"It's my responsibility to bring the Book of Peace safely to Syracuse." "See, now I just feel bad, 'cause you're gonna get fired."

Year: 2003

Directed by: Patrick Gilmore & Tim Johnson

Writers: John Logan

"A Persian sailor named Sinbad is on a quest to find the magical legendary Book of Peace, a mysterious artifact that Eris, the Greek wicked goddess of chaos, has ultimately framed him for stealing! If he fails on this quest, his childhood friend Prince Proteus of Syracuse will take Sindbad's death penalty, while Eris gains a desired foothold of power in the world of mortals."

- Summary written by Anthony Pereyra

Mostly I watched Sinbad - Legend of the Seven Seas tonight because I watched the Road to El Dorado yesterday. These two very much go to the same category, even if the latter was my favourite and the former... not so much.

This film looks as good as The Road to El Dorado. Especially the mix of traditional animation and the kind of 3D computer animation is very interesting. Most of the creatures look three dimensional and it makes the threat they pose seem way more threatening when you compare the realistic looking creatures with the human characters, who look much simpler and just less real. Especially the 3D animation works well in the realm of Eris, the goddess of chaos, because with that technique it looks way more chaotic. 

The music in this movie is not as good as in the Road to El Dorado. Don't get me wrong, the music is alright, but that's it. It's just decent. The only track that's really amazing is Let The Games Begin which very much plays whenever Eris is around. That track is mysterious and playful, and it gives the original sound to those few scene that same melody is playing, even if the song itself would be different. Harry Gregson-Williams is of course a good composer, but let's be honest, his music doesn't really stand out in films. 

What is really missing from Sinbad is the chemistry. There isn't that kind of chemistry between any characters than is between Miguel and Tulio from the Road to El Dorado. I'd hate to compare these two movies too much, but the Road to El Dorado just sets the demand for animated adventures very high - especially when we are talking about characters. However, there's something similar between Sinbad and Miguel and Tulio. They all were swindlers, dishonest people, and very unlikely heroes. The difference, however, is that Sinbad actually was a hero. 

Can you guess what I loved most about this movie when I was a kid - and what I still love the most? Eris. The character looks amazing. She looks beautiful yet chaotic and evil, and her hair, my god, her hair. Even if the animation is so beautiful in this movie, Eris' hair is the best part.

The story of Sinbad is interesting, except partially it doesn't make sense. Why do they need a book to keep peace? Why is Eris in this, because this movie doesn't take place in Greece, does it? Those are the two most important questions I learnt to ask now, even if I didn't wonder that as a kid. 

Sinbad is breath-takingly beautiful movie, but the story doesn't live up to the visual side of the movie. Something is lacking, but it sure is nice to look at.

☆☆☆☆

4 / 10