Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
Hard to believe, but the animated feature film--once at the top of the endangered film species list--seems now imperiled by a glut of multi-studio riches. Perhaps overshadowed by the success of its rival in nautical animated adventure,Finding Nemo, this rich reworking of the Sinbad legend features its own spectacular visual wonders, marvelously underscored by the orchestral soundtrack of Harry Gregson-Williams. As he did forChicken RunandAntz, the English composer again displays a mastery of animation's sharply increased musical demands. But in paying tribute to the swashbuckling musical grandeur of a bygone film era, Gregson-Williams still remains very much his own man, subtly seasoning his sweeping heroic themes with touches of choral mystery and the exotic. It all builds inexorably to the expected symphonic crescendos, but with a brio and romantic flair that's hard to deny.--Jerry McCulley