|
Kid-size history
[Dreamworks]
The young Lakota brave Little Creek, voiced by Daniel Studi, and the wild mustang Spirit, whose thoughts are voiced by Matt Damon, escape from a raging fire in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. |
By JANET K. KEELER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 23, 2002
Don't mistake the animated Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron for a goofy cartoon. It offers a thoughtful view of the taming of the West amid a beautiful background.
|
 |
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron may be an animated movie, but it is not a cartoon where animals say goofy things and comedians walk away with the show.
The creative team at DreamWorks made the right choice by not having the animals talk, especially Spirit, the wild mustang that is the heart and soul of this sweetheart of a history lesson. Randy one-liners from Eddie Murphy would have derailed this serious story.
Instead, Spirit's thoughts are voiced by actor Matt Damon with the right mix of pride and sorrow, and the horses' neighs and whinnies come courtesy of recordings of live horses. When Spirit really needs to get vocal, gravel-voiced rocker Bryan Adams hits us over the head with a soaring ballad. One too many times. For the most part, though, it all fits like a well-worn saddle.
The film tells the story of the taming of the West through the eyes of a wild mustang as unwieldy as the Rocky Mountains. U.S. cavalrymen brutalize animals and American Indians as they advance across the country. Spirit befriends a young Lakota brave named Little Creek (Indian actor Daniel Studi) and together they defy the odds. Their way of life will survive for a little longer.
Spirit does not offer a new look at American history but rather a bite-size version that introduces children to how the West was not-so-kindly won. Screenwriter John Fusco's (Young Guns) bad guys are the cavalrymen, led by the steely Colonel (James Cromwell, Babe). History, of course, bears out Fusco's view. The colonel comes around after some spectacular derring-do by Spirit and Little Creek.
The star of Spirit, though, is the lush landscapes produced by DreamWorks animators. Mixing computer and traditional animation techniques, filmmakers created vistas that at times look like photographs and at others like paintings popping to life. The scenes of water, from bucolic lakes to rushing rapids and treacherous waterfalls, are as realistic as animation comes.
The scenery is inspired by the West's most famous national parks. Glacier National Park in Montana was the model for Spirit's homeland. The Grand Canyon's colorful, graceful depths are depicted, as are the geysers of Wyoming's Yellowstone and the waterfalls of California's Yosemite.
The backdrops won't be enough, though, to make Spirit an animation classic. It needs a stronger story and more character development for that.
However, Spirit is a welcome alternative to the live-action cartoons threatening to overtake the multiplex and give us nothing by intergalactic robots, aliens and science fiction freaks to entertain our kids this summer.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Grade: B
- Directors: Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook
- Cast: Voices of Matt Damon, James Cromwell, Daniel Studi
- Screenplay: John Fusco
- Rating: G
- Running time: 82 min.
Back to Weekend
© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111
|
