Walt Disney Studios was probably hoping lightning would strike twice in this adaptation of a Jules Verne-like story by James Vance Marshall (writing as Ian Cameron). "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" it's not, but it does offer some great, grand scale action and atmosphere, not to mention the appeal of a "Land That Time Forgot" type of tale. The acting is generally enjoyable, the characters have sufficient rooting interest, and the special effects are pretty decent, most of the time.
David Hartman ('The Bold Ones: The New Doctors', 'Lucas Tanner') is American archaeologist Professor Ivarsson, recruited by English businessman Sir Anthony Ross (Donald Sinden). Sir Anthony is desperately searching for his estranged son Donald (David Gwillim), who disappeared into the Arctic circle in search of adventure. With the help of brilliant Captain Brieux (Jacques Marin) and his magnificent airship, they venture off to the top of the world where they discover a community populated by the descendants of Vikings.
Sinden is a standout in a cast also including Mako as a not-so-brave Eskimo villager named Oomiak, the beautiful Agneta Eckemyr as a Viking babe named Freyja, and Gunnar Ohlund as a scary Viking high priest known as The Godi. Hartman is quite likable, and Gwillim is similarly engaging. Eckemyr isn't a great actress, but she is rather appealing. And, just to push some of our emotional buttons, an unanticipated participant on this journey is a sweet French poodle named Josephine.
There are some thrilling moments, all punctuated by Maurice Jarres' majestic score. Our heroes will have to enter the mouth of a volcano, dodge a lava flow, struggle to keep the airship aloft, evade The Godi and various Viking antagonists, and fight off some aggressive Orcas. Although filmed at Disney Studios, and in Oregon, the matte paintings are good enough to give us a feeling of wintry Arctic locations.
Pretty good family entertainment, overall, competently handled by journeyman director Robert Stevenson.
Seven out of 10.
David Hartman ('The Bold Ones: The New Doctors', 'Lucas Tanner') is American archaeologist Professor Ivarsson, recruited by English businessman Sir Anthony Ross (Donald Sinden). Sir Anthony is desperately searching for his estranged son Donald (David Gwillim), who disappeared into the Arctic circle in search of adventure. With the help of brilliant Captain Brieux (Jacques Marin) and his magnificent airship, they venture off to the top of the world where they discover a community populated by the descendants of Vikings.
Sinden is a standout in a cast also including Mako as a not-so-brave Eskimo villager named Oomiak, the beautiful Agneta Eckemyr as a Viking babe named Freyja, and Gunnar Ohlund as a scary Viking high priest known as The Godi. Hartman is quite likable, and Gwillim is similarly engaging. Eckemyr isn't a great actress, but she is rather appealing. And, just to push some of our emotional buttons, an unanticipated participant on this journey is a sweet French poodle named Josephine.
There are some thrilling moments, all punctuated by Maurice Jarres' majestic score. Our heroes will have to enter the mouth of a volcano, dodge a lava flow, struggle to keep the airship aloft, evade The Godi and various Viking antagonists, and fight off some aggressive Orcas. Although filmed at Disney Studios, and in Oregon, the matte paintings are good enough to give us a feeling of wintry Arctic locations.
Pretty good family entertainment, overall, competently handled by journeyman director Robert Stevenson.
Seven out of 10.