RATING:
PG (for adventure action, some mild sensuality
and brief language)
TIME:
92 minutes
GENRE:
Animated, Mythological Fantasy
STARRING THE VOICE TALENTS OF:
Brad Pitt, Catherine
Zeta-Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer, Joseph Fiennes, and Dennis
Haysbert
DIRECTORS:
Tim Johnson and Patrick Gilmore
WRITER:
John Logan
PRODUCERS:
Jeffrey Katzenberg and Mireille Soria
DISTRIBUTOR:
DreamWorks.
Please Note
In providing movie reviews on our site, CBN.com is not endorsing or recommending films we review. Our goal is to provide Christians with information about the latest movies, both the good and the bad, so that our readers may make an informed decision as to whether or not films are appropriate for them and their families.
MOVIE REVIEW
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven
Seas
By Ted Baehr
Publisher, MovieGuide Magazine
CBN.com –
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is a delightful surprise. Its an
extremely exciting, well-written animated movie with some exciting sequences
that rival big screen epics.
The movie tells the story of Sinbad of Arabian Nights fame. In this version
of the oft told tale, Sinbad is a pirate, trying to cap off his career by
stealing the Book of Peace. When he boards the ship which is carrying
the Book of Peace, he discovers his old friend Proteus. Eris, the goddess
of chaos, sends a horrific monster down to attack the ship because she wants
the Book of Peace. Proteus and Sinbad fight side by side to destroy
the monster.
When they get to the town of Syracuse, Sinbad is feted at a banquet for helping
to save the ship. The Book of Peace is put in an honored position in
a lighthouse, and the kings of the Seven Cities drink a toast in a service
that resembles communion, with Proteus father holding a chalice with a cross
on it.
Meanwhile, Eris impersonates Sinbad and steals the Book of Peace.
Sinbad is blamed and condemned to death, but Proteus says that he will take
Sinbads place, freeing Sinbad to go to the edge of the world to the home
of Eris in Tartarus to retrieve the book. Proteus betrothed and beloved,
Marina, goes with Sinbad to make sure he retrieves the Book of Peace.
Many harrowing adventures occur, some of them extremely exciting and frightening,
before some twists and turns bring this mythic tale to an end.
The good news is that Sinbad has many very positive themes. Sinbad the thief
and sinner needs to choose the right way, recovering the Book of Peace.
He needs to lay down his life for his friends. He needs to choose honor over
selfishness, truth over falsehood, and trust over irresponsibility. . . in
fact all those Christian virtues which are set forth so clearly in the Bible,
the real Book of Peace. Thus, there is a Christian allegory running
underneath the mythological story.
Sinbad, himself, has to look in the mirror to find out who he is and who
he wants to be. He sees that hes been selfish, cold-hearted, cruel, and irresponsible.
So convicted, he chooses the truth and the right way.
There are several minor cautions, however. Much of the mythology seems all
too convincing. Some of the action violates the logic of the story. The world
of chaos ruled by the goddess is nominalistic. There are several clear sexual
innuendoes, and the sirens almost appear to be naked at times. Furthermore,
there are some Romantic elements, in the philosophical sense, which, though
rebuked, are not entirely resolved. Also, there is a lot of sword play, scary
monsters and frightening situations.
Even so, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas has some incredible writing.
The story carries you to the end in such a dramatic fashion that the children
sitting next to me at the screening were clapping and cheering. I have seldom
seen such an enthusiastic response from children at a screening.
The quality and moral virtues of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
are surprising because the trailers and advertisements do not even hint at
the excellence and virtues of the movie itself which can be summed up in the
biblical mandate from John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this, that
he lay down his life for his friends. (NIV)
NOTE from Dr. Ted Baehr, publisher of Movieguide Magazine: For more information
from a Christian perspective, order the latest Movieguide Magazine by
calling 1-800-899-6684(MOVI) or visit our website at www.movieguide.org.
Movieguide is dedicated to redeeming the values of Hollywood by informing
parents about today's movies and entertainment and by showing media executives
and artists that family-friendly and even Christian-friendly movies do best
at the box office year in and year out. Movieguide now offers an online
subscription to its magazine version, at www.movieguide.org.
The magazine, which comes out 25 times a year, contains many informative articles
and reviews that help parents train their children to be media-wise consumers.
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