Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas wants to be a grand fairy tale about a pirate who steals a book and loses his friend. It mostly manages the grandeur, but it never quite gets the heart of the story right.
Trailer, via Universal Kids.
The Setup
Sinbad is a sailor who is framed by the goddess Eris for stealing the Book of Peace. Eris catches him mid-theft and offers him any wish in exchange for the book. Sinbad agrees, and the film spends its runtime chasing the book across the sea while Proteus waits for death.
Pitt’s Problem
Brad Pitt voices Sinbad, and he brings a lightness that suits the character. But the film never commits to why Sinbad turned on Proteus in the first place. The answer, that Sinbad loved Marina, arrives late and feels like a convenience, not a reason.
Pfeiffer’s Struggle
Michelle Pfeiffer plays Eris, the goddess of discord, and she struggles with the character’s shape. She finds Eris too sexual at first, then too dull. The result is a villain who feels more bored than dangerous.
The Sirens and the Roc
The film’s best sequences come from its monsters. The sirens entrance the sailors with song, and a roc captures Marina. These scenes are vivid and exciting, even if they don’t move the plot forward.
Marina’s Argument
Catherine Zeta-Jones voices Marina, and she spends most of the film arguing with Sinbad about his carelessness. This friction is the film’s best idea, but it’s never resolved cleanly. The two characters reconcile, but the argument itself is left unfinished.
The Ending
The film ends with Sinbad retrieving the Book of Peace and saving Proteus. It’s a tidy ending, but it doesn’t feel earned. The stakes were set early, and the resolution feels rushed.
The Technical Side
The film blends traditional animation with computer animation, much like DreamWorks’ previous film, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. The animation is strong, and the action sequences are fluid. But the hand-drawn sections sometimes look dated next to the digital work around them.
A Solid Craft, A Weak Story
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is technically competent. Its voice cast is excellent, its villains are memorable, and its action scenes are fun. But the story underneath it all is thin. The love triangle between Sinbad, Proteus, and Marina never gets enough room to breathe, and the framing of Proteus as a criminal feels like a mistake the film never fixes.
This is a film that knows how to entertain but doesn’t know how to commit to its own characters. It’s a pleasant watch, not a great one.
Key Facts Box
- Title: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
- Year: 2003
- Director: Tim Johnson, Patrick Gilmore
- Writer: John Logan
- Runtime: 86 minutes
- Score: 4.5 of 10
Schedule Table
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Cetus attacks the ship | Early |
| Sinbad meets Eris | Midway |
| Sirens appear | Midway |
| Roc captures Marina | Later |
| Sinbad retrieves the Book | Late |
The film is a solid, enjoyable animated adventure. But it’s missing the depth that would make it great.
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