ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Well put, Krel. You make a good argument for a new Atlantis movie.

I was just lamenting the fact that movies these days have a very different look and fell than the ones we love from the Golden Age. But you're absolutely right that Atlantis: The Lost Continent isn't even a very good example of the better ones from that era, so a new one which is done well would be a real delight.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[The Spike]

It's a George Pal film, who around this time in his career was playing fun with fantasy adventure films, even bringing some cartoonery and science into his equations. Atlantis, the Lost Continent is not a particularly good film, but it is a fun one if you have any sort of idea what to expect from this sort of production.

Plot basically pitches a Greek fisherman to the task of bringing an Atlantean princess back to the supposed mythical city of Atlantis. He does, and soon wishes he hadn't since he is not welcomed and Atlantis might be coming to the end of its existence.

It starts off pretty badly, cheese acting and scenes looking dreadfully cheap. Yet once we get to Atlantis things perk up, with an array of weird inhabitants and nutty religion marrying up with some nutty science. It's colourful, while the effects work ranges wildly from good to bad; which is the same as the screenplay come to think of it (studio interference and writers strikes hamstrung Pal no doubt). It's more "Z" grade than "B" schlock grade, and as has been noted by critics, it does indeed look like a cheap Roman adventure dressed up under a mythical name. Yet it is still pleasant enough of a viewing experience, with some nifty action scenes and the brisk finale ensuring that is the case. 6/10
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The quality of mercy is not strnen.

[telegonus]

I loved this one when it came out and still have fond memories of seeing it multiple times in the theater (three or four at least). The early scenes were quite effective, and overall there were strong emotional undercurrents unusual in a film of this sort, and in this it resembled Pal's The Time Machine, which was of course more cerebral.

Looking back, the latter holds up better, but Atlantis has its charms, too. For years I wondered whatever happened to Anthony Hall, subsequently -- and it took decades -- found out who he really was. He didn't have much of a career as an actor but he led a busy life. One can see him under his real name, Sal Ponti, in some old TV show like Alfred Hitchcock Presents

[Bud Brewster]

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telegonus, I'm delighted that you decided to add your fine post to All Sci-Fi after joining us a while back.

It was worth the wait!

Please share any other thoughts you have about sci-fi movies, TV series, novels, etc. You're obviously the kind of science fiction fan this board is happy to include as a member!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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Funny cartoon, Eadie! Thanks!

And of course it belongs here! I mean, it's not This Feline Earth, right? Or The Tabby from Another World.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

While there have been various Atlantis-based films & TV shows, Eadie, I submit that other than the Disney animated movie, none of them have been major league productions. They are modest efforts with unimpressive visual effects or screenplays. I'm talking about Hollywood producing an Atlantis film of epic proportions in both scripting, directing, acting and outstanding production values. That one has yet to be made.

[Bud Brewster]

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I hate to say it, but I think the days in which an Atlantis movie could actually portray the lost civilization the way the myth describes it . . . has long past.

Modern audiences would demand elaborate especial effects which depicted a civilization far more advanced than today — which is not what Atlantis was supposed to be.

I spent and hour trying to find out just what Plato had to say about the "advanced civilization" of Atlantis. All I found was some few vague mentions of the "power of crystals" — whatever the hell that is.

In view of the fact that scholars are convinced that Plato just made the whole thing up, I'd rather just start from scratch and make my own "lost world". And by gum, I've done quite a lot of that, right here on All Sci-Fi!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Yes, an Atlantis feature film would have to go all out with spectacular visuals and technology. Hey, it's all fantasy since Atlantis most likely never existed in any form at all.

[Bud Brewster]

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Right. Plato just made up Atlantis.

So, why don't they do a story like the one I described on this thread.

What if Atlantis still exists?

It's got niffy jpeds I created, like THIS one!



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Interesting article on the Live Science site today.

Researchers in Spain have discovered lost islands that sank in the ocean millions of years ago. Some still have their beaches intact.

Found on a seamount which is an underwater mountain, they contain 3 inactive volcanoes. The scientists have dubbed it Mount Los Atlantes after Plato's fabled civilization.

It is located on a seabed off the coast of Lanzarote, the easternmost of the Canary Isles. Using an R.O.V. (Remote Operating Vehicle) the depths are from 330 feet to 8,200 feet below the ocean surface.

Los Atlantes is a series of islands that existed during the Eocene Age which is 56 to 34 million years ago. The team will now date the volcanic rock samples gathered and pinpoint when the isles started to sink.

The 1966 film One Million Years B.C. was filmed at Lanzarote, Canary Islands. The stop-motion animation was by the legendary Ray Harryhausen. Ray had considered doing a project involving Atlantis at one time.

[Bud Brewster]