Review of 'Titan A.E.'

titan_ae.jpg In 3028 earth is attacked by the Drej, aliens made of pure energy. Professor Sam Tucker's (Ron Perlman) young son Cale (Matt Damon) is separated from his father when earth is destroyed. Years later Cale is working at a salvage station and deeply resentful of his father who he feels abandoned him. When Cale learns from a fellow human Captain Joseph Korso (Bill Pullman) that a ring his father left him holds the key to save the human race he flees an attack from the Drej who will do anything to ensure Cale does uncover the secret. Along the way he will learn more about himself and the father he has always shunned.

The animation of this film is quite odd - Ultra realistics computer graphics melded with very cartoon-y figures - which often jars on the screen getting in the way of the story which is, to be fair, not that bad though hurried along with the short running length. What also jars is the serious adult storyline (including glimpses of human flesh…from behind) with the occasional slap-stick cartoon humour obviously intended at children. I think this is a very confused film not knowing what it's audience is and delivering something that likely neither adult nor child completely enjoy. My opinion is that they should have gone with the adult market, ditched the annoying slapstick, and delivered a longer, fuller, and ultimately more satisfying movie.

Interesting story, not successfully delivered to the screen…One, potentially, for those interested in SF and willing to overlook the disjointed delivery to the screen.

Rating: “Not great, but not the worse”

Review Date: 2016-02-13


Directed by: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and Art Vitello

Studio: David Kirschner Productions

Year: 2000

Length: 94 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120913/