Atlantis: The Lost Empire [SOUNDTRACK]

James Newton Howard

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Original Release Date: June 15, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Disney
• ASIN: B00005J9UW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #111,649 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Though hampered by a sometimes predictable story line, Disney's animated telling of Plato's undersea legend deserves kudos for tackling the heady expectation surrounding modern action films and the artistic expressionism of Japanese anime, all the while maintaining a precarious sense of studio tradition and dedication to animation quality. Opening with the obligatory pop song ("Where the Dream Takes You," a serviceable slice of modern R&B boilerplate cowritten with master songwriter/boilermaker Diane Warren), James Newton Howard's rousing orchestral score at once recalls the traditions of previous Disney adventures such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. But Howard updates that tradition with alternating doses of tense, Williams-esque dynamics (particularly in the rousing "Leviathan"), and the sense of frequently playful wonder familiar from Dinosaur, his previous effort for the studio's animators. His evocative musical portraits of Atlantis often conjure the ghost of Bernard Herrmann at his most romantic and adventuresome, adding a sense of emotional gravity and a sophisticated air of exotic mystery unusual in most animated fare. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool & Mysterious, June 2, 2001

By	Bruce Aguilar (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

James Newton Howard's work on Dinosaur resulted in a terrific score that blended tribal sounds with a symphony orchestra. Atlantis has a similar feeling, but overall seems more quiet and mysterious. Some people may not enjoy this approach, but I feel where this soundtrack really shines is in the more subtle tracks. To heighten the feeling of not only being underwater, but the awe of Atlantis as well, Howard uses chimes, flutes and a chorus on my favorite tracks, "Milo meets Kida", "The Secret Swim", "The Crystal Chamber", and "The City of Atlantis". The bombast and horns are used in the action sequences like "The Leviathan" to tremendous efect.

The one real flaw is the completely banal "Where the Drem Takes You" as sung by Mya. It's a bit of a change for Disney as it doesn't sound tailormade for a film and just like any song on the radio from the next hot thing. Which could've been good, but the song is just too syurpy and anxious to please everyone. At least it's easy to skip over.

This soundtrack also has a fun CD-ROM element to it. Just pop it into your computer to continue your aural adventure of Atlantis. Also there is a limited edition (20,000) of the soundtrack available at Disney Stores only. It doesn't feature any bonus tracks, but sports a remarkable 3D cover.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Atlantis" Opens With Wrong Music, June 18, 2001

By	G M. Stathis (cedar city, utah USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

James Newton Howard has again composed a fine and interesting score that is a wonderful match to the Disney animated film, Atlantis the Lost Empire" and one that works well as a soundtrack recording. His motifs and themes for Atlantis and its inhabitants are among his more notable works. It is a score that is heroic, mysterious and triumphant. The soundtrack recording leaves something to be desired, however. On the plus side the tracks are in proper order, with one exception and therein is the problem here. The glaring weakness of this recording and the film is something that is usually the main feature of a Disney film...the vocal theme song. Not only is "Where the Dream Takes You" a weak tune; it seems to have little to do with the film or the score. Moreover, the song is presented over the credits in the film, which is alright, but on the soundtrack it is track #1 (the soundtrack for "Pearl Harbor" pulled the same stunt), why? To compound this situation, the soundtrack is missing Howard's music that opens the film with the destruction of "Atlantis." My first impression was that this track was included but out of order...I don't think so. The film's opening is powerful, as is the music, but the soundtrack misses this drama by opening with the wrong music...too bad. One is tempted to say that the soundtrck for "Atlantis the Lost Empire" should be subtitled "The Lost Music," but that would cast a negative cloud over an otherwise solid piece.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disney music at its best!, July 1, 2001

By	Johnson (Singapore) - See all my reviews

Those of you who have heard early 90's Disney tracks such as "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", and "Toy Story", do be thrilled to find that "Atlantis" has almost the same concept as it. "The Submarine" starts off without a bang, but rather something like "West Wing" in "Beauty and the Beast". It has been quite a well before I heard something this uncommercial. James Newton Howard is at its best by creating cuteness and humour ("The Submarine", "Milo's Turned Down", "Milo Meets Kida"), excitement and tension ("The Submarine" again, "The Leviathan", "The King Dies/Going After Rourke", etc.) and at the same time working on the same 3 themes: the submarine theme; the love theme (used in Mya's song); the crystal theme. Never mind those reviews saying that the soundtrack does not have any themes; never mind the first pop track that seems out of place; never mind the lousy design of the insides. But do feel the grandeur of "The Submarine" as you recall the submarine sinking deep down into the ocean; feel the mystic of "The Crystal Chamber" as you recall the rising of Kida into the crystal and the blue rays shooting out. Do love the music. I must say I love this soundtrack as much as I love Mr Howard's previous work "Dinosaur". Having combining the native music and orchestra, Mr Howard is able to bring the audience watching "Atlantis" deep down under the ocean and feel the mystic and eerieness of "Atlantis".