Escape from Atlantis (TV 1997)

A world unlike any you've ever known! Matt Spencer, a workaholic attorney and single father, is struggling to raise his three rebellious teenagers in the wake of his wife walking out on him... See full summary »

Director:

Strathford Hamilton

Writer:

Arne Olsen

Stars:

Jeff Speakman, Tim Thomerson, Justin Burnette

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Speakman	...	Matt Spencer
Tim Thomerson	...	Liam Gallagher
Justin Burnette	...	Adam Spencer
Mercedes McNab	...	Claudia Spencer
Breck Wilson	...	Chris Spencer
Michael Lee Gogin	...	Widge the Magician
Al Harrington	...	Argus, Temple of MorpheusPrisoner
Brian Bloom	...	Joriath
Brian D. Kline	...	Quan
Kristina Anapau	...	Katriana (as Kristina Roper)
Richard McPherson	...	Xander
Geoff Heise	...	Kyron
Lisa Tiffany	...	Maiden #1
Jo Pruden	...	Lubella
Tom Matsusaka	...	Wayaku

Storyline

A world unlike any you've ever known! Matt Spencer, a workaholic attorney and single father, is struggling to raise his three rebellious teenagers in the wake of his wife walking out on him. Chris Spencer, Matt's eldest son, is a handsome, over-achieving, straight-laced 18-year-old who is angry with his father about the divorce, even though his mother is the one who left. Daughter Claudia is a typical 16-year-old mall rat with too much time on her hands and the good looks that usually spell trouble. Youngest son Adam is a hip 13-year-old with a big mouth and a smart-alec attitude to go along with it. In an attempt to bring his family together again, Matt charters a sailboat for a 10-day surprise cruise to the Bahamas. The kids, selfishly un-excited about the trip, try to talk their father out of it, but he is steadfast in his determination to spend some quality family time together. Upon landing in Florida, the Spencers arrive at the dock to board the Wind Dancer, a beautiful 90-foot ...

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Plot Keywords:

tough guy | fighting | tv movie | escape | boxing | 

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Taglines:

The greatest adventure is finding your way home.

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Genres:

Fantasy | Adventure | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for fantasy adventure violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Escape from Atlantis Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Apodrasi apo tin Atlantida

Filming Locations:

Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

D Vision, Harris Entertainment Inc., Starz! Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When the lake creature destroys the pier, the boards break into clearly pre-cut sections.

User Reviews

Less than What I'd Hoped For...

While the overall idea of Escape from Atlantis was intriguing, I found the film to be far less than what I had hoped for upon reading the plot summery. Perhaps I am too much of a child in the technological age: the movie was made, as it is now 2002, an official five years ago --after viewing fantasy epics such as Lord of the Rings, and science fiction feats like Star Wars, as a whole it could not compare to other movies of similar line such as Dinotopia or Homer's The Odyssey.

My beef, basically, is that I couldn't relate --I am just about the same age of the children (a young adult), and have no trouble putting myself in the place of a middle-aged man if that is the character available. But the picture did not take me to a different mental plain of existence. I didn't find myself saying 'ACK! I would have done the SAME thing!'. It did not open the doors to my imagination. Even without comparing it to high-budget films or other TV movies, standing alone, certain aspects of the feature I found to be cliche: The character development in the children occurred too rapidly for my liking, seeing too much of the stereotypical selfish-teenager-bitter-after-divorce image changing into the we're-a-big-happy-family-let's-never-separate-again feel that can ultimately make or break a picture in the long run. Even the characters themselves could have undergone improvement: a typical set of one or the other stereotypes. There was the ever-present selfish beauty looking to be rebellious, accompanied by Mr. Perfect image of combining athletics, good looks and intelligence yet a brooding attitude, and lastly the smart-aleck little brother we find to be so common these days. While I know the personalities pushed the story along, I think that adding more individuality as far as nuances and more unique differences would have made it a more enjoyable --and believable (as far as character)-- movie.

I do have to raise my glass to the costume and set design --that made it worth finishing to the end for me. Don't get me wrong: all movies are worth seeing for yourself, and the opinion of one could never account for the opinion of many, but I think that with a little more depth to the script, and a little more (I cannot believe I am saying this) realness I dare say Escape from Atlantis could have been magical.