Treasure Planet MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +2 1/2

Robert Louis Stevensons swashbuckling tale of young Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver and hidden treasure gets a science-fiction twist in this adventuresome animated feature from Disney. Jim (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) grows up watching the video-book tales of the legendary pirate Captain Flint, who hides his plunder on a secret planet. When the alien Billy Bones crashes near the Benbow Inn, where Jims mother works as a waitress, he gives a golden orb with a special star map to Jim for safekeeping. Jims astro-physicist friend, Dr. Doppler (David Hyde-Pierce), recognizes it as a treasure map that could lead to Flints hidden fortune. They hire the starship RLS Legacy, helmed by the feline-like Captain Amelia (Emma Thompson). Among the crew is John Silver (Brian Murray), a cyborg part man, part machine and his pet Morph who can change shapes. Silver helps Jim learn his way around the ship but he also has at least one good eye on the star map. When the crew mutinies and takes over the ship, Jim escapes with Doppler and the Captain to crash land on the sought for treasure planet. Hiding from the pirate crew, Jim meets a wacky robot named B.E.N. who worked for Flint. But Bens main memory chip is lost, so Jims on his own finding the pirate loot while avoiding Silver and the traps Flint left for greedy gold-hunters.

Stevensons story loses none of its excitement in this re-imagined tale thats sure to be a holiday treat. True to the original story, there are several deaths and a number of laser blasts and explosions, but no graphic injuries. And one alien uses flatulent sounds for language. But delightfully free of objectionable material, this updated classic can be enjoyed by kids from ten on up.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Walt Disney Co., 500 Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91522