Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)July 1st, 2003
"Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas"
The Disney animation juggernaut is challenged, once again, by DreamWorks Pictures, this time in a realm that the Mouse House has long dominated: the anime of classical adventure stories. Now, the newer kids take on one of the most famous of the Arabian Nights stories with John Logan's adaptation of the updated adventures of "Sinbad: The Legend of the Seven Seas."
Sinbad (voice of Brad Pitt) is a likable rogue who plies the seven seas with his crew of brigands (lovable and funny in a cutthroat kind of way) as they seek out their pirate's prey with the plan to make a lot of money and retire to the beaches of Fiji. They come across a particularly profitable quarry: a ship transporting to Syracuse the fabled and powerful Book of Peace. But, unbeknownst to Sinbad, the vessel is captained by Proteus (voice of Joseph Fiennes), his long ago companion, best friend and prince of Syracuse. The bond between the two is too great and Sinbad departs with empty hands, much to the chagrin of his crew.
Meanwhile, the goddess Eris (voice of Michelle Pfeiffer) has designs of her own for the magnificent book and plan to recruit Sinbad to help her. But, she isn't known as the Goddess of Discord for nothing and she plans to have some fun with the buccaneer and his men while sowing the seeds of chaos in the land of the living. Still, Sinbad isn't the kind to shirk a challenge and he agrees to go to Syracuse and steal the book for Eris in return for wealth untold.
When Sinbad arrives, prince Proteus greets him, once again, and their bond of friendship again proves to be stronger than the pirate's need for vast wealth. But, Eris isn't the kind to waste opportunity so she disguises herself as Sinbad, steals the tome herself and leaves the pirate chief with the threat of imminent execution. He vows to get the book back and Proteus convinces the king and his advisors to keep him, the prince, under arrest (promising to sacrifice his own life) as his friend quests for the return of the Book of Peace. Of course, it wouldn't be a good swashbuckling story without a heroine and "Sinbad" has one in the form of Marina (voice of Catherine Zeta-Jones), the smart, capable and feisty fiancée of Proteus.
Sinbad, Marina, his crew and his loyal, lovable dog Spike head for Tartarus, the home of Eris, on the very edge of the world. Along the way, the purely evil (but mischief-loving) Eris places the usual mythical obstacles in the way. They must face the destructively seductive songs of the Sirens (who, fortunately, Marina is unaffected by); then they land on a giant fish the size of an island and all hands are nearly lost; they are trapped in frigid, ice-bound waters, the home of a humungous snowbird that thinks Sinbad and Marina happen to be a pair of convenient snacks. All this happens and Sinbad and company must still face the all-powerful Eris if they are to get the book back and save Proteus's life.
"Sinbad" is a combination of traditional cel animation (2D) and high-tech computer graphics (3D) in much the same way as Disney's rollicking "Treasure Island" but the Mouse House still holds the cards in their melding of the two techniques. With "Legend of the Seven Seas" there is a jolt as the action changes from 2D to CGI and the two looks don't transition together smoothly.
Helmers Tim Johnson and Patrick Gilmore muster their talented vocal cast and try to give life to the story by scribe Logan. Unfortunately, they are at a disadvantage because the screenplay delves into new "adventures" for the roguish hero rather than sticking with the traditional, familiar stories of the source work. The seductive Sirens are here (and a bit erotic, too) but Sinbad doesn't face the terrible Cyclops, meet genies or fight sword-wielding skeletons. Instead, this "Sinbad" is a roller coaster ride as the able sailor guides his trusty ship, The Chimera, across the danger-ridden seas. It's fun but not particularly satisfying.
The top name cast does a fine job of giving voice to the principal roles with Brad Pitt playing the calculating but likable title character with good humor. Catherine Zeta-Jones is forthright as the diminutive but feisty Marina - togged in modern-day Capri pants for some reason. Michelle Pfeiffer has some lusciously malevolent fun giving voice to Eris. Baritone-voiced Dennis Haysbert gives Sinbad's loyal lieutenant Kale a comforting strength of character to go along with his muscular screen depiction. Adriano Giannini voices the ferret-like Rat but he and the rest of the supporting characters are given little development.
There is a parting note in "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" as the hero and heroine talk of the further adventures from the Arabian Nights tales. I would rather have seen those stories told instead of the hip update. Try to catch the Ray Harryhausen stop motion versions of the Sinbad stories if you really want to have some mythical fun.
I give it a B-.
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