Disney's newest musical due out this fall, Moana, also being directed by the two. Treasure Planet had always been a passion project of sorts for the duo, and they attempted to convince Disney to greenlight production on this film for quite some time. Musker and Clements first pitched the idea for the film during production of The Black Cauldron, but they were eventually assigned to direct The Great Mouse Detective. After they had completed The Little Mermaid, they once again tried to get Treasure Planet off the ground, but Disney assigned them to another project: Aladdin. Then, after Aladdin, they thought a third time would be the charm, but instead, they were asked to direct Hercules. The duo agreed on one condition. They would direct Hercules only if their next project could be Treasure Planet. Disney agreed, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Behind the Scenes: To date, Treasure Planet is Disney's biggest financial loss. It cost the studio approximately $180 million while only bringing in about $109 million at the worldwide box office. One reason for the high budgeted cost was due to the advanced nature of the animation. While all of the characters were hand-drawn, Treasure Planet also incorporated the latest computer technology for Silver's mechanical arm and B.E.N., and they also brought back Disney's deep canvas technique for the shots featuring the RLS Legacy (Side note: "RLS" may look familiar to you fans of the original novel, Treasure Island. The ship in the film is named after Robert Louis Stevenson.). The deep canvas technique was popularized in the Renaissance and was characterized by majestic sweeping shots such as the ballroom scene in Beauty and the Beast and the stampede in The Lion King. In the scenes in Treasure Planet set on the ship, all three methods of animation are at play, and the results are spellbinding.
Favorite Character: The character of John Silver has always fascinated me, so he is my selection for favorite character in Treasure Planet. While Jim Hawkins is an excellent leading man, Silver truly drives the narrative and the action in the film. Disney has done a sensational job with Silver to never outright reveal what he is really thinking and believing. His allegiances are always hidden, constantly leaving us questioning. When Jim first steps foot on the Legacy, Silver is the humble chef with a tough exterior, but throughout the next few scenes, it seems as if Jim has softened this pirate into a fantastically lovable character. Then, Treasure Planet's biggest twist arrives when the pirates start a mutiny against Captain Amelia and her crew, revealing that Silver was only ever after the treasure to begin with. However, when it looks like Silver has plunged off the deep end, we see his humanity rise to the surface in his unwavering affection towards Jim as his psuedo-son. This ultimately leads to him sacrificing his coveted treasure in order to save Jim's live. That is one of my favorite character arcs of all-time, and that is why Silver is my favorite character from Treasure Planet.
Favorite Scene: It came down to two stellar scenes for my selection in this part. I almost continued my love for Silver and Hawkins by choosinf that phenomenal final scene between the two as Silver prepares to depart once and for all, but instead, I'm going with the film's lone musical sequence in which Jim's backstory is revealed to the tune of "I'm Still Here." From the start, we know Jim's father is out of the picture, but in one incredibly animated and edited scene, not only do we see why and how his father left in the past, but we are also presented with the further development of Silver and Jim's relationship as Jim sees this cyborg as the father he never had. Sometimes, backstories are not necessary, and if this scene would have been exclusively devoted to Jim's past, it would be a waste of time and an interruption to the film's flow. However, Disney's decision to mirror Jim's past with his present results in an immensely powerful scene that provides the heart and soul of the entire film.Updated Ranking: I urge you to give Treasure Planet another viewing if you have not visited it in a while or maybe have never seen it to begin with. I think of it along the same lines as The Great Mouse Detective in the sense that it seems as if people simply forget it exists, but when they watch it, they leave thoroughly entertained. Hence, my ranking.
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Lion King
- Aladdin
- The Little Mermaid
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- The Jungle Book
- Sleeping Beauty
- Lilo & Stitch
- Hercules
- Mulan
- The Emperor's New Groove
- Tarzan
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- 101 Dalmatians
- Pocahontas
- Treasure Planet
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- The AristoCats
- Fantasia 2000
- The Rescuers Down Under
- Fun and Fancy Free
- The Fox and the Hound
- Robin Hood
- Dinosaur
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Oliver & Company
- The Rescuers
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire
- The Sword in the Stone
- Make Mine Music
- The Black Cauldron
-Cody Fleenor
No comments:
Post a Comment