Toon Talk: Atlantis: The Lost Empire Collector's Edition DVD - Jan 29, 2002

Toon Talk: Atlantis: The Lost Empire Collector's Edition DVD
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DISC ONE:

In addition to the film itself (presented in it's original theatrical aspect ratio, preserving the CinemaScope look via letterboxing), the first disc includes an Audio Commentary by Atlantis' main creative team, producer Don Hahn and co-directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. These three are a hoot to listen to; amid their wisecracks (including a none-to-subtle bash to their own Hunchback of Notre Dame), one can see how much fun they have making these movies.

The Top 10 Things We Learn From This Audio Commentary:

  1. The staff of Milo's museum were named after MAD Magazine characters.
  2. Lloyd Bridges (Airplane!) was originally cast as billionaire Preston Whitmore. When he passed away, he was replaced with Frasier's John Mahoney.
  3. Milo's "carrots" line was an ad-lib by Michael J. Fox.
  4. Practically all of Vinnie's dialogue was improved by Don Novello.
  5. Moliere's pajamas are the same colors as the French flag.
  6. King Nedakh was blinded by the light that abducted his wife in the prologue, thus why he has no pupils later in the film.
  7. Cree Summer, the voice of Princess Kida, not only had to learn how to speak Atlantean, but had to speak English as if it was her second language.
  8. In an early version of the script, Commander Rourke was a German spy and was having an affair with Helga.
  9. In Milo's final battle with Rourke, his movements were inspired by Jackie Chan.
  10. Cookie's "bacon fat" line was the only time in the film were a "sound-alike" voice had to be used to replace the late Jim Varney.

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(c) Disney

In addition to the Audio Commentary, you also have the choice of a Visual Commentary. A new toy in the DVD toy box, the Visual Commentary stops the film while you are watching it and shows a short video clip relating to the scene at hand. When over, the film returns to where you left off.

All the clips from the Video Commentary are also included in a separate Feature Index to view individually. The clips include:

  • Alternate versions of some scenes (shown in storyboard form), such as a cute animal sidekick for Milo (a rat named Plato), Milo's first meeting with Helga, and Cookie singing a song at the campfire.
  • A hidden joke that proves extras (even digital extras) can't be trusted.
  • Photographic tours of the creative team's research trips to a submarine and Carlsbad Caverns.
  • Test footage for the Liviathan, the City of Atlantis and the Crystal Chamber.
  • Visual design slide show of artist's Mike Mignola's contributions to the look of the film.
  • Even a Pixar-type outtake.

I would recommend watching the film with the Audio Commentary, and then viewing the Visual Commentary clips separately. With the Visual Commentary on, it's like watching a movie on TV when someone is switching the channels. Plus, some of the full Audio Commentary is edited in the Visual mode.

Also included on Disc One:

  • A feature called DisneyPedia-Atlantis: Fact or Fiction?, a very simple (read: for the kids) version of what can be found in (a lot) more depth in the Disc Two supplements.

  • DVD-Rom capabilities accessible through your computer's DVD-Rom drive.