Just getting to Atlantis takes the explorers through the elements. Plunging into the ocean, racing deep into a “big crevice of some kind”, wandering through caves, escaping actual fire flies, and emerging to see a giant waterfall surrounded by lava makes for an exciting journey.
Just looking at the city, you can see the elements intermingled at every turn. Plants cover everything producing air, water and earth seem to exist together no matter where you look, and as previously stated, lave surrounds the city! How does this little island float on lava?
The Atlantians find food in the water, can fly through the air on stone creations, make boats and shelters from plants of the earth, and use firebugs to light lanterns. While this seems common by today’s standards, all of these elements exist together simultaneously. There are no parks separating homes and nature. Nature, work, history, and human life co-exist amongst the elements in interesting ways.
For a city like Atlantis to survive deep under the ocean and beside a volcano, there would have to be complete harmony between earth, wind, fire, water, and people. Otherwise, how would they survive in such hostile conditions?
As with Feminist Disney, stereotypes are, unfortunately, not an uncommon theme in Disney movies. This blog explores them with regards to this movie.
Tropes and idioms from this movie are numerous.
RIP: James Garner, Commander Rourke in the movie.You would know him from The Notebook, The Great Escape, and The Rockford Files.
Thanks for reading!