December 10, 2002 -- "Walt Disney's Treasure Planet" is a Disney animation version of Robert Louis Stevenson's book, "Treasure Island," but it is set in outer space. Well, no, it is sort of like outer space, but not really. For one thing, there is air out there and it is warm, making it possible to breathe and move around without the need for a bulky space suit, or even warm clothing.

The space ships in the film look like old sailing ships with solar sails powering rocket thrusters. It is all quite impossible, but artistically imaginative and pleasing in its appearance. One marvelous push-in shot reveals a crescent moon to be densely populated, with a bustling space port. Walt Disney must be spinning in his grave at the strange combination of 17th century sailing ships with futuristic technologies, but the Disney company long ago abandoned Walt's modernism for the retro look which this film embodies. The story has Jim Hawkins as a trouble-causing teen rampaging around some distant planet on a sort of wind surfing rocket board. He is an embarrassment to his mother, Sarah (voice by Laurie Metcalf) who runs a small cafe single-handedly while trying to raise her son as a single mother.

Jim stumbles across a treasure map and vows to find the treasure and make his mother proud of him. She reluctantly agrees to let him go on the adventure under the guidance of the kindly scientist Dr. Delbert Doppler (voice by David Hyde Pierce). On the ship, Jim meets up with the mysterious ship's cook, Long John Silver (voice by Brian Murray). The story maintains the traditionally complex and ambiguous nature of the Long John Silver character. He is at once a father figure to Jim and a murderous pirate. Another good character is Captain Amelia (voice by Emma Thompson), a feisty cat-like woman with a sharp tongue and wit. In a wry bit of humor, the story features a romance between the cat-like Amelia and the dog-like Dr. Doppler. Other voices heard in the movie belong to Martin Short (who provides the voice for the comical robot B.E.N.), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jim Hawkins), Patrick McGoohan (Billy Bones) and Roscoe Lee Browne (Mr. Arrow).

While the artwork in the film is very good, the story is curiously cool and emotionally uninvolving. It is obviously aimed at the lucrative teen market, but misses the mark. It fails to provide enough romance, edge, or character development to appeal to older teens or adults. The cute sidekick characters are also more suited to a younger audience. Nevertheless, it is a classic adventure yarn at heart and has some good eye candy. This film rates a C+.

For more information on this film, including loot, movie (synopsis, cast and crew, soundtrack, behind the scenes, IMAX and large format), trailers and clips, rogues and heroes, and games, click on this link to the official home page of Treasure Planet.