Almost does a Titan-ic .... sinks
Having only just got around to watching "Titan A.E." it reminded me so much of "Avatar". I don't mean in storyline but how it comes across because visually "Titan A.E." is great and there is a level of artistry in the mix of modern CGI animation and old fashioned hand drawn animation. But for me a movie which is so visually good deserves a storyline much better than the cliche filled one which is its basis. Now for some people the derivative storyline won't matter, and I am sure for those in there young teens it won't even occur to them that they are watching cliches, but when you get to a certain age the plot matters more and this one spoils what could have been a great animation.
In the year 3028 A.D., Earth comes under attack from the Drej, aliens of pure life form who destroy the planet. But before they do Professor Sam Tucker manages to make sure his son leaves the planet on one of the evacuation ships whilst he escapes on the Titan, a new important project. Many years later and the professor's son Cale finds himself being tracked down by various people as unbeknown to him he holds the key to the location of the Titan, a ship which could help the few remaining humans create a new Earth.
A homeland destroyed, a young man full of attitude with father issues, a hologram of a father, space battles, quirky characters, and a pretty young girl of the same age... I really could go on and on because "Titan A.E." features a storyline of familiar ideas. Now I am not saying that it doesn't have a storyline it certainly does and a young teenage audience will enjoy all these familiar cliches but it is just that, a lot of cliches. And that from an adults point of view is what disappoints because visually "Titan A.E." is great and deserved a much more original storyline to make the movie complete, it was the same issue which was a problem for "Avatar" many years later.
What it does mean is for grown ups "Titan A.E." becomes a visual movie which to be honest is a treat. The mix of animation types as we have fantastic CGI sequences which show creativity and real depth and then the old style hand drawn sequences may not interweave but balance each other brilliantly. And you would have to have a cold heart not to appreciate the level of artistry in all of the animations especially during the action scenes.
And to be honest "Titan A.E." has also got itself the right cast to give their voices to the animations. Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore and Bill Pullman deliver the more serious side of things and then you then have the fun of Nathan Lane, John Leguizamo and Janeane Garofalo serving up the humorous voices for the quirky characters.
What this all boils down to is that "Titan A.E." could have been a great animation but is undone by a plot which is far too familiar and full of cliches. It is a shame as visually it is great and deserved something far more original than the derivative storyline served up.
