The one real flaw is the completely banal "Where the Drem Takes You" as sung by Mya. It's a bit of a change for Disney as it doesn't sound tailormade for a film and just like any song on the radio from the next hot thing. Which could've been good, but the song is just too syurpy and anxious to please everyone. At least it's easy to skip over.

This soundtrack also has a fun CD-ROM element to it. Just pop it into your computer to continue your aural adventure of Atlantis. Also there is a limited edition (20,000) of the soundtrack available at Disney Stores only. It doesn't feature any bonus tracks, but sports a remarkable 3D cover.


"Atlantis" Opens With Wrong Music   June 18, 2001
G M. Stathis (cedar city, utah USA)
16 out of 20 found this review helpful

James Newton Howard has again composed a fine and interesting score that is a wonderful match to the Disney animated film, Atlantis the Lost Empire" and one that works well as a soundtrack recording. His motifs and themes for Atlantis and its inhabitants are among his more notable works. It is a score that is heroic, mysterious and triumphant. The soundtrack recording leaves something to be desired, however. On the plus side the tracks are in proper order, with one exception and therein is the problem here. The glaring weakness of this recording and the film is something that is usually the main feature of a Disney film...the vocal theme song. Not only is "Where the Dream Takes You" a weak tune; it seems to have little to do with the film or the score. Moreover, the song is presented over the credits in the film, which is alright, but on the soundtrack it is track #1 (the soundtrack for "Pearl Harbor" pulled the same stunt), why? To compound this situation, the soundtrack is missing Howard's music that opens the film with the destruction of "Atlantis." My first impression was that this track was included but out of order...I don't think so. The film's opening is powerful, as is the music, but the soundtrack misses this drama by opening with the wrong music...too bad. One is tempted to say that the soundtrck for "Atlantis the Lost Empire" should be subtitled "The Lost Music," but that would cast a negative cloud over an otherwise solid piece.


Disney music at its best!   July 1, 2001
Johnson (Singapore)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Those of you who have heard early 90's Disney tracks such as "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", and "Toy Story", do be thrilled to find that "Atlantis" has almost the same concept as it. "The Submarine" starts off without a bang, but rather something like "West Wing" in "Beauty and the Beast". It has been quite a well before I heard something this uncommercial. James Newton Howard is at its best by creating cuteness and humour ("The Submarine", "Milo's Turned Down", "Milo Meets Kida"), excitement and tension ("The Submarine" again, "The Leviathan", "The King Dies/Going After Rourke", etc.) and at the same time working on the same 3 themes: the submarine theme; the love theme (used in Mya's song); the crystal theme. Never mind those reviews saying that the soundtrack does not have any themes; never mind the first pop track that seems out of place; never mind the lousy design of the insides. But do feel the grandeur of "The Submarine" as you recall the submarine sinking deep down into the ocean; feel the mystic of "The Crystal Chamber" as you recall the rising of Kida into the crystal and the blue rays shooting out. Do love the music. I must say I love this soundtrack as much as I love Mr Howard's previous work "Dinosaur". Having combining the native music and orchestra, Mr Howard is able to bring the audience watching "Atlantis" deep down under the ocean and feel the mystic and eerieness of "Atlantis".


Multi Textured Score by James Newton Howard   June 25, 2001
hille2000 (USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

James Newton Howard wrote a very good score for ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE. Howard brings this change of pace movie from Disney to life. I liked this movie very much. It's not real flashy or in your face, a trend that started in animated films ever since ALADDIN. We actually get a straightforward adventure film with no musical numbers (only a very weak Track 1: `Where the Dream Takes You' by Mya is tacked on to the end credits) and in place of the prerequisite animal friends are some really quirky characters. It is an interesting and enjoyable movie filmed at a deliberate pace. The score has musical influences from Herrmann's JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (Track 13: `The Secret Swim') and William's Indiana Jones (Track 2: `The Submarine'). What I really liked best was the way the film started out. The introductory scenes of Milo Thatch in the museum seemed very reminiscent of the animation and pace of the films that Walt Disney personally produced (Track 3: Milo's Turned Down'). I thought that was a nice touch. In fact most of the animation in this film looked like it was actually hand-drawn for a change. Even though there are many modern influences in technique and dialogue, overall it has good old-fashioned look to it. James Newton Howard's score really combined the old-fashioned adventure and mystery elements beautifully (Track10: `The City of Atlantis' and Track15: `The King Dies/Going After Rourke'). It's the kind of entertainment you thought they never make anymore. Track18: `Atlantis' sums it all up beautifully.


Great soundtrack! Hope the movie does as well!   May 29, 2001
Michael W. Howe (Chicago, IL)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

James Newton Howard. You may remember his score as you watch the opening credits of E.R., or watching Tommy Lee Jones chase Harrison Ford in "The Fugitive," but here, Howard has produced a wonderful full action film score. Containing 18 tracks, the film's music is captured everywhere, from the adventurous and uplifting track 2 (The Submarine), all the way to Track 14 (The Crystal Chamber). The music when we encounter the Atlanteans changes to tribal sounds, but sets us apart a slight bit and helps us know where we are. If you've seen several of the movie trailers (notably on Remember the Titans or The Emperor's New Groove), you've already heard parts of tracks 2 and 14. The only major disappointment comes in the end theme ballad, "Where the Dream Takes You," performed by Mya. The song doesn't do really much but act as a hopeful insight to a "Best Song" Oscar Nomination. Other than Mya's track, the entire soundtrack works wonderfully.