As Dreamworks Animation's final traditionally hand-drawn film, it is a shame that 'Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas' doesn't have more of an impact.

 

A far cry from the gorgeous visuals of 'Prince of Egypt', 'Sinbad' attempts to combine 3D CGI with 2D drawings and the result is a film that looks and feels rushed, almost direct-to-video quality. Combined with a lacklustre protagonist, skeletally characterised antagonist and stereotypical femme fatale, all that 'Sinbad' amounts to is a good idea that's been terribly executed.

 

The bones of a cool adventure film exist beneath its dodgy skin, utilising Greek mythology in a pirate genre to try and convey the importance of friendship and trust. Unfortunately, that's about the closest thing to praise I can lend 'Sinbad' and its not much, considering those qualities likely originate from the source material.

 

It is painfully clear that this film was released at a turning point in Dreamworks' history, a time when they were reevaluating the place of 2D animation in a post-'Shrek' world. The success of 'Shrek 2' would have been the final nail in the coffin. Within 2 years of this film's release, cel animation was on its way out. Now it seems gone from Hollywood forever. So, perhaps the fact of what 'Sinbad' represents is more interesting than the film itself. Its failure creatively reflects its failure financially and its failure financially reflects a change in Hollywood thinking.

 

Whether Dreamworks' current woes see another change remains to be seen but if so I hope that one of their films doesn't fall victim to it the way 'Sinbad' has.

 

Legend of the Seven Seas? If only.

 

Score: 5/10