MovieChat Forums > Treasure Planet (2002) Discussion > Why this movie rawked, AND failed.

Why this movie rawked, AND failed.

posted 15 years ago by CumClarity
9 replies | jump to latest

personally i think this movie was amazing. i only saw it last week, and it is now my fave disney movie.

i think the targeted the wrong audience for this movie. it was targeted for kids, and i think thats why it flopped. sure tis animated, but kids like musicals and some adolescent humor.

but the movie itself was more 17+. the dialogue, the banter, the voice actors. i mean, what little kid in 2002 would know who emma thompson is? (maybe one who watches harry potter lol) or Micheal wincott.

it touched on subjects that are more prevalent in teen years.

scroop. scroop scared the living hell outta my 5 yr old. didnt like him one bit.
and she didnt understand the end where jim saves john silver even tho he was plotting to kill him.

another reason why i LOVED this movie, is that the portray a "bad guy" who isnt truly bad. john silver Has bad actions and choices, but at the same time at the end he makes good ones, showing that there is never black & white. something that is hardly ever shown in kids movies.

i wish it did better, but given the time it was released, its not surprising it didnt do well.

~Clarity

[–] amvdveen 15 years ago

"another reason why i LOVED this movie, is that the portray a "bad guy" who isnt truly bad. john silver Has bad actions and choices, but at the same time at the end he makes good ones, showing that there is never black & white. something that is hardly ever shown in kids movies. "

This. I can image it would be confusing for kids to see a bad/good/bad/good guy, but isn't it THE perfect opportunity to explain to kids that the people are hardly ever black&white characters?

Unfortunately, some people I know just use movies as cheap babysitters. They don't want the bother of actually having to TALK about stuff with their kids.

BTW, Silver is one of my favourite cartoon characters. (I'm 23 btw)

[–] MetFanMac 15 years ago

"The voice actors. i mean, what little kid in 2002 would know who emma thompson is? (maybe one who watches harry potter lol) or Micheal wincott. "

The heck? Of all subjects to nitpick THIS is what you choose?
Do I care about about Emma Thompson? You think any of my siblings give a flying fig about Emma Thompson beyond whether or not her voice sounds familiar?
If you EVER critique a movie's voice actors, talk about whether or not they were good at what they did. Criticizing a movie for casting "big name" actors because kids don't know who they are makes NO SENSE.

"it touched on subjects that are more prevalent in teen years."

Yes, because only teenagers ever have missing-daddy issues.
Oh wait.

"scroop. scroop scared the living hell outta my 5 yr old. didnt like him one bit. "

Disney made a scary villain. I am shocked, SHOCKED.

"and she didnt understand the end where jim saves john silver even tho he was plotting to kill him"

I'll grant you that, but YMMV on a per child basis.

Supermodels...spoiled stupid little stick figures mit poofy lips who sink only about zemselves.

[–] CumClarity 15 years ago

"The heck? Of all subjects to nitpick THIS is what you choose?
Do I care about about Emma Thompson? You think any of my siblings give a flying fig about Emma Thompson beyond whether or not her voice sounds familiar?
If you EVER critique a movie's voice actors, talk about whether or not they were good at what they did. Criticizing a movie for casting "big name" actors because kids don't know who they are makes NO SENSE. "

LOL WOW you type like you are angry!!!
I gather you didnt read the part where i said i liked the movie, and that it was now my favorite disney movie?
I said they didn't cast mainstream actors, which is likely why this movie didn't do so well at the box office. There was no marketing really done because there were no mainstream actors in it (like they did for kung fu panda : jackie chan, angelina jolie, jack black were given HUGE marketing, even though they were only in the movie for a restricted amount of time), and since there was a lack of advertising done for this movie, they didn't earn as much money off it plain and simple. I was not saying the movie was bad because of the actors they featured, if you read my comment properly. i simply stated it didn't do as well because of lack of advertising and when it was released (between harry potter and lord of the rings)

besides, I love Emma Thompson so i dont give a flying fig about your kids or you :P LOL

"Yes, because only teenagers ever have missing-daddy issues.
Oh wait."
You clearly cant read well, or have a poor understanding of words. I said that it was more prevalent in teen years, NOT that it didn't exist in younger kids or older for that matter.

"Disney made a scary villain. I am shocked, SHOCKED."

NO we had villains that were comical, bad, silly or cackled, made kids wash the floor, or who were jsut not visible. Not really ones that squeezed a 15 yr old boy by the throat.( Muppets Tressure Island, Hook and Snow White, cinderella, bambi). Oh, and in case you were confused, I wasnt scared, my little girl was.

"I'll grant you that, but YMMV on a per child basis."
Oh definitely, but if you had a child under 5 who understood the concept of trusting someone who literally just tried to kill you, than you most likely have a midget posing as you baby.

