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Atlantis: The Lost Empire , Disney's latest animated movie-slash-marketing blitz, is ITS most ambitious project since The Lion King. It's an undersea adventure hybrid that recalls 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Phantom Menace, and the Indiana Jones films. Hold on to your popcorn … there aren't any cuddly animals or any sappy pop songs (at least until the end credits). Instead, Disney introduces heavy gunplay into an animated feature, and ramps up the adrenaline into its most feverishly energetic animated feature yet. Our hero is Milo Thatch, voiced with youthful enthusiasm by Michael J. Fox. Thatch is a young, slightly naïve linguist obsessed with stories of the sunken civilization. His quest plunges him—and a colorful variety pack of "experts"—through perilous depths until they find the legendary civilization submerged thousands of years ago by a devastating tidal wave.

Most critics agree that Atlantis might be a tad intense for the very young. But everyone agrees that the film contains some of Disney's most memorable, dazzling animation. And some are impressed with the story's ethical concerns. Movieguide claims, "The movie teaches the value of honor, compassion and relationships."

But the religious media took turns throwing rocks at the film's preoccupation with crystals and their "powers." Movieguide complains that the film "borrows from some occult, pagan theories about Atlantis being an advanced civilization powered by special energy crystals which the people worshiped. This gives the movie a confused, pluralistic worldview … another sign of the pluralistic paganism and romanticism of our age." Preview observes that this emphasis on the crystals "could mislead impressionable viewers." Phil Boatwright at The Dove Foundation praises the animators for yet another triumph, but strongly cautions parents: "Many consider the use of crystals as an occultic practice. Due to this spiritually misleading content, I cannot bring myself to recommend Atlantis for all ages."

But according to Michael Elliott of Movie Parables, this magical element can be seen as a rewarding metaphor. "To look at this element from a positive perspective, there are some analogies that can be made to bring our minds back to reflect upon biblical truths. If we liken the Atlantian crystal energy to the awesome power of God, the shards of crystal which the Atlantians wear about their necks would then represent God's gift of the Holy Spirit which he gives to all who believe." (I don't know about you, but for me that's a bit of a stretch.)

The crystals are a problem for the movie in more ways than one. (I list several things that baffled me about Atlantis in my review at Looking Closer.) These fiery talismans are also just plain confusing. First we are led to marvel at these powerful stones that have somehow protected the undersea civilization. They seem to possess divine powers. But then we discover that the stones can be stolen by the first petty thief to come along, and our heroes must swing into action to try and catch the rock robbers. Why can the stones protect the city but not themselves? Further crystal behavior only confuses the matter. The crystal apparently needs to "take up" an Atlantis inhabitant every time it exhibits its powers. So why do some get to come back while others don't? And then we learn that the stone's abilities come from its collection of the "emotions" of the ancient Atlanteans. Would you take comfort knowing you were being protected by a bundle of emotions? I'd like to be protected by a mind as well as a heart.

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June (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45