Os Titãs Voltam à Luta na Atlântida

I don't know what people have against this movie. Okay, so some of the special effects aren't great, but to be honest I prefer films like this which have interesting plots, solid characters and imaginative scenery to the kind of effects-dependent trash Hollywood is currently churning out without care or interest.

The story involves scientists intending to explore under the ocean with the use of a diving-bell. However, after they find a gold statue they, together with most of the crew of their ship, are abducted by a giant octopus and taken to the lost undersea world of Atlantis.

This is a classic and highly entertaining film with good performances from the cast and atmospheric settings with appropriately haunting music.

This is the first time I've commented on a movie, and it's fairly appropriate to be writing about this one as this was the first movie my dad ever bought for our shiny new video recorder. Well, I must take after my dad in my movie taste, as I though this was (and still is) a very entertaining and enjoyable film. I don't really care if the acting is wooden (what else would you expect from good ol' Doug??), the premise was sound and the special effects were alright for the time. In all, this was generally quite a good film - don't let the snobs put you off it.

Searching for treasures , a scientific , his son (Peter Gilmore) and Greg Collinson (Doug McClure) are double-crossed by their crew (John Ratzenberger : Cheers , among others) . Then , they're into a diving bell when are attacked by a sea monster and the sailors are dragged by a giant octopus . Later on , the ship-wrecked crew find inhabitants of the lost world of Atlantis , the lost continent written by Platon . It's governed by an alien race (Michael Gothard , Daniel Massey and Cyd Charisse) from Mars which wish to rule the human beings and the creation a totalitarian state . An incredible tale of terror and suspense...above and below the sea. From the depth of space they came to vanish beneath the sea...

This fantasy picture packs thrills , action , weird monsters , lively pace and fantastic scenarios . The monsters are the real stars of this production and its chief attribute . The tale is silly and laughable but the effects and action are quite well . Among the most spectacular of its visuals there are deeply shrouded caverns filled with monsters roaring menacingly towards the camera , the attack of a giant lizard on a fortress , and the futuristic backgrounds of Atlantis . Some illogical parts in the plot are more than compensated for the excitement provided by Roger Dicken's monsters , though sometimes result to be a little bit cheesy . Filmed in glimmer and colorful cinematography by expert cameraman Alan Hume on location in Malta and Pinewood studios , England . Evocative and stirring musical score by Vickers . This is the fourth collaboration between producer John Dark and director Kevin Connor who also made in similar style : ¨The land that time forgot (1975)¨, ¨All the Earth's core (1976)¨, ¨The people that time forgot (1977)¨, mostly starred by Doug McClure and with the craftsman Roger Dicken as the monster-maker . The film will appeal to kiddies who swallow whole and sit convulsed in their armchair.

"Harrihausen stop-motion animation in all its choppy glory". Where? I didn't see any, it all looked like sock puppets, guys in rubber suits and wood and canvass models to me, standard Amicus/Rice-Boroughs effects. If they had have used stop-motion the effects would have been a lot better, take the Empire Strikes Back made three years later or the Golden Voyage of Sinbad made four years earlier. Please, please don't say the effects were good for the Seventies, because in all fairness King Kong which was made 45 years earlier has better effects and there currently appears to be a trend to excuse anything made before the advent of CGI as "Good effects for their day". As if Spielberg would have used guys in suits a la Godzilla to make Jurassic Park if CGI hadn't have been around in 1992! It's a fun film, however, and very enjoyable, I liked it as a kid and like all the Amicus/Rice-Boroughs films I try to see them when they're on.

Altantis is found.

This movie begins so well in the first 30 minutes or so (the diving bell under attack, the octopus attacks the ship) but once we get to Atlantis the film becomes less pleasing.

The diving bell footage will bring back memories or Irwin Allen's Voyage to the Botttom of the Sea series and the full-scale octopus all over the ship would have to go down as one of the best filmed moments of 1970s sci-fi cinema.

On top of the first 30 minutes, is a rich and lavish music score that brings the whole thing to life.

But as I said above, the quality is not maintained and you almost get the feeling that another less experienced director took over the flick once they all get to Atlantis. Too bad.