MartyMouse said:
No - Atlantis was a great film, it just needed to be about an hour longer or a mini-series. The story was way to complex to fit into such a short movie with so many characters. Naturally without a longer running time and with so many characters, the film … well … wasn’t all that it could have been. But look at it for what it was – a fantastic sci-fi story with great (under developed) characters and some amazing design work, the sub was incredible (for the pathetically short amount of screen time it had). Treasure Planet was a far better film but I think that people’s feelings about Atlantis turned them off to the movie. However out of Disney’s last few animated films (3 of which were Sci-Fi) the worst was that cow movie oh my gosh, that’s one movie that will never see a ride.
Actually, the only real problem I had with "Atlantis" the movie was that it was a complte rip-off of "Stargate" the movie. Here are the plots...see if you don't agree:
Stargate - Nerdy professor Daniel is someone nobody believes in. He spends his time trying to get people to accept his idea that a Stargate exists that will transport people to a place to help explain our past. He speaks and can translate a foreign tongue no one else knows. A mysterious woman appears who gives him the oppotunity to prove himself right. A top secret team is put together to travel to this other planet. While there, they meet up with local inhabitants who are primitive by our standards and who speak the language Dr. Jackson knows. He also meets a beautiful native, and of course they fall in love. The team dislikes him, however, and eventually, they turn on him. He saves the people of the planet from a great threat, and also manages to convince his mutinous team to help him. All ends happily, and he stays in this new world to be with the woman he loves.
Atlantis - Nerdy school employee Milo is someone nobody believes in. He spends his time trying to get people to accept his idea that Atlantis exists, and by finding it we can find a link to our past. He speaks and can translate foreign tongues no one else knows. A mysterious woman appears who gives him the opportunity to prove himself right. A top secret team is put together to travel to Atlantis. While there, they meet up with local inhabitants who are primitive by our standards and who speak languages Milo knows. He also meets a beautiful native, and of course they fall in love. The team dislikes him, however, and eventually, they turn on him. He saves the people of the planet from a great threat, and also manages to convince most of his mutinous team to help him. All ends happily, and he stays in this new world to be with the woman he loves.
Interestingly, the new Stargate TV series is called "Atlantis." Coincidence?
As for whether or not an attraction should be built, sure, why not? As long as they don't focus too heavily on the movie's plot, they'll probably be okay. I was always kind of disappointed the Submarine Voyage (and 20K) overlay with Atlantis never came to pass. I thought that was the perfect way to update the attraction and still keep it somewhat futuristic. Now, with Disneyland putting in the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, it won't really fit very well in Tomorrowland.
Finally, I liked "Home on the Range" (except for the country music) and I think it could make for a pretty great attraction - a Frontierland mine car roller coaster-style ride. It might not work, though...perhaps a bit too similar to Thunder Mountain. Maybe a more kiddie-oriented attraction. A faster-than-usual dark ride, or something similar.