Sinbad Movie

[Mark Chance]

Took the kids to see it yesterday. It's not too shabby. Some of the dialogue is fairly witty, the plot twist at the end is almost clever, and animation is generally good all around (except for some visually-jarring use of 3-D characters, most noticeably the giant ice bird). Both children liked the movie quite a bit, although neither hooted and hollered the way they did during Finding Nemo. Heck, they're still trying to speak whale.

 

[Mark]

I don't mind spoilers. Let's hear more about the plot, please?

 

[Krug]

The box office sucks though. It can't even beat Finding Nemo in takings, and that movie has been out more than a month!

 

[2d6]

I don't mind spoilers. Let's hear more about the plot, please?

I thought it was pretty good. The kids enjoyed it. It's fun and fits the "genre" in that it kinda reminds me of the old Sinbad/Jason and the Argonaughts films. Funny, I found myself thinking dreamworks could do Middle Earth in animation while watching this film.

I have to agree that the CG didn't always mesh well with the cel animations, but it isn't horrable.

I summerized some of the story below.

****** Spoilers below ********




















Sinbad and his crew attack a ship carrying the book of peace. The book brings peace and prosperity to the 12 cities and is in transit to it's new home, Syracuse.

During the attack Sinbad discovers that his childhood friend, Proteus is aboard the vessel defending the book. During their encounter a sea monster attacks the vessel and they join forces to kill the thing. The creature grabs Sinbad and pulls him overboard with it where he meets Eris the goddess of chaos and makes a deal with her to steal the book of peace and take it too her in tartarus in return for incredable wealth. Sinbad goes to Syracuse to steal the book but is framed for the theft by Eris before he has a chance to steal it.

Sentenced to die, Proteus offers his own life in exchange. Sinbad is given 10 days to recover the book or Proteus will be put to death.

Sinbad sets off to get the book and ends up getting the book, the girl and the pardon.

 

[Mark]

Doesn't sound half bad. Finding Nemo holds no interest for me, but this one might be worthwhile. Is it greatly enhanced by being on the big screen, or is waiting for the rental/DVD not a bad option in this case?

 

[Mark Chance]

Doesn't sound half bad. Finding Nemo holds no interest for me, but this one might be worthwhile. Is it greatly enhanced by being on the big screen, or is waiting for the rental/DVD not a bad option in this case?

I think it'd be better on the big screen. Various scenes, such as the establishing shots of Syracuse, have a real sense of scope and a high-level of detail. Made me wish I could have paused the projector so I could study the architecture.

 

[2d6]

I have to agree, the sense of grandeur would be lost on the small screen.


2d6

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I liked it. The sequence where Sinbad and crew first try and steal the book was awsome, i couldn't help but think how much fun it would be to play an over the top cinamatic game of D&D as Pirates. I also thought the animation was well done, i didn't notice any jarring clash of cell and CG animation. IMO the combination was a lot smoother in this then in other movies i've seen.

 

[Azlan]

Is it greatly enhanced by being on the big screen, or is waiting for the rental/DVD not a bad option in this case?

I think seeing Sinbad: Legend of the 7 Seas on the big screen definitely enhances the experience. There is some truly beautiful artwork and panoramic scenery in this movie. Oh, and lots of swashbuckling action and battles with giant monsters, too. (Yes, sometimes the CGI animation didn't mesh perfectly with the regular animation, but it was still pretty good. Far better than Treasure Planet, IMHO.)

My favorite scene in this movie is when Sinbad's ship is escaping from the rocky ravine / ships' graveyard, where the deathly seductive sirens dwell. (BTW: It appears they used real-life nude women as the basis of the animation for those sirens, which were like woman-shaped water wierds.) Another excellent scene is when the ship sails off the edge of the world, off into the underworld of Tartarus. Some exciting action and gorgeous imagery, here. You have to see these scenes on the big screen to truly appreciate them.

I took my 4-year-old daughter to see this movie. (And, yes, she found parts of this movie rather scarey.) Although my expectations weren't high, going in, I found myself pleasantly surprised by Sinbad. There were actually some parts of the movie that I found just as enjoyable - if not more so - than the parts of Finding Nemo that I found most enjoyable. (Then again, Sinbad: Legend of the 7 Seas was intrisically more appealing to me, personally, because of my long time love affair with heroic fantasy and swashbuckling adventure.)

After seeing this movie, it makes me want to go grab up all the half-priced Al Qadim stuff (Land of Fate, Golden Voyages, A Dozen and One Adventures, etc.) from the used bookstore, nearby, and start a 3E D&D "Sinbad" campaign.

 

[Azlan]

...i couldn't help but think how much fun it would be to play an over the top cinamatic game of D&D as Pirates.

IMHO, D&D is already "over the top" and "cinematic" enough, provided the player characters are high enough in levels. (I estimate Sinbad in this movie is, oh, a dual-scimitar-wielding rogue/fighter 7th/3rd, with at least a Dex 18 and maximum skill points in Tumble, Jump, Balance, Climb, etc.)