I agree with above poster!!!! Yes, this is the perfect time to be teaching them!!!

Oh and im 23 myself, and i love kids movies. Its a good thing my lil angel likes watching them with me!

~Clarity

[–] MetFanMac 15 years ago

1. Where did I say you said that you didn't like the movie?
What you DID say was

what little kid in 2002 would know who emma thompson is? ... or Micheal wincott.

As I pointed out, this really should have NO bearing on a movie's B.O. success.
(PS - Jack Black was in Kung Fu Panda for "a restricted amount of time"? No offense, but is English your first language?)

2. Point goes to you...

3. I'm getting tired of linking to these, but here they are again:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NightmareFuel/Disney
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/HighOctaneNightmareFuel/Disney
Not all the examples listed therein are about the villains, but you get the point: show a child Disney movies, and sooner or later he/she will be scarred for life to some extent.

4. Not touchin' that one.

Supermodels...spoiled stupid little stick figures mit poofy lips who sink only about zemselves.

[–] amvdveen 15 years ago

"As I pointed out, this really should have NO bearing on a movie's B.O. success. "

I don't know, I guess it will sometimes convince the paretns/adults.

Example: I pretty much always watch the original (so with Disney; English) version of a cartoon, because frankly, the dubs in my natvie language (Dutch) usually aren't up to standard.

However, I'm tempted to watch TP in Dutch, because I know the voice actor for John Silver is one of the best actors I know.

Fot anyone who's curious: The Dutch Silver is voiced by the Flemish (Belgian) actor Jan Decleir.
And I find it very amusing that in the Flemish dub Decleir is not voicing Silver...

[–] LadyVirgoxoxo 15 years ago

many people go to an animated film because their favorite actor or actress is voicing a character.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest-6/10
The Secret Life of Bees-7/10

[–] CumClarity 15 years ago

"Where did I say you said that you didn't like the movie?"
simply the way you wrote implied anger towards me for stating it didnt do well at the box office. if you werent, than i do apologize sir.

"As I pointed out, this really should have NO bearing on a movie's B.O. success.
(PS - Jack Black was in Kung Fu Panda for "a restricted amount of time"? No offense, but is English your first language?)"
You're right, it shouldn't have an effect on the movies success... but unfortunately as shown by this movie it does. And i wasnt refering to the main charachter (DUH!), i was refering to Jackie Chan and Angelina Jolie. However Jack Black was majorly advertised, simply to get kids, and adults alike to go see the movie.

"2. Point goes to you... "
at least you are fair

" I'm getting tired of linking to these, but here they are again:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NightmareFuel/Disney
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/HighOctaneNightmareFuel/Disney
Not all the examples listed therein are about the villains, but you get the point: show a child Disney movies, and sooner or later he/she will be scarred for life to some extent."

the links you sent were talking about movies like Pan's Labyrinth, Pirates of the Caribbean, which were PG13 +, also which werent animated.

"No offense, but is English your first language?)"
Yup, sure is. I don't see how this comment was supposed to be neutral in anyway, the question itself is rude, and implies that the person you are talking to, has poor grammar,vocab and sentence structure. So, not only are you being obnoxious and pretentious by asking a passive aggressive comment, you make yourself look intolerant of others that may not be as comfortable with more than 1 language. First off, anyone who can speak more than 1 language is more capable than a person who can speak only 1. You detract from your own comment, as it looks like you have to attack weak points rather than the main ones.

would you ask this question to someone you were talking to face to face in a debate?

~Clarity

[–] LadyVirgoxoxo 15 years ago

I completely agree with you OP. I just saw this movie today and I was around 8 when this came out. Never cared for it at all. But I'm a big Disney fan and I came across this movie at my friend's house and I was like I have to see it!! It was amazing and very underrated.

The Da Vinci Code-7/10
Legion-4/10

[–] SunnyTree 14 years ago

I think the reason why this movie tanked is, as already mentioned on other threads, because it was released on the same time as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, the poor marketing and the fact that CGI animation were becoming more popular than the handdrawn animation. Which is a pity, since both art forms are amazing on their own merits.

However, I don't find this movie to be the most adult-themed Disney movie. While it does have some emotional and deep themes, it never becomes too complex for children, with the exception of Silver's dilemma. I never considered Silver as the main villain. I thought Scroop were) while Silver was something in between. I got a little confused by his personality at first, though. I you wanna see Disney films which adult themes, just check out "Pocahontas" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".

With that notion aside, I find "Treasure Planet" to be a kid-friendly film. While it does have a few violent moments, it's not over the top. And while the film isn't as energetic and includes cartoony characters as the one at "Aladdin" and "Hercules" (which were also made by the same directors), it does have some kid-friendly jokes, adventure and a solid story. And while I don't think it's Disney's very best, I do find the movie enjoyable and underrated.