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Directed by |
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Starring |
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Specs |
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- 16:9 Enhanced
- Dual Layer ( )
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Languages |
- English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
- Dutch: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
- English: DTS 5.1 Surround
- Commentary - English: Dolby Digital Stereo
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Subtitles |
English, Dutch, Commentary - English, Commentary - Dutch |
Extras |
- Teaser trailer - The Cat In The Hat
- Audio commentary
- 7 Cast/crew biographies - Characters
- 2 Featurette - Making Of, The Voice of Spike
- Photo gallery - Comprehensive concept art
- Animated menus
- DVD-ROM features - Games and Activities
- Web access - Dreamworks Kids
- Film highlights
- 3 Interactive game - Sinbad's Sailing Adventure, The 3DTour of The Chimera, Save The 12 Cities
- DTS trailer - Piano
- Short film - Cyclops Island
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Sinbad - Legend of the Seven Seas |
Universal/Universal Classics .
R4 . COLOR . 82 mins .
PG . PAL |
Feature |
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Contract |
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I’m so disappointed I missed this in cinemas. I tried to get there but the film just wasn’t around long enough and I missed out. Well, I have to live with that, because this film would have looked superb on the big screen, particularly with the excellent DTS soundtrack. Not many animated movies bother with such rich, deep sound and it really adds to this film’s excellence. It’s a relatively simple plot (like all Sinbad films before it): Sinbad is intent on stealing The Book of Dreams® from a ship. Upon discovering that ship is captained by his boyhood friend Proteus, he changes his mind and doesn’t pinch it after all. When the boats arrive in Syracuse, the Book is placed in situ to protect The Twelve Cities and that may well be the end of it... until Eris, the Goddess of Discord, steals the Book and frames Sinbad. He is arrested and is to be put to death until Proteus stands up for him, meaning Sinbad must rescue the Book from Eris within ten days or his friend will die. "Isn’t it a pity we live in such sceptical times?" |
What follows are several adventures and meetings with mythological creatures, a romance of sorts between Sinbad and Marina (fiancée of Proteus), and more cutting edge animation than you can shake a pencil at. It is truly spectacular, the animation here. Images of Eris doing her thing are awesome; animated as if mired under turbulent waters, her hair a liquid motion that is incredibly delivered. She is almost a single digital effect throughout, although she is mostly hand drawn. That’s how good it is and is just one (among many) highlights of this feature. Michelle Pfeiffer brings voice to this nasty character at her husky, playful best and breathes life into her with a curious blend of childishness and adult strength. There are certain scenes within this film that have never been tried in animation before, and have been accomplished so successfully I can’t understand why this film didn’t do as well as it should have. Perhaps they were too unimportant to kids or something, but for the rest of us watching this, the animation is absolutely top of the heap. No physical reference has been used for the fighting sequences, and when frame-by-framed the true abilities of the animators are clearly evinced. Really remarkable stuff. There are even other characters that are totally digitally animated and skinned like the 2D hand drawn stuff, though to the untrained eye it would be hard to discern between the two. The story is typical of a Sinbad feature in the pursuit of a fabulous treasure and they have remained true to Sinbad’s general ideals, while incorporating some modern expressions and gags for the adults present. This is excellent viewing for the entire family, with parents finding as much to enjoy here as the kids will.
Video |
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Contract |
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Superb and practically unfaultable. Incorporating both digital animation and traditional 2D, the film looks disgracefully good. There are some perhaps less rendered pieces than those around them, but these are rarely important to the story or on screen very long. Something rarely used in 2D animation has been utilised very effectively in roving cameras. Working along the same lines as crane or dolly shots in regular film, these manage to do things that are practically impossible to replicate in a real environment. Following action from the upper masts down along the deck and up ropes, for a close-up on someone’s face, as an example. It looks sensational. Naturally colours and such have been already perfected long before final rendering and the transfer has brought these accurately to DVD. Like I said, practically unfaultable. If I have any gripe, perhaps it’s in the use of motion blur. This is a 3D effect that creates exactly what it says it does to show characters as if there were a real camera capturing action with a real shutterspeed. I think, speaking from both an animator’s and a filmgoer’s point of view, we’ve grown used to not having motion blur in animation and it doesn’t truly belong there. There isn’t any need for it and it kinda takes animation a step away from its truth, likening it to the real world. Animation is animation because we like it that way. Let’s keep the real world out of it.
Audio |
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Contract |
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Massive choices for animation. Dolby Digital 5.1 surround in English, Dutch or Flemish (of all languages!) plus English in DTS 5.1. It’s beautiful too. Plenty of sea monster sounds roaming around us in the battle scenes with some of the Roc’s (a big flying hawk thing) sounds being simply killer in the surround. Other cool effects like swords clashing and snow sledding and The Siren’s splashing are all masterfully delivered and add so much more depth to this film. Harry Gregson-Williams’ musical score is fantastic here, recreating that awesome Sinbad ethnicity through a regular orchestral work. One feeling always given by Sinbad films is the Middle Eastern influence and with certain instruments applied cleverly to the mix, Gregson-Williams has truly captured the essence of Sinbad and his adventures. Dialogue is well delivered and easily recognised as the actors behind them, but for Joseph Fiennes as Proteus. Perhaps this is because he has his true English accent out and isn’t Americanising it. At any rate, everyone sounds great and there aren’t many lines we miss. If there’s anything it’s in some asides as scenes close that have been lowered a little so as not to detract from what just happened. Still, some of these are killer material, particularly after the wild ride behind the fish. Turn it up here for an hilarious line about Spike the dog. A great mix with crystal clarity doesn’t let this film down at all and in fact improves it yet further.
Extras |
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Overall |
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Contract |
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So, if not doing so well at the cinemas, I’m predicting this will be a huge seller on DVD. With so many extras enhancing what is already a worthy film in its own right, this one is bound to find a wide appeal in young and young at heart audiences everywhere. Some extraordinary blending of animation both computer and traditional has brought another of Sinbad’s classic tales to life in excellent fashion (if you wanna check out some other classics, go no further than here.) A great story, killer animation and a rich and diverse soundscape come together to create a very nice addition to any family DVD collection and will continue to deliver for a good while yet (or until the straight-to-DVD sequel appears as well...) Excellent value for money.
LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=3336
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And I quote... |
"Family entertainment comes full circle in this amazingly animated high seas adventure. With monsters!" - Jules Faber |
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Review Equipment |
- DVD Player:
Nintaus DVD-N9901
- TV:
Sony 51cm
- Receiver:
Diamond
- Speakers:
Diamond
- Surrounds:
No Name
- Audio Cables:
Standard Optical
- Video Cables:
Standard Component RCA
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